My 2012 Ford Escape: I noticed the rear wheel wells starting to bubble and rust shortly after I purchased my slightly used Escape in 2013. I sanded them out, primed and touch up the paint to keep them from rusting more. Shortly after there was pin holes now showing up. I had the them repaired at a body shop in 2015, that didn't last 6 months.

My Escape looked horrible, wheel wells were completely rotted out, and the rear lift gate started rusting from within were it became UN-usable. I could only load from my truck from rear window, eventually glass hinges broke and had to replace twice!

Filled up the gas tank in November 2022, noticed gas small in my truck. Took it to a mechanic immediately thought it was the gas line. Mechanic said, sorry cannot fix this, I have seen this way too often! Ford Escapes rear suspensions are rotting out from within. The under coat has such a thick layer that moisture is trapped and rotting the rear ends of these vehicles. The wheel well rust is evidence that the rot is too far gone.

I had to purchase a new vehicle being that the Escape is now a danger to be on the road. I cannot find a repair shop to fix the Escape. No body shops want the liability. There is not even enough miles on this truck to scrap out.

Is there a a class action settlement against Ford, for knowing that this was a problem in their manufacturing process, and the undercoating was only to hide the metal plate that was added to their struct kit design defect.

In 2012 I purchased a new Ford Escape Limited. I have maintained the vehicle in excellent mechanical condition and planed on keeping this vehicle for at least 10 years. In 2018 I noticed rust forming on the underside of the drivers and passengers rear wheel quarter panels. On a regular maintenance visit to my Ford Dealer where I purchased the vehicle, I asked the Service Technician does Ford cover this type of early rust development. He told me unfortunately not. I then asked him could their body and paint shop fix the rusted areas? He said they don't fix rust spots they "replace the entire quarter panel". This didn't sound right to me so I started taking my Escape to other Collision and Body Repair and paint shops.

I visited 6 in all. Five said they don't treat rusted areas. One said they would only replace both quarter panels and it would cost approximately $8000 dollars! The last Collision shop I visited recommended I try a "Custom Body Shop". So I went to the only place I could find in Northern Virginia (Woodbridge area) and the Owner said he could help me. I told him I thought this was early rust development and had he seen this type rust development before? He started laughing and said yes. He called it "Ford Rust" and he was "the only place around that would fix the rusted area only". He said that this was a very common problem with Ford Escapes, Explorers and F150 and he had fixed somewhere between 150 and 200 vehicles in the local area!

To say I was shocked is an understatement. I have owned Ford products for 30 years. I owned a Thunderbird, Ranger and Taurus for many years and never saw any rust. The Owner told me he could cut the area out and order an after market partial panel part that would fit the area. It would be a proper fix and not just try to paint rust. Of course he would then have to match my paint best he could and blend in the area from the door to the rear bumper.

After reading so many early "Ford Rust" horror stories on Ford Escapes, Explorers and F150s, I'm amazed Ford hasn't 1. Taken responsibility for this early rust development and repair it at no cost to the owner. 2. Engineer those areas so they DON"T RUST! Or 3. At least offer to partial pay for the repair. I was going to buy a 2020 Ford Explorer but now I assure you I will NEVER own another Ford truck or SUV.

My 2012 Escape has rusted in the back wheel wells and lift gate, the same as all the other complaints. The driver side is worse than passenger side. I can feel a separation of medal when I feel inside the wheel well. I have sprayed paint on it to help it look better but now it is starting to get wholes right through. Also the lift gate has rust along the whole bottom edge.

I am really disappointed in Ford. They should be repairing all these rusted out wheel wells and lift gates. We all pay a lot of hard earned money to have a nice looking car but we get a rust bucket. Cars should not be rusting now a days. I had owned a 2002 Ford Escape for 10 years with NO rust so I bought the 2012 thinking it would be rust free also. Definitely a defect on the paint job. I had always bought Nissans but thought I would give Ford a try. Guess what, no more Fords.

Before warranty was up (I did get bumper to bumper for 10 years), I went in and showed them its rusting and I had the ECE module for rust control that I paid for from Ford. The tailgate was the first place to rust badly in less than 5 years. They told me my problem and they would fix it for a price of course. I argued with Ford Motor company as well even though my husband was a Ford employee at the time. They still said SORRY.

So I found from other owners they had the same issue but I don't know if anyone ever filed a class action suit because its criminal they wreck they made of this once great vehicle. Let me know if anyone did file a suit as most of us took out loans to buy a vehicle we hope lasts until after we pay off the loan. C Young London Ontario is where I bought it

I purchased my new 2012 Ford Escape 3/2013. This is my 2nd Ford Escape. I noticed while hand washing my drivers side quarter panel wheel well lip rusting 9/2018 (6 months after my 6 yr payments finished. I filed complaint with Ford Motor Credit which was an oversea's call center??? Was told to take vehicle to my Ford dealership for photos which I did. Received call back from foreigner states located in Florida that my corrosion warranty expired after 5 years...Really??? I also have a 2003 Ford F150 rust free...Since my claim was rejected, I have noticed just about all the Ford Escapes 2012 and older quarter panels are visually doing the same thing. Ford needs be held accountable for the poor and cheap manufacturing process to cut costs. I am now rethinking if my family will ever purchase a Ford product again....

I'm having the same problem as everyone else here with my 2012 Ford Escape. Bubbling rust on the rear wheel wells and on the bottom edge of the rear hatch. From the repair quotes I've heard about and the lack of interest from Ford, I decided to take care of it myself. Sanded, primed, repainted with touch up paint and touch up spray paint last fall, and now I'm at it again. The rust hasn't made its way around to any visible spots yet, so I'm hoping if I just keep at it every year or so I'll stay ahead of it. Pretty disappointing to have to do this with a car that is otherwise in perfect condition.

2012 Ford Escape limited 3.0. I bought this car from a Ford dealer when it was 2 years old with 20,000 miles. This was my third Escape. I thought it was a little odd to see the "ripple" in the metal lip under both rear wheel wells. The rust started after the first year and I was thinking you got to be kidding. I'm a busy guy and don't have a lot of time to be bringing my car in to complain. I wasn't sure about a rust issue and if it would be covered. I had the super duper extended warranty and I had to bring car to Ford for another issue 2 years ago. While there, I said to the service writer that I was not happy about the rust coming through my wheel wells as well as identify the window hatch hinges that disintegrated. (reason brought in).

The guy gave me no guidance on the rust issue at all. Last year when brought in to the same dealer for my inspection sticker the guy said I may have to fix the rust I fully explained the car had 65000 miles and was rusting out. Again, no help. PLUS, I was working at this Ford dealer in Stoneham, building a new service building, and parked my car on the lot every day. My rusty Escape, and not one service guy offered an opinion? This was the 15th Ford I bought for my family. Just recently the service manager from Bonell Ford, where I bought it, got involved and told me how Ford fixed her Escape and may fix mine. I'm still waiting to hear back after several un-returned phone calls.

My 2012 Ford Escape started rusting at approximately 52,000 miles in 2017. I contacted both the dealership and Ford Customer Service headquarters in Michigan to be told they would pay half the cost of the repairs which were in the thousands of dollars which I didn't have.

I would like to start a class action suit and if anyone with the same problem is interested they can email me at donnalamb08@yahoo.com and I will find us an attorney.

Hope to hear from owners of not only 2012 but 2010, and 2011 as I was told by the dealership this was a design problem since the 2010 model....

Our 2012 Red Ford Escape is rusting around the rear wheels also! It's definitely a sign of poor quality of Ford products. We have a 2004 Acura MDX that has NO rust anywhere as well as a 2006 Volvo without rust. This is the LAST Ford product we will own. Wish we could buy American but I won't spend anymore money on cheap quality when I can buy foreign and have it built to last.

Every 2012 Ford Escape I see on the roads has rust in the same place. Ford needs to own up to the problem and fix it for us. As is, we are driving advertisements of the poor quality of Ford products!

I see I am yet another upset 2012 Ford Escape owner. I first noticed the rust bubbles about 6 months after buying my car, (second owner, bought when it was 2.5 years old out of 3/36,000 mile warranty) I too went to Ford to ask about them repairing the issue and was told by a nice service writer at my dealership that Ford won't fix under warranty because it's not a safety concern.

Let me state here, I worked for Toyota for 5 years as the Warranty Administrator at a dealership and Toyota bent over backwards to ensure their customers were happy, even if it meant repairing a non-safety issue under warranty. I bought this Escape because I also did not like the crossover 2013 and newer body style.

I don't believe we as Ford Escape owners are asking for anything out of this world. All we ask is Ford fix the problem UNDER WARRANTY as they have identified it. I am almost done paying this car off and want to keep it for at least another 3-5 years. Even if I wanted to sell it now I am going to get low balled based on the appearance as I maintain my car mechanically and physically.

Noticed body cancer rusting starting at passenger rear wheel well. Took to an auto body shop. He explained that it is a common problem due to use of foam sealants between body panels to deaden noise. The foams holds the water and causes rust cancer like vehicles of the 1970s. It would cost about $4000.00 to repair just one wheel well. The car is only worth about $8k.

While I was on vacation 2000 miles away from New Jersey, I noticed the same problem on 3 other 2012 Ford Escapes that I saw. So this is just a single or local issue. It is bad design and engineering.

My 2012 Escape started to rust in 2015. 3 years old and rusting! I owe an astronomical amount on this vehicle yet and it has rust already. This is absolutely ridiculous that that this has not been fixed by Ford yet. I had an estimate done on my vehicle, which is an odd color - lime squeeze (bright green) and ironically enough the owner said "this is the second one in the last few weeks with rust in the same areas - it was the same color as yours." He suspected that the gas tank side is more rusted because a (?)foam cushion needs to be replaced to prevent gas from leaking. Not sure however, the cost to repair all 3 areas (rear wheel wells and back hatch) is $750.

I bought this car used in 2013. It is a 2012. Excessive rusting around wheel wells around rear back tires. I noticed this washing car, excessive brown rusting on bottom of trim and behind it. Its like the inside lip near the tire. You really can't notice it unless you are looking up at tire kinda bent down washing wheels (if that makes sense). I think it is from bad design. I think for a car this age it shouldn't do this. Also, it is on opposite side too, exactly the same location, same problem. I just paid this off.

Contacted Ford in March of 2017. They denied the claim. Took back to Ford in May of 2018. Rust is real bad now. I talked to customer service before I took it back to dealer. He gave me a line of bull. He told me it is dealer discretion to fix the rust and that is not true Ford denied the claim again.

I have been waiting for a supervisor from customer service to call me back for a month. They never called me. I have been waiting for a service rep to call me for 3 weeks now, they never called. The estimate to fix is $5,100. Car has 51500 miles on it and has been garage kept since new.

I have bought 12 new Ford cars & trucks since 1999 and I will never buy another Ford again. They do not care about the consumer, they won't call you back. They must use cheap steel. They had this problem on 1rst generation Escapes, but they did not fix the problem.

Ford should be ashamed of this reoccurring issue. I was shocked to learn on this website that all of the 2012 Ford Escapes are having the same issue. My vehicle is finally paid off and it now it's going to rust through. IF Ford was a descent company they should fix their rust issue at no cost to the consumer.

The only reason why I purchased this one was since it was the last of their awesome design. It will be the last Ford that I purchase since I hate the cross-over, mini-van look. Haven't decided which SUV make that I will consider yet but I'm actively looking.

Extremely upset over this!!! I've purchased three brand new Ford Escapes and this one is the most disappointing one (2002, 2005 and 2012).

I had just finished paying off my Escape (5yrs) when I started to see RUST on the driver's side rear wheel well just below gas cap cover! Furious! Initially, I thought it was an issue of possible leaking of gas when filling up? However, I started to pay attention to other Escapes in parking lots/on the roads and noticed they had the same RUST. Why doesn't Ford take care of this obvious problem? I was looking forward to having this vehicle for years to come but at this rate, doubtful. Our family have always been Ford owners.

I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN.