2012 Ford Escape Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Was informed by my mechanic that the subframe has rusted out and is a safety issue. There is also excessive rust for the car's age and level of maintenance in the rear wheel wells.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle pulled to the right while stopping. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the passenger's side engine cradle subframe was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was a hole in the sub frame cradle due to rust. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud abnormal sound coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rusted and fractured mounts; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Excess Rust on both rear fenders in matching pattern. I've seen this exact issue on other Ford Escapes and there are many reports about it.
Frame rotted out under normal use.
Unknown. Both rear wheel wells are rusting away. Chunks of this falls off while I’m driving. I do believe that falling rusty chunks of metal may harm another driver that will either run over it and flatten a tire. Or that someone may swerve to miss a piece and cause an accident.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that water entered the vehicle through an unknown opening in the trunk. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST OVER THE TWO REAR WHEEL WELLS. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FLOOD FORD OF EAST GREENWICH (2545 S COUNTY TRAIL, EAST GREENWICH, RI 02818, (401) 884-4000) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE WINTER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
OVER THE BACK WHEEL WELL BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THEN IS RUST AND CORROSION THAT IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. BIG PIECES ARE BREAKING OFF MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY. I FEEL THERE IS SO FAILURE OR DETACHMENT OF EXTERIOR BODY AND FRAME COMPONENTS, AND OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS THAT MAY PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD
OVER THE BACK WHEEL WELL BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THEN IS RUST AND CORROSION THAT IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. BIG PIECES ARE BREAKING OFF MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY. I FEEL THERE IS SO FAILURE OR DETACHMENT OF EXTERIOR BODY AND FRAME COMPONENTS, AND OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS THAT MAY PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE HOOD UNLATCHED FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CLOSED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH TO AVOID THE HOOD BECOMING UNLATCHED AGAIN. CLEVELAND FORD (2496 S LEE HWY, CLEVELAND, TN 37311, (423) 218-1622) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HOOD AND THE LATCH FOR THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT A GLASS REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. *LN*JB
EVERY TIME IT RAINS WATER SEEMS TO BE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THROUGH A FAULTY WINDOW SEAL OR DOOR SEAL.
THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CHECKED THE OIL AND MADE SURE THE HOOD WAS CLOSED BY ATTEMPTING TO LIFT IT. I WAS ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES WHEN THE HOOD BLEW OPEN DAMAGING THE HOOD AND LATCHES IT WAS A WINDY DAY OUT MY SPEED WAS AROUND 30 MPH.
BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. BOTH BRACKETS THAT ATTACH FROM THE ROOF TO THE GLASS IN THE REAR (TOP HALF OF HATCH BACK) SNAPPED IN HALF AND THE GLASS DROPPED - HELD ON ONLY BY THE TWO ARMS THAT GUIDE THE WINDOW/GLASS UP AND OUT WHEN OPEN/LIFTED.
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELDS RUSTING OUT AND UP TOWARD THE WINDOW .
THE GLASS LIFT GATE LEAKS AROUND THE SEAL. BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. AFTER A RAIN, THE WATER PUDDLES IN THE BACK.
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50-55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE HOOD FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS IN VARIOUS HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE SAFETY LATCH FAILED TO CATCH IT. SMOOTH ROAD.
RUSTING OF THE REAR INNER WHEELS WELL AND FENDERS OVER BOTH WHEELS. IF NOT REPAIRED COULD LEAD TO EXHAUST MIGRATING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE CAR.
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON I575 ON-RAMP WHEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND BLOCKING ALL FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE HOOD DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF BEING UNLATCHED, SUCH AS RATTLING, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SAFETY LATCH DID NOT STOP THE MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE BREAK-DOWN LANE AND AVOID A COLLISION WITH MERGING TRAFFIC. THE HOOD WAS SEVERELY BENT BUT WAS ABLE TO BE SECURED SUFFICIENTLY TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME.
HOOD LATCH FAILURE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AT 55MPH AND THE HOOD JUST FLEW OPEN. MY VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS LAST OPENED APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE HOOD IS BENT TO THE POINT IT WILL NOT CLOSE AND THE WINDSHIELD IS SEVERELY CRACKED.
TRUNK KEEP LOCKING UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUAL SWITCH..NOW HINDERING CHANGING OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. NOW I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A MALFUNCTION TRUNK THAT WON'T OPEN FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AUTO SHOPS I HAVE BEEN TO CAN'T GET IT OPEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
BOUGHT THIS FORE ESCAPE 3 YEARS OLD. (OUT OF WARRANTY). NOTICED AFTER BUYING IT, THAT THE PAINT WAS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FENDER. THE INNER FENDER WELL IS RUSTED. THE LIFT GATE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO RUST AT THE LOWER SEAM. RUST IS VISIBLE. I THINK FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX/REPAIR THIS FLAW. YOU SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY ON A CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING AFTER THREE YEARS. DEFECT OR POOR WORKMANSHIP.
2012 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTING ABOVE REAR WHEEL WALLS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 11/24/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT'S FOOT BECAME STUCK ON A PLASTIC PIECE THAT PROTRUDED OUTWARDS NEAR THE PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,600.
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Ford Escape has 41 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.