2012 Ford Escape acceleration problems

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Acceleration, Airbags · 44,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving in a parking lot at approximately 18-20 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, and the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle struck a fence and an apartment building. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a cut above the nose, right shoulder pain, and a concussion. The contact received medical attention. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company and declared a total loss. The failure mileage was 44,000.

Filed Jul 11, 2025 · Acceleration, Steering · 160,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to make a left or right turn, the steering wheel made an abnormal whining sound. Additionally, the contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle hesitate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Dec 13, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

Power steering suddenly went out on right turn onto residential street at approx 10 mph. No warning lights. When car was restarted, power steering back on. Paid dealer to scan. Failure code B2278-2F. Replace steering shaft torque sensor (internal to steering column), steering shaft must be replaced, too, due to play. Just two parts: part cost $2272, labor $886. Part back-ordered for unknown period. Have not yet told dealer service to order parts. Asked dealer if car was safe to drive: they said "probably not."

Filed Jul 23, 2022 · Acceleration · AZ

I recently purchased a 2012 ford escape, and the engine runs loud, and after researching, I feel that the throttle body is not in working condition. I looked up recalls on this vehicle and there is an incomplete throttle body repair/replace open recall, but when I looked it up via the federal safety agency it said no recalls. I would like this issue resolved. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Aug 8, 2021 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MN

There is something not connecting right when you accelerate from a stopped position. From when you first start the car and begin to drive to slowing down to a complete stop as soon as you begin to accelerate there is almost no going right away when you push down on the pedal. It takes almost 10 seconds or more to even begin to stay with on coming traffic. You have to be at a 3 rpm to even shift to go a little more faster then the speed starts to increase if able. It is available when needed to look over at any point and I dont feel safe driving as theres something not right with the connection to the fuel I believe and it feels like. I have taken it to a local shop and they looked it over and didnt seem to find or see much but they cleaned the air flow meter but that didnt do the trick? Also while driving the car tends to veer to the left with or with no wind. It doesnt like to stay straight while driving and thats also unsafe as the driver your doing everything to stay straight. Have not been inspected by anyone other than the local shop I trust and is family friend. Have never noticed or seen any defective lights come on since I purchased the vehicle. I noticed this not even a month into purchasing and I took it to where I purchased the vehicle and asked about it and they said its normal in this older ford escape? I was kinda stunned and annoyed so I just left. Also when the ac is on it seems to take even more power to try and get going I have noticed. I also have tried to upload a photo of an invoice and my computer isnt allowing me?

Filed Nov 25, 2019 · Acceleration · 69,000 miles · MO · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford escape. While the contacts husband was reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle accelerated independently with force and the brake pedal was depressed in the attempt to stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights. The vehicle did a one eighty degree turn and crashed into a parked vehicle in their driveway where the vehicle came to a stop. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The driver sustained shoulder injuries and whiplash, but did not require medical attention. During those failures, the contact sustained injuries to the neck, which did not require medical attention. The contact was concerned due to their granddaughter being in the vehicle often times and there would be severe injuries if the failure were to occur while she was in the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Filed Nov 7, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 47,900 miles · HI

My 2012 ford escape suddenly loses power when driving. It happened on the highway and I was almost rear ended. I googled the symptoms and found that it is probably the etb electronic throttle body. This is dangerous and the federal safety agency did not issue a recall or protect the public by requiring ford to provide towing. Instead the federal safety agency only required that ford extend the warranty an additional 10 years leaving ford owners at risk of injury or worse.

Filed Apr 8, 2019 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 33,100 miles · NJ · crash

In a private parking lot, after executing a 90 degree left turn into a parking spot and with the brake pedal applied in order to slow then stop the vehicle, the vehicle surged forward just before coming to a complete stop. You could hear the engine rev up as it surged forward. Application of the brake pedal did nothing to slow it down. After the vehicle was jarred by striking the curb the engine returned to normal idol. So much power was applied in the surge that the vehicle jumped a curb, traveled over a a grass plot and struck another car on the other side. Our ford escape suffered front end damage (toward drivers side) and the other vehicle (a ford eco -boost) suffered front and drivers side damage. Note that the vehicle was traveling forward at about one MPH (almost to a full stop) when the surge occurred. As it surged the speed increased rapidly to about seven to ten MPH. The vehicles were not towed at the time but when driving a short distance home a severe defect in the steering (pull to the left) was noticed making it virtually inoperable. The vehicle will be towed from our driveway to the body shop.

Filed Mar 5, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford escape. The contact was not the first owner of the vehicle and was unaware that there was an internal fault with the throttle body. The wrench icon, check engine, and oil pressure warning indicators kept randomly illuminating. Courtesy ford (6393 us-98 w, hattiesburg, ms 39402, (601) 264-5555) was aware that the manufacturer issued an unknown recall campaign to address the failure; however, there was no remedy for special coverage campaign number: 13n03 (throttle body extended coverage). The dealer stated that the vehicle was excluded because the mileage exceeded 8,000. The dealer diagnosed that the air flow sensor needed to be replaced. The part was replaced and the dealer stated that the throttle body was cleaned; however, both repairs failed to provide a remedy. The dealer and manufacturer expected the contact to replace the throttle body. The vehicle continued to lose speed and the contact was concerned that it could stall. The vehicle was not repaired and was unable to be driven. The manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was not available...*bf consumer asked the manufacturer for technical guidelines for the campaign #13n03 and was told consumer wouldn't get what was needed. Throttle replaced.

Filed Feb 15, 2019 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 30,000 miles · OK

Two problems here. First one is an issue with the throttle body that I noticed a few years ago but I don't remember the exact date I called ford regarding this. Occasionally, especially in the hottest days, when I hit the gas to get into traffic, my car doesn't speed up. It just sits there, which has put me in many dangerous positions where I end up pulling up in front of a fast moving car, but since mine fails to speed up even if I push the gas pedal all the way, those cars end up almost hitting me from behind. After about 5 seconds it finally takes off, spinning the tires and again putting myself and other drivers at risk of being hit. This happens more often when my car is on a downhill stop sign a few blocks down my street where I can only go left or right. I merge into traffic, but my car just rolls into the street with no power in the gas pedal for about 3-5 seconds. I notified ford after going online trying to figure out what is wetting with my car, and finding out that there is a known issue with certain 2012 models, including my car based on the VIN #. They asked me to take my car to a dealer but said they would not be responsible four any out of pocket charges. The dealer said they needed an official letter from the manufacturer in order to not incur any fees. But neither ford or carmax ever notified me with any actual documentation, which made me weary to take my car to the dealer. The second issue is that I have noticed a gasoline smell in my car for about 2 years now, it's very random and happens about once or twice a month. I attribute it to driving past a gas station or a semitruck on the highway or just normal for cars to smell of gasoline sometimes. The smell only seems to last about 30 seconds.