2012 Ford Escape Electrical Problems

This is a second car so don't drive it every day -- first incident occurred back in 2023 driving in town and car stopped!! Rolled to side and it started back up -- this happened several times and was very hesitant to drive on any highways. Several days the car would not start -- looked on line trying to figure out what was wrong and saw many people were having similar issues but nothing resolved -- battery tested fine but got a new battery from AAA but the next day battery was dead again. My husband did some more research and decided to pull the fuse for the radio and the front display module and the car has not stalled nor the battery been dead since but have been driving without a radio. I had to go on a five hour drive (both ways) last weekend and not fun driving that long without a radio. Stopped by a AAA repair shop yesterday and they said they had many complaints about the radio causing this problem (two actually that morning) and to call Ford to see if there was a recall. I called Ford this morning and the answer was NO! They told me to take it to a Ford Dealer (which is not convenient) and to have it diagnosed but again from what I have read Ford does not have any solutions to this problem. Wanted to get on file to let other people with this same issue to try removing the radio fuses (#14, #28, #39) but they would have no radio either. If I get the radio replaced not sure if that would create other issues and what affect it would have on the anti-theft system.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling in the restaurant drive thru line, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the battery cable had failed and needed to be replaced. The battery cables were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Warning on the dash panel intermittently says Lift gate/back glass is ajar even though it is closed. This causes the interior lights to turn on and off. I believe this is due to a manufacturer defect in the gasket that allows water/condensation to seep into the lift gate and cause corrosion of the electrical wires

DRIVER DOOR SEAL (TOP) LEAKS TO THE POINT OF THERE BEING 2 INCHES OF WATER ON DRIVER FLOOR. ALSO WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE DOOR, WHICH IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AT DEALER & LEAK STILL EXISTS. THIS IS CAUSING MOLD & RUST IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE INEXCUSABLE REPAIR WORK OF ATLANTIC AUTOMALL, BUT IT'S BECOMING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE & ATLANTIC AUTOMALL HAS BEEN REFUSING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR EVEN RESPOND TO MY CALLS

THIS MORNING I WAS RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AND WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I STARTED BRAKING MY ESCAPE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS HEADING AND AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. ALL TOGETHER MY ESCAPE HAD STALLED 6 TIMES IN A 5 MILE STRETCH, TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ONE OF THOSE TWO TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHTS FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED GREEN. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DAY I HAD PICKED IT UP FROM THE LOT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN OR EVEN SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF MECHANICAL ISSUES UNTIL TODAY AND OF COURSE IT COULD NOT JUST HAPPEN ONE TIME OR IN A PLACE THAT WAS A LITTLE SAFER TO TRY AND PULL OVER. A COUPLE OF THE TIMES I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I HIT THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. KIND OF CRAZY HOW MY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT THIS MORNING AND BY THE AFTERNOON I WAS JUST A SITTING DUCK JUST WAITING TO GET REAR ENDED AND WITH NO PRE WARNING SIGNS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. 2 TIMES I WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT STALLED AND THE REST OF THE TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH. THE FAULTY PART SEEMS TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND SOME VEHICLES WILL HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT ON AND PRODUCE ERROR CODES AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES WILL NOT HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT POP UP AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND GET THE SAME RESULTS AFTER IT IS FIXED. HOW CAN SOME VEHICLES HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON WHEN THE ISSUES START OCCURRING WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND OTHER VEHICLES NOT HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS? SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES SHOWING UP IN THE ESCAPE SOON.

GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY GAUGES DROPPED, EXCEPT FOR FUEL. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I'D LOST ENGINE POWER. I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER, THANKFULLY. SINCE THEN, W/O ANY WARNINGS THE GAUGES WILL DROP, AND ALL THE SENSOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS, AND HAD THEM TO PUT IT ON THEIR MACHINE TO SEE IF IT WOULD CODE. IT CODED FOR P-1602. BATTERY TESTED FINE. LOOKED UP ON YOU TUBE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FOUND THIS VIDEO. IN THE VIDEO IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2012 ESCAPE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=M0ZZ0DFESSK LOOKING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION THE OWNER OF A 2010 ESCAPE, SAID THAT FORD REPLACED 3 INSTRUMENT PANELS, AND THE FACTORY FORD TECHNICIAN FINALLY FOUND THAT IT WAS COLD SOLDER JOINTS. IF YOU HIT THE DASH WITH YOU FIST, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES COME BACK UP, SO SEEMS TO BE IN THE WIRING, NOT BATTERY RELATED. MILEAGE, AND INFORMATION CENTER, STILL HASN'T CAME BACK UP. THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING, AND WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM FORD IF THIS IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR STORE GLENBROOK HYUNDAI IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL WATER INTRUSION AROUND THE SEALS, WHICH AFFECTED THE LIFTGATE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIFTGATE HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR. ALSO, THE LIFTGATE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN. THE DEALER (FRED BEANS FORD OF BOYERTOWN, 525 PA-100, BECHTELSVILLE, PA 19505, (610) 367-2081) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAYTIME. HAWK FORD IN OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS REPLACED THE HEADLAMP CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT FIND ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,850.

WHILE DRIVING, EVERYTHING CUT OFF. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE POWER STEERING TURNED OFF, AND I HAD TO TRY AND SAFELY PULL OVER. LUCKILY, EACH TIME I WAS IN A POSITION WHERE I COULD PULL OVER SAFELY. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. THIS IS EXTREMELY SCARY AND UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS!!! PLEASE FORD, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND NO CODE CAN BE FOUND AND EVERYTHING PASSES THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE??

THE BACK LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN, BUT THE GLASS WILL . O HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE 2012 FORD ESCAPE .

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONE TIME ON A SIDE ROAD AND THE OTHER ON A HIGHWAY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. BOTH TIMES THAT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER 2012 ESCAPE OWNERS ON FORUMS/BLOGS.

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.

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING. MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION IS STARTING IN 5TH GEAR. JERKS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. UPON GOING 45 MPH ENGINE REVS TO 3 RPM. CANNOT TAKE OFF FAST, VERY SLOW MOVING.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I COULDN'T HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, AND IT RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE THIS TO ME A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. THE FORD DEALERSHIPS OFFER TO "TAKE A LOOK AT IT" FOR A HIGH PRICE, AND CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG EITHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND/OR FUEL SYSTEM, BUT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF THE FORD ESCAPE TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS STATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES IDENTICAL TO THIS, ALL OF THEM STATING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BAD ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG OR FIX THEIR VEHICLES. AS CONSUMERS, WE PAY A VERY HIGH PRICE FOR VEHICLES THAT WE DEPEND ON DAILY TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. FORD SHOULD STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SATISFACTION OF ITS CUSTOMERS.

AUTO DOOR LOCK / UNLOCK FEATURE WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO ESCAPE FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER IS INCAPACITATED.

I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE ABOUT IT AND THEY MADE A CASE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ME AND SAID THEY MUST WORK WITH CORPORATE TO HELP ME. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. I HAVE CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I'M BACK AT SQUARE 1.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A LOOSE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS AND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE RANDOMLY WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS APPARENTLY A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WITH IT FAILING TO ENGAGE AND START THE VEHICLE.

THE DOORS LOCK AND WON'T UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS AT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH OF THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS. SOMETIMES THEY BEGIN UNLOCKING A WEEK OR SO LATER OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T UNLOCK EVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SOME DOORS THEN UNLOCK, BUT NOT ALL.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND VEERING TO THE LEFT, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,782. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL DID NOT PROPERLY PROTECT THE VEHICLE FROM WATER. AS A RESULT, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE RECEIVER DRYER, BLOWER RESISTER, AND GASKET CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

SO FAR.. 3 TIMES NOW, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND MY CAR HAS STRONGLY SURGED FORWARD AND STALLED! I WAS ALMOST HIT TODAY WHILE TRYING TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL TO RE-START MY CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED IT CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD QUITE VIOLENTLY. THIS IS AN EPIC SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED/ADDRESSED ASAP!!! *TR

ENGINE DIED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET. *TR

ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DOOR LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, I'VE BEEN LOCKED IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE, MY HUSBAND IS DISABLE AND I HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE HATCH BACK TO GET DOORS TO OPEN. I AM AFRAID OF THIS VEHICLE, IF IT CATCHES FIRE WILL I GET OUT? I FEEL THIS IS A DEATH TRAP AND FORD IS JUST SOOTHING MY FEATHERS TO KEEP ME HAPPY. ALSO, I WAS SOLD A 2012 4X4 VEHICLE, HOWEVER MY VEHICLE IS NOT A 4X4. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GO BY VIN, THIS ONE IS WRONG! *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BATTERY WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 06/17/14 MA

ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 7PM, THE BACK HATCH BEGAN RANDOMLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND OPENED SLIGHTLY. AFTER WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 8AM, THE BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD AT 10MPH. I CONTACTED AIRPORT FORD IN FLORENCE, KY AND THEY STATED NEVER HEARING OF THIS HAPPENING WITH ANOTHER ESCAPE. *TR

AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON - I PUT IT IN PARK TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED - I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE CONCERN - THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. *TR