Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Ford Escape. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel Delivery Module may Crack and cause Fuel Leak
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (602)
602 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 602 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 139 | 23.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 137 | 22.8% |
| Engine | 73 | 12.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 69 | 11.5% |
| Structure | 68 | 11.3% |
| Power train | 66 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 44 | 7.3% |
| Electrical system | 42 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 26 | 4.3% |
| Air bags | 24 | 4% |
How 2012 compares with other Escape years
Best and worst Escape years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,974 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1,693 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2,070 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1,316 | 2 |
| 2012 | 602 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2,750 | 18 |
| 2014 | 2,088 | 16 |
| 2015 | 1,106 | 9 |
| 2016 | 1,139 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2,692 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 3 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2012 Ford Escape suv 4x2, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Escape for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Ford Escape FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 16V777000 (fuel pump). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Escape problems?
Owners filed 602 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (139), Fuel/propulsion system (137), Engine (73) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Ford Escape get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 23 city, 28 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2012 Ford Escape get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Ford Escape suv 4x2 3 stars overall, with 3 stars frontal, 3 stars side and 3 stars rollover (23.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 Escape compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Ford Escape model years at least five years old, the 2012 drew the fewest complaints (602) and the 2013 the most (2,750). The 2012 drew 602. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.