
Customer Assistance 270
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 277
Reporting safety defects (Canada only) 277
Cleaning 278
Maintenance and Specifications 285
Engine compartment 287
Engine oil 291
Battery 295
Engine coolant 297
Fuel information 303
Air filter(s) 319
Part numbers 323
Maintenance product specifications and capacities 324
Engine data 327
Accessories 330
Ford Extended Service Plan 332
Scheduled Maintenance 336
Normal scheduled maintenance and log 342
Index 355
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written
authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may change the contents without
notice and without incurring obligation.
Copyright © 2011 Ford Motor Company
Table of Contents
3
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Engine oil and filter recommendations
Look for this certification
trademark.
Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil
Only use oils certified for gasoline engines by the American Petroleum
Institute (API). An oil with this trademark symbol conforms to the
current engine and emission system protection standards and fuel
economy requirements of the International Lubricant Standardization and
Approval Committee (ILSAC), comprised of U.S. and Japanese
automobile manufacturers.
To protect your engine and engine’s warranty, use MotorcraftSAE
5W-20 or an equivalent SAE 5W-20 oil meeting Ford specification
WSS-M2C945-A.SAE 5W-20 oil provides optimum fuel economy and
durability performance meeting all requirements for your
vehicle’s engine.Refer toMaintenance product specifications and
capacitieslater in this chapter for more information.
Do not use supplemental engine oil additives, cleaners or other engine
treatments. They are unnecessary and could lead to engine damage that
is not covered by Ford warranty.
Change your engine oil and filter according to the appropriate schedule
listed in thescheduled maintenance information.
Ford production and Motorcraftreplacement oil filters are designed for
added engine protection and long life. If a replacement oil filter is used
that does not meet Ford material and design specifications, start-up
engine noises or knock may be experienced.
It is recommended you use the appropriate Motorcraftoil filter or
another with equivalent performance for your engine application.
Maintenance and Specifications
294
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Maintenance and Specifications
312
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

EXCEPTIONS
There are several exceptions to the Normal Schedule. They are listed
below:
Normal vehicle axle maintenance:Rear axles and power take-off
(PTO) units with synthetic fluid and light-duty trucks equipped with
Ford-design axles are lubricated for life; do not check or change fluid
unless a leak is suspected, service is required or the assembly has been
submerged in water. During long periods of trailer towing with outside
temperatures above 70°F (21°C) and at wide-open throttle for long
periods above 45 mph (72 km/h), non-synthetic rear axle fluids should
be changed every 3,000 miles (4,800 km) or three months, whichever
comes first. This interval can be waived if the axle is filled with 75W140
synthetic gear fluid meeting Ford specification WSL-M2C192-A, part
number F1TZ-19580-B or equivalent. Add friction modifier XL-3
(EST-M2C118-A) or equivalent for complete refill of Traction-Lok rear
axles (refer toMaintenance product specifications and capacitiesin
theMaintenance and Specificationschapter for details).
Police/Taxi/Livery vehicle axle maintenance:Change rear axle fluid
every 100,000 miles (160,000 km). Rear axle fluid change may be waived if
the axle was filled with 75W140 synthetic gear fluid meeting Ford
specification WSL-M2C192-A, part number FITZ-19580-B or equivalent. Add
four ounces (118 mL) of additive friction modifier XL-3 (EST-M2C118-A) or
equivalent for complete refill of Traction-Lok rear axles. The axle fluid
should be changed anytime the axle has been submerged in water
California fuel filter replacement:If the vehicle is registered in
California, the California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission
warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of the vehicle’s
useful life. Ford Motor Company, however, urges you to have all
recommended maintenance services performed at the specified intervals
and to record all vehicle service.
Class A Motorhome:Change brake fluid every two years.
Hot climate oil change intervals:If operating conditions are normal
and you drive your vehicle under typical, everyday conditionsandyou
are using an API performance category oil of SL or later (for example
SM, etc.) then you can follow the 7,500 mile (12,000 km) normal service
oil change intervals schedule. Vehicles operating in the Middle East,
North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa or locations with similar climates must
follow the oil change interval of 3,000 mile (4,800 km) if the owner is
using oils defined by the American Petroleum Institute (API)
performance category of API SK or earlier (for example SJ, etc).
Scheduled Maintenance
353
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Changing a tire .........................254
Child safety seats ......................158
attaching with tether straps ..165
in front seat ............................159
in rear seat ..............................159
LATCH .....................................162
recommendations ...................156
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................168
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............279
instrument panel ....................282
interior .....................................283
plastic parts ............................281
washing ....................................278
waxing .....................................278
wheels ......................................279
wiper blades ............................281
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......46, 49
Clock ............................................28
Clutch
fluid ..........................................316
operation while driving ..........226
recommended shift speeds ....227
Compass, electronic ....................68
calibration .................................69
set zone adjustment .................68
Console ........................................69
overhead ....................................67
Controls
power seat ...............................116
steering column ........................76
Coolant
checking and adding ..............297
refill capacities ................300, 324
specifications ..........................324Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................74
Customer Assistance ................245
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..................................332, 335
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............274
Getting roadside assistance ...245
Getting the service you
need .........................................270
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................276
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................274
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................55
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................316
engine oil .................................291
Driving under special
conditions ..................226, 239, 242
sand .........................................240
snow and ice ...........................243
through water .................241, 244
E
Electronic message center .........20
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................265
running out of fuel .........264, 308
Emergency Flashers .................246
Emission control system ..........313
Engine ........................................327
cleaning ...................................279
Index
356
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

coolant .....................................297
fail-safe cooling .......................301
idle speed control ...................295
lubrication specifications .......324
refill capacities ........................324
service points ..................287–288
starting after a collision .........247
Engine block heater .................210
Engine oil ..................................291
checking and adding ..............291
dipstick ....................................291
filter, specifications ........294, 323
recommendations ...................294
refill capacities ........................324
specifications ..........................324
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................210
F
Fail safe cooling ........................301
Fleet MyKey programming ........93
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....303
Floor mats .............................86–87
Fluid capacities .........................324
Fog lamps ....................................54
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................238
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................222
Fuel ............................................303
calculating fuel
economy ............................21, 310
cap ...........................................306
capacity ...................................324
choosing the right fuel ...........307
detergent in fuel .....................308
filler funnel .............................308filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................303, 306, 310
filter, specifications ........303, 323
fuel pump shut-off switch .....247
improving fuel economy ........310
octane rating ...................307, 327
quality ......................................308
running out of fuel .........264, 308
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................303
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .................................303, 307
Fuses ..................................247–248
G
Garage door opener ....................79
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............306
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................310
Gauges .........................................17
H
Hazard flashers .........................246
Headlamps ...................................53
aiming ........................................56
bulb specifications ....................60
daytime running lights .............55
flash to pass ..............................54
high beam .................................54
replacing bulbs .........................60
turning on and off ....................53
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................49
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................46
Hood ..........................................286
Index
357
2012 Escape(204)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)