2012 Ford Escape vs 2012 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Escape | 2012 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 598 | 822 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 43 | 88 |
| Investigations | 2 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 37 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–32 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 59,600 mi | 70,050 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 137 | 357 |
| Structure | 67 | 142 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 137 | 27 |
| Engine | 72 | 79 |
| Power Train | 66 | 55 |
| Electrical System | 42 | 63 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 69 | 17 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 27 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 66 | 41 |
| Hesitation / surging | 38 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 38 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 30 | 53 |
| Steering problems | 28 | 74 |
| Check engine light | 19 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 15 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 22 |
2012 Ford Escape
2012 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Escape vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.