FaultScore

2002 Ford Escape equipment problems

13 of the 1,397 complaints about the 2002 Ford Escape are about the equipment — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,500 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Equipment 5 38.5%
Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 3 23.1%
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2 15.4%
AIR Conditioner 1 7.7%
Electrical 1 7.7%
Recreational Vehicle/Trailer 1 7.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 131,000 miles Millersburg, PA

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

VINYL DOOR PANEL OF FRONT PASSENGER DOOR PEALED OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10638245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,243 miles Julian, CA Fire

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

MY ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN WE WENT TO GO TO TOWN AND IT WAS SMOKING THEN ON FIRE THIS WAS IN THE EVENING ABOUT 8 IF WE HADN'T GONE OUT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A HUGE FIRE WITCH COULD HAVE INVOLVED 3 OTHER CARS NOT TO MENTION OUR HOUSE WE LIVE IN RAMONA CA 92065 AND ITS FIRE SEASON WE ARE IN A RURAL AREA..

NHTSA complaint #10538169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Idyllwild, CA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE COVER. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DAMAGED WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST. ON NOVEMBER 25, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO REVERSE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FLUSHED THE INJECTORS, AND CLEANED THE UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND SPARK PLUGS. THE FUEL FILTERS, COIL BOOTS, AND IGNITIONS WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, REPLACE FUEL FILTER, AND A/C IS NOT BLOWING COLD. UPDATED 03/31/08

NHTSA complaint #10218668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

EQUIPMENT

TRANS HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED REPLACED REBUILT OVER 14 TIMES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND THE CAR JERKS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS UP OR DOWN, EXCEPT THE TIME I COULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE AND HAD TO LET THE CAR ROLL INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF A BUSY STREET.

NHTSA complaint #10139029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 660,000 miles Kingsport, TN

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 66,000 MILES ON IT. COMING HOME FROM A WEEKEND TRIP THE CLUTCH STUCK AND WOULD HAVE TO BE PULLED UP WITH YOUR FOOT WHEN HAVING TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AND TOWING TO A GARAGE WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD WENT OUT.THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN TO A CAR THIS NEW. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THIS?

NHTSA complaint #10128377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Pleasant, SC

EQUIPMENT

WE DRIVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. IT IS DRIVEN BY BOTH MY HUSBAND (BILL) AND MYSELF. WHILE DRIVING WE STOPPED IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT TO EAT. WE PULLED INTO PARKING PLACE, FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED AND WE ALMOST WENT INTO THE RESTAURANT WINDOW. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE CAR BACK BY USING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. HE THEN REACHED DOWN AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. WE HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ON 4 SEPARTE OCCASSIONS AND HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ON 6 OCCASSIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 4 WEEKS AGO. I WAS DRIVING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE, HAD MY HAND ON THE GEAR SHIFT TO PUT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT AS MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AS MY HUSBAND AND WENT INTO A PLATE GLASS WINDOW OF A RESTAURANT THAT FORTUNATELY WAS NOT OPEN AND BEING REMODELED. I DID $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE RESTAURANT IS CLAIMING $30,000 DAMAGE TO THEIR BUILDING. AGAIN WE HAD IT IN THE GARAGE. THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. WE HAVE HEARD FROM FORD THAT THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AS SOONER OR LATER, WHEN IT HAPPENS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A CAR THAT WORKS PROPERLY. OTHER TIMES WHEN DRIVING ALONG IT WOULD ACCELLERATE ON ITS OWN BUT THEN CUT BACK. MOST OFTEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE FOR SOME REASON. FORD GARAGE CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FORD CO. CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT SO THEY SAY.

NHTSA complaint #10091048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,464 miles Gilbert, AZ

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

CDS WERE REPEATEDLY STICKING IN THE 6-DISC CD CHANGER; STICKING IN ALL SIX SLOTS. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER. A NEW CD PLAYER WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10086124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,300 miles Irving, TX

EQUIPMENT

1)2002 FORD ESCAPE DIED WHILE DRIVING. CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES WAS LOST. )THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS. TWO DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE CENTERS ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I COULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT IF IN ANY TRAFFIC AND AM UNABLE TO RECOVER THE VEHICLE. 3)BOTH FORD DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DETECT THIS FAILURE ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS. SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THERE IS A ATSB FOR A PCM REPROGRAM, BUT DID NOT PERFORM THIS REPAIR BECAUSE HE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THESE COMPLAINTS AND "REPAIRS".

NHTSA complaint #10080549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Wingate, NC

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

COMPUTER CONTROLS LOCKED DOWN THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE COMPUTER WAS RESETTING WHEN IT DONE THIS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE WINDSHIELD IS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR AND THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE MY CAR IS THE ONLY ONE THEY KNOW OF.

NHTSA complaint #10069157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles Norristown, PA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WAS RUMBLING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE JUMPING AND OR KICKING. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE PART AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RUMBLING NOISE WOULD NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY FORD ENGINEERS. FORD DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, BUT SAY IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND CD'S WOULD GET STUCK IN THE CD PLAYER. *SC THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND, THE STABILIZER END LINKS WERE REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #10050466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Chehalis, WA

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

ON MY NEW FORD ESCAPE 2002 BOUGHT 8-2002. MY GAS PEDAL STUCK, MY BRAKES WERE LEAKING FLUID MY IGNITION HAS BROKE. MY PASSANGER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY AND HAS OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THERE IS A VIBRATION IN MY LEFT FRONT END AND MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT TIMES MY DRIVER SIDE SAFTEY RESTRAINT HAS SHEARED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #10007766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washtenaw, MI

EQUIPMENT

CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 2, 2002 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A BROKEN HEADLIGHT AND MISSING EQUIPMENT FROM THE VEHICLE, ON JULY 23, 2002 THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING STALLING, BRAKE AND ODOMETER PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A FLAW, THE STALLING AND THE ODOMETER PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKERS AND THE CLUTCH STICKING, CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A HOTEL.

NHTSA complaint #568244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washtenaw, MI

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 2, 2002 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A BROKEN HEADLIGHT AND MISSING EQUIPMENT FROM THE VEHICLE, ON JULY 23, 2002 THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING STALLING, BRAKE AND ODOMETER PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A FLAW, THE STALLING AND THE ODOMETER PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKERS AND THE CLUTCH STICKING, CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A HOTEL.

NHTSA complaint #568244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Ford Escape problems

← Full 2002 Ford Escape report