2012 Ford Escape reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Ford Escape — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 792
- 140 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- 137 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 57 reported crashes · 32 injuries · 4 fires
What owners report fails — 2012 Ford Escape
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 137
- STEERING 136
- ENGINE 72
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 69
- POWER TRAIN 63
1 recall on record for the 2012 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 16V777000 · 2017 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Ford Escape
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Escape units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford Escape reliable?
NHTSA has 792 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Ford Escape and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (137 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Escape units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report problems with: fuel/propulsion system (137), steering (136), engine (72), vehicle speed control (69). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Ford Escape?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.