2012 Ford Escape
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Fuel System
Fuel System leads by volume: 162 of 613 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (20) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 1,353 in 2011 to 613 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,950–3,100 | 1,950–3,100 | 1,950–3,100 | 2,400–2,600 | 2,400–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–32 | 20–32 | 20–32 | 24–26 | 24–26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–34 / 23–31 | 18–34 / 23–30 | 18–34 / 23–30 | 21–23 / 28–32 | 21–23 / 28–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 278–444 | 278–444 | 278–444 | 342–378 | 347–378 | |
| Complaints filed | 2,127 | 1,353 | 613 | 2,753 | 2,080 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 16 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 32 | 41 | 40 | 50 | 47 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 7 | 3 | 89 | 103 | |
| Injuries reported | 23 | 39 | 28 | 55 | 41 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Escape have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Ford Escape?
Fuel System: 162 of 613 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Escape get?
EPA rates it 20–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Ford Escape?
EPA estimates $1,950–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 34 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 278 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 21 mpg | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 386 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 23 mpg | 28 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 306 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 18 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 20 mpg | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 386 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 67 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 162 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 43 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 139 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 40 | 21 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 70 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 78 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 48 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 16V777000 · Oct 26, 2016
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING · Campaign 15E045000 · Jun 3, 2015
Defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Consequence: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.