Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Ford Escape 2012 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Ford Escape 2012, its safety recalls and crash stars, what fuel costs you a month in cedis, whether it can still be imported, and what it sells for in Ghana.

2012 Ford Escape (ZD MY10) wagon · Photo: TuRbO_J from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY 2.0

Bull-Doser, Public domain
Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cutlass, CC0

Photos of the same model and year, not of the car you are buying. Ask the seller for photos of that car, with the VIN and the odometer in shot.

At a glance

US safety recalls 2
Owner complaints …
Crash rating ★★★☆☆ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵2,070 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Last year about 14 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2012 car turns 15 next year. It can still be imported now, but from about 2027 it will be too old under the 15-year rule. Do not pay for one that will not ship this year.

Every used vehicle needs a pre-shipment inspection and a Certificate of Conformity from a GSA-approved body in the country it ships from.
Not allowed at all: flood- or fire-damaged cars, cars with chassis damage, and cars assembled from parts, according to published guides to the rules.
Import duty: 10% of the customs value for a petrol, 1,001 to 3,000 cc car (GRA's vehicle duty table). VAT, NHIL, GETFund and the ECOWAS, AU, EXIM and special import levies come on top, plus an age penalty on older cars.
The customs value is GRA's own figure (the car's price when new, minus up to 50% for age, plus freight and insurance), not what you paid. Only the ICUMS assessment gives the final amount, so never pay a "clearing agent" a figure you cannot see on the official assessment.
Buying a car already in Ghana? Ask the DVLA to confirm through ICUMS that duty was paid before you pay.

Age is worked out from the model year; the rule uses the date of manufacture, which can be a few months earlier. Source: GSA public notice of 14 August 2026, as reported by Citi Newsroom.

Safety recalls

Faults the maker agreed to fix for free in the US. A car shipped to Ghana usually never got the repair, so these are worth asking about.

Fuel system, gasoline 16V777000 · 26/10/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.

The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Suspension 15E045000 · 03/06/2015

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

The risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Recalls for this model and year. Not every car of the model is affected: check the exact car with its VIN.

What owners say goes wrong

Problems real owners reported to the US government (NHTSA). A high count on a popular car is normal; look at which part comes up most.

Getting owner reports from the US database… this one takes a few seconds.

Crash test ratings

2012 Ford Escape SUV 4x4 · US government 5-star ratings

Overall	★★★☆☆
Front crash	★★★☆☆
Side crash	★★★☆☆
Rollover	★★★☆☆ 20% risk in a single-vehicle crash

Front crash test · NHTSA
Side crash test · NHTSA
Side pole test · NHTSA

What it costs to run in Ghana

US EPA fuel figures for the Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵2,070 a month

Town driving11.2 L/100 km
Mixed driving10.2 L/100 km
Litres a month134
Petrol price (1 Nov 2026)GH₵15.39/L

Uses the NPA price floor; pump prices are at or a little above it. Accra traffic and air conditioning use more than the US test, so treat this as the least you will spend.

What a Ford Escape 2012 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Ford Escape 2012 to buy?

Check that exact car: the VIN shows whether the ad tells the truth, and which recalls apply to it.

Questions people ask

Does the Ford Escape 2012 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 US safety recalls for the Ford Escape 2012. Cars imported to Ghana rarely had the free US repair done, so ask for proof or have a dealer check.

How much fuel does a Ford Escape 2012 use in Ghana?

About 11.2 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 134 litres a month, roughly GH₵2,070 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Ford Escape 2012 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2012 car can be imported until about 2026. It needs a pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity.

Sources: US NHTSA and EPA public data, Ghana NPA fuel prices, Ghana Standards Authority import notice (14 August 2026). Figures are for US-market versions of this model.