Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2011 vs 2012 FORD ESCAPE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 179 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 54.1% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2011 1,331 complaints 2012 611 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2011 share 2012 share Share change
FUEL SYSTEM 14.2% 22.9% ▲ 8.8 pts larger share
STEERING 29.0% 21.0% ▼ 8.1 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 1.5% 8.0% ▲ 6.5 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14.3% 8.4% ▼ 6.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 14.2% 8.7% ▼ 5.5 pts smaller share
ENGINE 8.5% 5.9% ▼ 2.6 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.4% 2.5% ▲ 2.1 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 1.4% 3.1% ▲ 1.7 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 1.4% 2.5% ▲ 1.0 pts larger share
WHEELS 1.0% 0.2% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3.7% 3.1% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 1.8% 1.3% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 3.0% 3.1% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.2% 0.2% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11.0% 22.9% ▲ 12.0 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2011 3

Campaign components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, and SUSPENSION

2012 2

Campaign components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
7 → 3
◆ Injuries
39 → 28