2012 Ford Escape Brakes Problems
15 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (15)
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space the vehicle suddenly accelerated hitting a parking sign causing it to fall and hit another vehicle. Then the vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. The vehicle's passenger side of the bumper and headlight had been damaged. The vehicle was able to be steered in another direction while the brake pedal was aggressively pressed causing the vehicle to come to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle that the parking sign fell onto had received paint damage on the hood of the vehicle and the parked vehicle's bumper had detached from the vehicle. There were no injuries. No medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body had failed. The mechanic had shared that the vehicle was included in a TSB (ID number unknown). The contact had called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the TSB due to the time duration at which it was active had since passed. The vehicle had been repaired by the mechanic. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the diagnosis was confirmed and the throttle body was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
2012 Ford Escape-while driving the red triangle brake indicator warning light comes on as well as the check brake system indicator light, it beeps and the car feels like it doesn't want to stop at times. This has intermittently been happening and the warning lights seem to reset once the car is turned off and restarted. I took the car in for service and had new tires and brakes put on. The light indicator and braking issue problem did not resolve. Intermittently, you press the brake and it comes to a partial stop then pushes out further and doesn't always stop as it should. On 5/9/2023, I was approaching a stop sign and experienced complete brake failure and was in an accident. Was going around 15-20 mph, the indicator lights came on, the car slowed and then the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and then the car would not stop. I called the mechanic that put the new brakes on and took the car in again for service, he suggested that I take it to another shop. I took the car to the suggested mechanic and they replaced the brakes, rotors, and brake lines. The indicator lights still kept coming on even on the way home from the mechanics shop. I drove right back and they could not find the issue/no codes. On 11/6/2023, while driving at approximately 20 mph, I experienced another complete braking failure. I was leaving the parking lot, suddenly the ABS warning and brake warning indicator light came on and the brakes did not work at all, the pedal went all the way to the floor. I managed to pull off the road and into a parking lot and pulled the emergency brake to stop the car. The second incident was 11/6/2023 and there was no crash, the vehicle was towed. Contacted Ford Dealership-stated there were no recalls on the vehicle. Can supply service records if needed.
Brake system light warning on every time I drive. Was told there was a recall for 2014 Escape but not 2012. Was told the anti-lock brake system computer has a malfunction.
The contact's friend owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated after parking and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle began to roll backwards. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The caliber on our front wheel drive 2012, right wheel of the Escape overheated and locked up almost causing an accident. After taking it to be repaired (this time not a Ford dealer), the mechanic said the caliber got so hot that it melted the brake pad. The cost of repair is $900. Our brakes were installed and guaranteed by Tri-County Ford. This situation could have easily cause a serious accident or a car fire and caused bodily harm or worse. Our current mechanic said this is a common problem with our year (2012) Escape. Ford Motor Company needs to address this issue.
BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FAILED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVE TO WORK. BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SOFT. STOPPING CAR BECAME DIFFICULT. AFTER BOOSTER PUMP WAS REPLACED, FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO STICK CAUSING BRAKES TO OVERHEAT. ABS/HCU CONTROL MODULE ALSO REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. FORD DOES NOT CURRENTLY RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM A FREQUENTLY OCCURRING ISSUE.
WITHIN THE PAST 2 YRS THE ABS HAS GONE OUT COMPLETELY ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS AND TRAUMATIZING...
2 MONTHS AGO WE HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY TO GO INTO A SHOP BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE LOUD NOISE AND WE COULD BARELY MOVE THE CAR. THE BRAKES HAD LOCKED INTO THE PISTONS AND THE PISTONS WERE CRACKED AND EVERYTHING INVOLVING THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING THE CALIBERS. YESTERDAY 5/30/19 WE TOOK IT IN AND YET AGAIN THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING THE CALIBERS. WE LOOKED IT UP AND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM HTTPS://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/41616/FORD/ESCAPE/08-FORD-ESCAPE-FRONT-BRAKES-LOCKING-UP
BRAKES FAILED AND ENDED UP GOING THROUGH CROSS TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION. AFTER $4990 AND A FULL MONTH AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THE HCU HAD A LEAKING SEAL AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DISABLE THE BRAKES!
BRAKE HOSE CONNECTOR FOR FRONT BRAKES IS NOT ALLOWING FLUID TO FLOW BACK TO MASTER CYLINDER. THIS CAUSES BRAKES TO REMAIN APPLIED AND HEATING UP. TEMPERATURES PREDICTED BY FORD DEALER (SHANE AT BOB ALLEN FORD, OVERLAND PARK, KS) PREDICTED TO BE AS HIGH AS 1200 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IS HIGH AND BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS ARE RUINED. WAS NOTICED IMMEDIATELY BY DRIVER OF VEHICLE. NOT A DELAYED ISSUE.
WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE REAR BRAKES MAKE A RUBBING SOUND LIKE HAVING A FLAT SPOT ON THE DRUMS. ITS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME SOUND. THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. 1 YEAR BEFORE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT NEVER SOUNDED THAT WAY. EVEN WHILE PARKED AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT STILL SOUNDS LIKE SPRINGS ARE GOING TO SNAP. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL DECK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,276. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. AS A RESULT, BOTH FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,420. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 12/18/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED HESITATION AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77. UPDATED 1/15/13* CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED ON 12/13/12. HIS RIGHT FOOT WAS TOUCHING THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE PEDAL ABRUPTLY EXTENDED PARTIALLY TO THE FLOOR FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ UPDATED 08/28/12. *JB