2012 Ford ESCAPE HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford ESCAPE HYBRID has 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (10% of all complaints), specifically: after starting the car and backing out of my garage the brakes do not work. all of the warning lights come on saying check brakes. there are no codes when evaluated by the dealership. if the car is turned off and then on, the brakes work and the warning lights go off. this week, i was notified by t.

3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

2 complaints

10%

• AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKES. THERE ARE NO CODES WHEN EVALUATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON, THE BRAKES WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS WEEK, I WAS NOTIFIED BY T
• 5 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR 3 WEEKS. I WAS PLANNING ON GOING ON A VACATION AROUND THAT TIME, SO DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER I GOT BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, 2 DAYS PRIOR TO MY TRIP, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKES. THERE ARE NO CODES WHEN EVALUATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON, THE BRAKES WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS WEEK, I WAS NOTIFIED BY T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

10%

• REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAD UNLOADED WHAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN CLOSED THE HATCH AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT DID HAVE MARKS ON MY CHEST AREA FROM THE F
• I TURNED ON MY BACK WINDOW DEFROSTER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE WINDOW EXPLODED/SHATTERED THEREBY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAD UNLOADED WHAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN CLOSED THE HATCH AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT DID HAVE MARKS ON MY CHEST AREA FROM THE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

2 complaints

10%

• I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATORS THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME 2011 FORD ESCAPE MODELS MADE AT THE SAME PLANT IN KANSA
• TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATORS THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME 2011 FORD ESCAPE MODELS MADE AT THE SAME PLANT IN KANSA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

10%

• 4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEA
• I OWN A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP OVER TEN TIMES. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. MULTIPLE TIMES THEY HAVE GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND CLEANED THE SOLENOIDS. MY TRANSMISSION STILL SPUTTERS AND ONCE AGAIN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

10%

• 4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEA
• I OWN A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP OVER TEN TIMES. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. MULTIPLE TIMES THEY HAVE GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND CLEANED THE SOLENOIDS. MY TRANSMISSION STILL SPUTTERS AND ONCE AGAIN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 20 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKES. THERE ARE NO CODES WHEN EVALUATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON, THE BRAKES WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS WEEK, I WAS NOTIFIED BY T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAD UNLOADED WHAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN CLOSED THE HATCH AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT DID HAVE MARKS ON MY CHEST AREA FROM THE F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATORS THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME 2011 FORD ESCAPE MODELS MADE AT THE SAME PLANT IN KANSA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)