FordEdge2012Overview/ford/edge/2012/base/

2012 Ford Edge

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Edge.

Body SUV

The 2012 Ford Edge is a midsize SUV built on Ford’s contemporary platform and equipped with a powertrain that requires 5.7 quarts of 5W‑30 API‑specified oil, reflecting the model’s engineering emphasis on efficient lubrication. In the realm of owner feedback, the Edge recorded 1,129 total complaints for the year, with the electrical system emerging as the most frequent source of concern and three manufacturer recalls documented. When positioned within the model’s broader reliability timeline—from the low of three complaints in its inaugural 2004 year to the peak of 2,434 complaints in 2013—2012 sits toward the lower‑middle end of the spectrum, indicating a comparatively modest issue rate for researchers tracking long‑term durability trends.

Model year202420232021202020192018201720162012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 w/Power Code Remote Start · 650 w/Power Code Remote Start CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 w/Power Code Remote Start · 650 w/Power Code Remote Start CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTURNOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-65TR17OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4394 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Edge of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 2012 SEL EcoBoost
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012SEL EcoBoost 2.0L Turbo I-47.70 sec16.00 sec240 hpFWD
2011Sport 3.7L V66.90 sec15.40 sec305 hpAWD
2011Limited 3.5L V67.10 sec15.70 sec285 hpFWD
2011SEL 3.5L V67.10 sec15.70 sec285 hpFWD
2011Sport 3.7L V67.60 sec15.90 sec305 hpAWD
2009Sport 3.5L V67.30 sec15.80 sec265 hpFWD
2008Limited 3.5L V67.60 sec16.00 sec265 hpAWD
2007SEL Plus 3.5L V67.50 sec16.00 sec265 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.7 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.7 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsDI:
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29.5 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0
Front Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque9.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.32 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65 w/Power Code Remote Start
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 w/Power Code Remote Start cca
Standard BCI Group Number65 w/Power Code Remote Start

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Pressure Test18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature175-182 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket65 ft-lbs / 19 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle98 ft-lbs / 66 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.023 in / 0.393 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Tighten all bolts to finger tight. Step 25 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
117 ft. lbs. Step 2: 32 ft. lbs., Step 3: 9017 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9089 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 4: 37 ft. lbs., step 5: 9089 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

15.17 ft. lbs.5.17 ft. lbs
211.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
341.0 ft. lbs.41 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., Step 2: 59 ft. lbs., Step 3: 83 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9037 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs., step 2: turn 457.4 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install 6 new exhaust manifold stud9 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 604 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 157 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The first-generation Ford Edge (2007–2014) exhibits a volatile complaint trend, with numbers surging to 1,801 in 2011 and peaking at 2,434 in 2013, while recalls declined from a high of 8 in 2008–2009 to just 2–3 in the later years. The 2012 model year falls between these spikes with 1,129 complaints and only 3 recalls, suggesting it avoids the worst of the generation’s issues but still carries a significant complaint load. Its top problem areas are electrical system (259 complaints) and service brakes (215), accompanied by 26 crash-related and 5 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Compared to the sharp drop to 378 complaints for 2014 and the generally lower numbers in the second generation (2015+), the 2012 Edge appears to be a riskier choice within the model’s lifecycle. Given the elevated complaint volume and safety-related reports, this year is not the strongest option; a later first-generation or early second-generation model would likely offer better reliability.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
71
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,129
Owner complaints
26 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,129 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System259
Service Brakes215
Unknown Or Other120
Structure78
Electrical System,Structure59
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting31
Engine25
Service Brakes, Hydraulic23

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V002000Fuel System, GasolineReported 06/01/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Edge vehicles manufactured from September 2, 2010, through April 25, 2013, and equipped with 2.0L engines. The fuel line pulse damper metal housing may… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line with one that does not have a damper, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 25, 2014. Owners may…

14V393000Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle ShaftReported 02/07/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 71 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 530402024-10-10Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
13N02 S32024-02-20Service Brakes, HydraulicCertain 2010-2014 Model Year Edge and MKX Vehicles - Extended Warranty Coverage on Brake…
13N02 S22023-11-27Service Brakes, HydraulicCertain 2010-2014 Model Year Edge and MKX Vehicles - Extended Warranty Coverage on Brake…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Edge. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Edge take?

5.7 qt of 5W-30 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C946-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Edge have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.