2012 Ford Escape Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

136Steering complaints

22.7%Of all 598 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM137 · 22.9%

STEERING136 · 22.7%

ENGINE72 · 12%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL69 · 11.5%

POWER TRAIN63 · 10.5%

Share of the 598 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“TOOK MY 2012 ESCAPE TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZED RECALL REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE SENSOR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE…”NHTSA complaint 10617263 — filed 07/29/2014

“WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I HAD…”NHTSA complaint 10542293 — filed 09/06/2013

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10489190 — filed 12/18/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Escape have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Ford Escape: 136 of 598 complaints on file (22.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Ford Escape have in total?

598 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 37 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.