2002 Ford Escape Body & structure Problems

Vehicle was manufactured 04/2002 recalls state that from oct99 to jan04 multiple states had issues with rusting with suspension causing the car to crash. My vehicle was made in one of the states and has alot of underbody rusting. Back hatch latch gets stuck often and will not open. Drums on the back are sticking causing the vehicle to drag at take off, abs had a recall ford dealer "fixed" the issue abs light stays on. Radiator light stays on constantly even though fluids are at correct level radiator is not damaged. Battery light constantly stays on as well brand new battery and alternator wire are connected free of corrosion. Interior lights caught on fire and melted the plastic housing so I had to take out the small bulbs. Everything is available for inspection if needed.abs was looked at by Ford dealer and "fixed" but problem is still there. Problems have not been inspected by anyone other than the abs, no warnings at all. Events happened at different times during the time I got the vehicle. 2022 Jan

NHTSA ID

11466662

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer, he was informed that the subframe was severely corroded. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number 14V165000 (Structure) however, the remedy failed to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000.

NHTSA ID

11435096

Incident

Sep 15, 2021

Mileage

177,000 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the suspension of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the control arm needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced in 2014 under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (Structure) however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist and that he had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11420877

Incident

May 10, 2021

Mileage

82,000 mi

FRAME RUSTED OUT. FORD HAS TAKEN OVER 2 WEEKS TO ATTEMPT TO FIX. I'M HAVING TO RELY ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR A RIDE. NO COMMUNICATION WITHIN DEALER AND CUSTOMER

NHTSA ID

11193080

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

103,000 mi

RUSTED SUBFRAME- WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE I WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PLACED ON A LIFT. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE WORST HE HAD EVER SEEN AND THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11185478

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRIAN BEMIS FORD (1380 DEKALB AVE, SYCAMORE, IL 60178, (815) 895-4584) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE RUSTED FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT CHARGE THE CONTACT A STORAGE FEE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11155917

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER FORD RECALL 14S02. SUB FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WHILE DRIVING ENDANGERING MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. ILLINOIS, "SALT STATE". CURRENTLY AT FORD DEALERSHIP UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11155788

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

MY ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER TAKING STEPS TO FIX IT AS IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD ESCAPES, AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER STEERING AS FLUID AND ALL THAT IS FINE, WHICH I READ WAS A RECALL ALSO.

NHTSA ID

11103674

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE SERVICED. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE SUSPENSION. PRIOR TO THE TEST DRIVE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC OF SEVERE RUST ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER (ELKHORN MOTORS FORD, 910 N WISCONSIN ST, ELKHORN, WI 53121, (262) 723-2131) WAS CONTACTED AND A SUBSEQUENT VIN SEARCH SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JS

NHTSA ID

11084623

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR EXHAUST REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE FRAME WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBURBAN FORD OF STERLING HEIGHTS AT (586) 268-7500 (40333 VAN DYKE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11083592

Incident

Apr 4, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (BLACKWELL FORD, 41001 PLYMOUTH RD, PLYMOUTH, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS FRAME, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND EXHAUST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.

NHTSA ID

11065850

Incident

Jan 27, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WENT IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE WHEELS WENT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REINEKE FORD LINCOLN OF LIMA (1360 GREELY CHAPEL RD, LIMA, OH 45804, (419)223-3673) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUPPORT WAS SEVERELY RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME, CROSS MEMBER, CONTROL ARM, AND STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11024564

Incident

Sep 13, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED MANUALLY, IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, TO AN UNKNOWN PLACE OF BUSINESS. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A SQUEALING AND CRACKING NOISE. THE WHEEL BEARING AND STRUTS WERE FAULTY ON THE VEHICLE AS STATED BY THE CONTACT. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME BECOMING SEVERELY RUSTED UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11013938

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

DRIVING ON A 45 MI/HR ROAD I HIT A MINOR BUMP (APPROX 1" RAISED ROAD ACROSS ALL LANES) DUE TO POOR ROAD MAINTENANCE. AFTER HITTING THIS BUMP THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL FULLY LEFT OR RIGHT. I COULD ALSO FEEL THIS IN MY FEET UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I WAS CONCERNED AND HAD PLANS TO DRIVE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP LATER THAT DAY. WHEN TURNING LEFT OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN TOWN, HEADING TO THE SHOP, I NOTICED WHEN I WENT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A COMPLETE 90 DEGREES OFF FROM NORMAL ONCE I GOT THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. IT DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE AND I HAD IT TOWED INTO THE AUTO SHOP. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE A ROTTED OUT AND CRACKED SUB FRAME. FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC PART IN 2014 DUE TO MAJOR CORROSION ISSUES WITH THE 2001-2004 MODELS. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL, HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE PART THEY DECIDED IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRILL A HOLE IN THE CORRODED PART AND INSTALL A BRACKET ACROSS THE WHOLE SUB FRAME. I DON'T SEE HOW WEAKENING A CORRODED PART WITH A HOLE BEING DRILLED IN IT IS ANY SOLUTION. I AM NOT ALONE THINKING THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT FORD IS COMPLETELY IGNORING. IF THE SUB FRAME HAD FAILED WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF EXITING THE PARKING LOT I COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS THE SUB FRAME HOLDS THE WHEEL AND STEERING MECHANISM TOGETHER. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES SERIOUSLY AS THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER.

NHTSA ID

11011692

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

Mileage

224,000 mi

SUB FRAME CRACKED, CORROSION. FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THE SUB FRAME INSTEAD THEY ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL 14S02 WHICH DOES NOT REPLACE THE DAMAGE PART. ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT WITH CHILD ON BOARD, CAR WENT SIDE WAYS, STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. HOW CAN FORD BE ALLOWED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL BUT IT DOESN'T FIX THE BAD PART. RECALL 14S02 ONLY INSTALLS A METAL BAR SO THE WHEEL DOESN'T COME OFF. ONCE SUBFRAME IS ALREADY BROKEN FORD DOESN'T DO THE REPAIR. PEOPLE LIFE MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11001891

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

SUB FRAME/CRADLE RUSTED AND CAUSED A SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT AXEL AND STABILIZER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, JUST AS WE WERE EXITING THE HIGHWAY. A LOUD THUD OCCURRED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED MAKING DRIVING AND STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THIS VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO FORD'S RECORDS, HAD A STRUCTURE RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE (14V165000) THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER FOR THE SAID RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO. FORD IS UNWILLING TO HELP PAY FOR THE CURRENT REPAIRS AS WE DID NOT TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR (WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED TOWING AS THE CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE). THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND, IT SEEMS, THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10945627

Incident

Nov 29, 2016

Mileage

129,662 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD SOMETHING FRACTURE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CROSS-BRACE WAS NOT A SUFFICIENT REPAIR FOR THE CONTROL ARM CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10908134

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE NEW CONTROL ARMS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE CONTROL ARMS COULD BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10904384

Incident

Aug 29, 2016

Mileage

85,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10899781

Incident

Jun 27, 2016

Mileage

184,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10892135

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE REMEDY DID NOT PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION WERE FOUND NEAR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE POINT THAT THE PART COULD FRACTURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10865129

Incident

Jun 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10846001

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

NHTSA ID

10809092

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

177,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10808146

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UPON MAKING A TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT THE WHEELS REMAINED STRAIGHT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED TWO BRACKETS BUT NOT THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKETS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT PERFORMED ACCURATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10783795

Incident

Aug 15, 2015

Mileage

228,000 mi