2012 Ford Escape Acceleration Problems

Which parts fail

• Accelerator pedal
  1

Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1525%
• 25k–50k
  2441%
• 50k–75k
  1424%
• 75k–100k
  35%
• 100k–150k
  12%
• 150k+
  23%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

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.

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. …

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."

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 NHTSA it said no recalls. I would like this issue resolved. [redacted]

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. …

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. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving 5 MPH, the contact attempted to park the vehicle and it accelerated forward without warning. The contact's foot was not on the accelerator pedal at the time of the failure. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle. There were no injuries. The driver's air bag deployed, but the passenger air bag did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was diagnosed as a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. After pulling into a parking space, the engine unexpectedly revved very high before the vehicle erroneously accelerated forward and crashed into a tree. During the time of the incident, the contact's foot was positioned on the brake pedal. No injuries were report and no police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer (ted britt Ford in fairfax, va) was notified of the failure, but the manufacturer was not. The failure mileage was 50,000.

I experienced unintended acceleration while driving my 2012 Ford Escape on July 7, 2018 while driving in my neighborhood. I was unable to control the speed of the vehicle by using the brakes and crashed into a neighbor's mailbox. I finally shut off the car to make it stop.

Acceleration complaints in other Escape years