VehicleVerdict

2012 Ford Escape steering problems

The 2012 Ford Escape has 137 steering complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

137

Steering complaints

17%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Steering complaints by year

Escape steering complaints by model year1,131 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 61 complaints2002: 72 complaints2003: 44 complaints2004: 26 complaints2005: 49 complaints2006: 20 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 1,131 complaints2009: 828 complaints2010: 423 complaints2011: 410 complaints2012: 137 complaints2013: 304 complaints2014: 150 complaints2015: 78 complaints2016: 70 complaints2017: 49 complaints2018: 31 complaints2019: 16 complaints2020: 17 complaints2021: 4 complaints2022: 3 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Escape steering complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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+…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · January 10, 2015 · crash

Common questions

How many steering complaints does the 2012 Ford Escape have?

NHTSA has 137 complaints about the 2012 Ford Escape steering — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.