2012 Ford Escape HEV

I have had a multitude of issues regarding the steering and suspension of my 2012 ford escape limited. I have replaced the same parts multiple times over a short period of time. And the parts normally would not be replaced but once in a car lifetime such as control arms 4x 3x on passenger 1x on driver. But anyway this led to me finding out that my front passenger subframe is rotted. Which led me to a community chat about this vehicle where I found people that have had accidents been hurt and this is a common thing to happen with this vehicle. The subframe should not rot especially on one side I’m particularly without a reason. There is a recall for some 2012 ford escapes for this part but for some reason my car is not on that recall. My car is now a danger to drive. The recall should include all vehicles that have the issue with that part. My vehicle is unsafe to drive now. Idk how long it’s been like that. I’ve had part after part replaced because of this but no one had figured it out until my most recent mechanic. I have had my wheel fall off my vehicle while driving when my first control arm broke because the rot in the subframe is causing the rubber inside the control arm to wear fast. So when my control arm broke when I was driving luckily I was on a street rd not a highway I was not hurt but had to get it towed. My wheel dropped a second time while I was driving because of the same issue where the rot on the subframe is, is at the connection to the control arm where the rubber is. So there’s 2 times I could’ve been seriously hurt. I drive on the highway a lot. I have been very lucky. There is cases of people being hurt and having accidents because of this. I’m on a chat about this vehicle where an overwhelming amount of owners have the same exact issue with this part.

My 2012 Ford Escape has a critical HVAC defect that impairs defrost performance and poses a serious safety risk. Specifically, the desiccant bag within the A/C system’s dryer appears to break down over time, releasing particles into the system. This causes clogging and malfunction of the thermal expansion valve (TXV) and other components, ultimately preventing the system from producing cold, dry air necessary to clear interior windshield fog and maintain visibility. This is not a maintenance issue or a wear-and-tear problem. The desiccant bag is a sealed internal component, and its disintegration appears to be the result of a design or manufacturing defect. I have personally replaced key components (including the TXV and dryer) multiple times, yet the problem persists. Each time, the system works temporarily, then begins to fail again. Inspection of previously replaced components reveals no external cause of failure. In Florida’s climate, where humidity is high and sudden rain is common, a functioning defroster is essential for safety. Without adequate cooling and dehumidification, the windshield fogs up quickly and cannot be cleared. This creates a serious and unpredictable visibility hazard during everyday driving, especially during morning commutes or in wet weather. Despite the apparent systemic nature of this problem and numerous online reports of similar issues in Ford Escape models of this era, Ford has not issued a recall or technical service bulletin. A recall should be considered due to the direct impact this issue has on driver visibility and safe vehicle operation.

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. No warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around a roundabout, the vehicle independently veered toward the right before the steering wheel became firm. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic steering column needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the part to perform the repair was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

RE: Subject: Urgent Concern Regarding Power Steering Failure - 2012 Ford Escape (VIN: [XXX] ) I am writing to express my urgent concern regarding a significant and recurring power steering failure in my 2012 Ford Escape, which I have owned for thirteen years. I have been experiencing a complete loss of power steering while driving, creating extremely dangerous situations. This issue is not intermittent; it occurs frequently and without warning, making my vehicle difficult to control, particularly at lower speeds. I am now unable to drive my beloved car, My research indicates that Ford issued a safety recall for similar power steering problems in several 2011-2013 Ford models, including the Taurus, Flex, Fusion, and others. The recall, as described on [XXX] , addressed "a potential intermittent electrical connection in the steering gear that might result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving." This description perfectly matches the issues I am experiencing. Despite these known problems and the related recall, I did not receive any notification, and my 2012 Ford Escape was not included in the listed models. I am deeply concerned and puzzled by this omission, as the safety risk is identical. The loss of power steering has repeatedly placed me in potentially hazardous situations, and I fear for my safety and the safety of other drivers. I urgently request your assistance in resolving this matter. Specifically, I would like to: Determine why my 2012 Ford Escape was not included in the power steering recall, given the identical symptoms. Request an immediate inspection of my vehicle by a certified Ford technician to diagnose and repair the power steering issue. Inquire about any potential remedies, including financial assistance, for the repairs, considering the known recall and the safety risk involved. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V777000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the vehicle would only start after several attempts. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who acknowledged that the clamp for the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) flange was not properly placed, and the issue was corrected. The contact stated that the failure persisted while attempting to start the vehicle the following morning. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became difficult to turn to the left or right. The contact stated that as a temporary repair, the vehicle was restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column assembly needed to be replaced due to the steering wheel seizing. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown Ford Recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 5 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was attempting to straighten the steering wheel and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the gear shifter failed to move or operate as intended. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

My sub frame on the right-side front has rusted completely out and needs to be replaced to drive it safely. It is available for inspection, it has been inspected by three different mechanics, all came to the same conclusion, the sub frame needs replacing ASAP. The car has not been inspected by anyone else. No warning lights are on, this is not a part that would activate a warning light.

Steering wheel locked while turning into a parking lot traveling about 10 MPH. No amount of force on the steering wheel would turn the front wheels. It was total steering failure. Braking failed at the same time. Car coasted to a stop. No warning lamps or dashboard indication of failure. There would have been total loss of vehicle control had this happened at highway speed with catastrophic results. By luck there was not an accident or collision as a result of the failure. The engine was turned off then restarted a few minutes later. Steering and brake function returned after restarting the engine. Researching similar incidents regarding model 2012 Ford Escape shows this is a common problem judging from the number of complaints filed by other owners of this model Ford. A recall was issued for Escape model years up to 2011 but not for the 2012 or later. Problem description for model years prior to 2012 seem to be an identical match for the 2012 model. This car is unsafe to drive. Hopefully Ford will step up to the issue and provide correction for this dangerous automobile.

I was driving this morning and the steering wheel became very hard to turn. I slowed down because I didn’t know what was happening, tried to turn into my workplace and had to use all of my strength to turn the steering wheel. No dashboard warning lights. It was sudden and was a scary situation.