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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Ford Escape has an acceptable complaint history so far, with leaking rear window problems showing up as the main concern so far. NHTSA complaint data shows an early pattern of problems with stalling while driving.

Another concern is the 2012 Escape rolled onto its roof during an NHTSA side impact test so it only received a marginal side impact rating ... not good.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,653 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Escape seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #18

May 072021

Escape 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owned a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that her husband was driving at 20-35 mph, when he choked on food and passed out, which then caused the vehicle to hit a telephone pole. The contact stated that she was seated in the front passenger side seat and the seat belt did not tightened to stop her from going forward towards the dashboard during the collision. The contact and her husband received medical attention and were transported by ambulance to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The dealer car-mart of North little rock (6601 warden rd, sherwood, ar 7212) was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Jacksonville, AR, USA

problem #17

Dec 162019

Escape

  • miles
The passenger front seat keeps locking and makes it so you can't move and the only way to get it to release is by undoing the seatbeat.

- Madison, IN, USA

problem #16

Dec 082019

Escape

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt latch failed to lock and secure the seat belt buckle. The contact called corwin Ford (located at 3241 South glenstone, springfield, mo 65804, 877-962-2371) where it was diagnosed that the seat belt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided case number: Cas-25127436. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #15

Dec 082019

Escape

  • 113,520 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The front passenger seat belt keeps kicking up and when it does it doesn't let you move.

- North East, PA, USA

problem #14

Aug 202019

Escape

  • 139,635 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the seat belt retracted into the folded rear seat. The rear seat would not fold upright. The contact took the vehicle to great lakes Ford (2469 E apple ave, muskegon, mi 49442, (231) 777-2750) where the mechanics folded the seat down and it would not raise back up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,635.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #13

Jun 012019

Escape

  • miles
Front seatbelts do not lock or catch or work correctly. If in accident or stopping suddenly the seatbelts do not catch the passengers

- Justin, TX, USA

problem #12

Nov 012018

Escape

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Seat belts do not retract, when putting on or taking off.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #11

Mar 152019

Escape

  • miles
My vehicle makes loud noise when I drive from the wheel barrel

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #10

Feb 012019

Escape

  • 60,000 miles
Seat belt fails to remain latched

- Rogers, AR, USA

problem #9

Feb 012018

Escape

  • 56,000 miles
The passenger seat belt does not tighten across my chest. It is very dangerous as I'm putting myself in danger every time I ride in the car.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #8

Sep 042017

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have trouble with the seat belts, they do not retrack by themselves and sometimes they lock up even though I did not stop suddenly., another problem is with my dashboard the lighting goes dim and them bright while I am driving for no reason I can tell, this is all during city street driving. I also have a strong fuel smell which lasts for about 5 minutes when I start the car in the morning.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #7

Nov 112015

Escape

  • 50,000 miles
Escape has several issues, Ford dealer would review and report no issues found. I bought my Escape new in July 2012. 1.front seat belts - within the first year (Jan-Feb 2013 - mileage 5,000ish) the front seat belts wouldn't retract 90% of the time, causing them to be caught in the door and/or keep the door from closing. 2.transmission issues (Nov 2015 - mileage 50,000ish ) it shifts badly, sometimes acts as if its in-between gears when your breaking or accelerating. When you release the peddle and reapply, it'll reengage but at times will lurch again. 3. electrical issues - Jan 2016 -(mileage 65,000ish) the dome light won't go out, had to pull the fuse lights so I could drive unobstructed. 4.(4/18/16 - mileage 73,000ish) rear door will not open. Apparently this is a known issue based on what find on line and here. In the past I did notice water 'drips' on my back window, I couldn't figure out where the 'leak' was, again dealership reported no problem found, I just thought it was pooled water that found its way in when I had opened up the rear window/door. But based on what I see on line and here the rear door not opening is due to the 'water drip/leak' issue because of the rear window gasket isn't correct thickness or something along those lines. Back door not being able to open is a safety concern, all doors should be accessible in case of an emergency. 5. same date as 4, door locks not locking when you put SUV into gear. 6. April 26, 2016 ' pulling out of my drive way ' no incline what so ever ' warning light for steep grade light came on. 6. truck will be taken back to a different Ford dealer ship, for all the above issues, I don't care to return to where I bought it, since their service department is very dismissive despite me providing reports from this website to them about the various issues I came in with.

- Hoffman Estates, IL, USA

problem #6

Dec 012015

Escape

  • 45,000 miles
The front seat belts fail to retract. The buckles get caught in the door or the strap keeps the door from closing. The straps start to fray. The car only has 55,000 miles and the belts need to be retracted manually.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #5

Mar 022015

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
2013 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to restraints control module defect recall notice. The consumer was informed since the air bag light was no on, there was no problem with the vehicle. The consumer referenced recall 14V597000.

- Windermere, FL, USA

problem #4

May 162014

Escape 6-cyl

  • 42,983 miles
This document is in response to a frontal vehicle collision occurring May 16, 2014 on a major highway. At my request I requested the auto body repair shop to check the occupant restraint system. It was determined that the restraint system control module was initiative and probably has been since the car was built. Perhaps an investigation of the same, make, model, and year Ford SUV be considered. All supporting documentation is immediately available.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 232013

Escape

  • 5,999 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 2 mph and turning into a parking lot, another vehicle crashed into the rear quarter of the vehicle. Both vehicles were destroyed and none of the air bags in the contact's vehicle deployed. The contact also stated that the seat belt did not tighten on impact. The contact suffered neck, shoulder and facial injuries. The front seat passenger sustained severe internal head injuries and was diagnosed with a concussion. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not inspected to determine the cause of the air bag failure. The failure and current mileage was 5,999.

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #2

Oct 192012

Escape

  • 18,017 miles
The contact rented a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that a rear passenger attempted to utilize the seat belt but the entire seat belt assembly fractured from the socket. The vehicle was taken back to the rental company where they were informed of the failure. The contact could not verify if anything had been done to correct the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 18,017.

- West Richland, WA, USA

problem #1

Mar 192012

Escape

  • 5,595 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped when a vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not tighten. The rear of the driver's seat fractured as a result of the crash. The police arrived on scene and a report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene and taken to the dealer. The vehicle was neither repaired nor inspected for the air bag, seat belt and seat failures. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 5,595.

- Milford, CT, USA

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