2000 Ford Escape Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Escape, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Interior & seats120.0%
- Powertrain (other)120.0%
- Steering120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT THEN STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS WERE DAMAGED. SHE WAS UNSURE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS THE INCORRECT SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,536 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN FAN FOR CLIMATE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AT WHATEVER SPEED VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FIX COST JUST UNDER $800.00 !
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ONCE IT IS CLOSED. THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONTACT HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR EMERGENCY. FORD WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V602000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,500.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V382000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE), WHICH APPLIED ONLY TO THE FORD HYBRID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 6 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE VEHICLE SAFELY INTO THE PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PREFERRED FORD (1401 S BEACON BLVD, GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417, (616) 842-0600) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .