Mileage when the problem started
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 steering acted like it lost power, it was extremely hard to turn. It showed slide marks on dashboard. It also has airbag light on dashboard. We had a mechanic to run a test, the only thing it showed was that the airbag had no signal to the computer
The steering wheel came off in my hands. I pushed it back on and went to Ford to get it fixed, they couldn't help me because they had no techs employed that work on my year vehicle, they never told me it was a safety issue and sent me on my way to look for outside mechanic not a FORD specialist. I was driving and the airbag exploded while I was backing up. It caused me injury and could have caused an accident because there was no warning, it suddenly exploded with a loud noise, if this happened when I was on the highway it would have caused severe accident, luckily I was backing the car up when it happened. I didn't hit anything to cause the airbag to deploy. When the steering wheel came off in my hands it was when I was parked, it could have happened when I was driving causing severe injury to myself and those around me. …
My son was in an accident. Front end of vehicle. The air bag never went off. But the seatbelt locked. The auto repair shop was dumbfounded at why it didn't go off. So am I.the seatbelt and airbag lights were on on the dash after they fixed it. That's how we found that the seatbelt locked. I couldn't get it around me to go home. They then replaced the computer. The car still doesn't seen correct. But, how do I know that in the future there is an accident with the vehicle and it doesn't go off and I get killed. My son was moving on a city street when this very young girl with a restricted license abruptly stopped. My son hit her. My son now owns the vehicle. I'm more concerned that I gave him a car that is a hazard.
My wife and one month old child were in an accident the other day. She turned left in front of an oncoming vehicle and our 2012 Ford Escape xlt was hit in the front passenger corner. The insurance adjuster just finished determining the damage only to conclude that the vehicle is a total loss. There was over $10,000 in damage to the vehicle before he took it apart to determine how expensive the frame repair would become. The airbags did not deploy. I have notified Ford about this issue and they are "investigating" which I'm sure will lead to absolutely nothing. How can a car receive a catastrophic impact on the front end like that and the airbags not deploy?
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while turning a corner during rain weather conditions, the vehicle slid off the road causing the contact to crash into a telephone pole, slid into a ditch, and a cornfield. The windows on the front driver, both rear passenger, and rear windshield all shattered. None of the air bags deployed. There were injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a garage for a pickup from the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted and suggested to speak to an insurance adjuster. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 31,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of a truck. The front end of the contact's vehicle was damaged and the sides were bent outward. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed and a police report was filed. The contact received chest injuries, but no medical attention was needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Just after leaving a 4 way stop, as I tried to round the curve the steering in our 2012 Escape stopped working and I could not turn the steering wheel at all. I just kept going straight. Luckily, I slowed down with the brakes but the Escape continued straight and went over the curb and down a 50+ ft embankment. Even with all of this impact, no airbags were deployed throughout the car anywhere! The steering wheel locking up was bad enough, but after the accident and the condition of the car and then no airbag deployment- that was way too much!
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact's vehicle veered off the road, down an embankment, and crashed into a concrete drain cover and a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact and front seat passenger sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. Updated 8/19/15 updated 08/25/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. While the contact's vehicle was idling at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, left and right wrists, back, right knees, right ankle and the right foot. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
Airbag complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Ford Escape, 4% of the model year's 604 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Escape airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2012 Ford Escape, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Escape airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 1 fire and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.