Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRIE MOTORS FORD OF VALPO, 2052 W MORTHLAND DR., VALPARAISO, IN 46385, (219) 464-3523), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE REAR DOOR LATCH. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT MY MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING, THEY TOLD ME THAT RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2012. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY WOULD MY MASTER CYLINDER BE LEAKING AGAIN TWO YEARS LATER? I WONDER IF THIS JOB WAS EVER DONE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A JOB THAT WASN'T PERFORMED. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS MY REAR DOOR LATCH. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR DOOR LOCKING AND OPENING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE. NOW I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR DOOR LATCH BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL NOR DID I RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT HAVING THESE SERVICES COMPLETED. *TR
1 - REAR LATCH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN IT IS COOL OUTSIDE, THE LATCH WILL NOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR. 2 - WINDOW LATCH HAS RUSTED CAUSING THE REAR WINDOW TO DETACH FROM THE HINGE. NOT THAT I AM BIDDER, BUT AT 37K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW.... I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH BOTH FORD AND MY DEALERSHIP ([XXX]). BOTH COMPANIES STATED THEY COULD NOT HELP ME AND THAT IT WAS ON ME TO PAY TO CORRECT. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A LACK OF USING PROPER SUPPLIES. THEY COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS. I AM HOPING YOU CAN HAVE THEM LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY HATE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT CANNOT USE THE REAR AS AN EXIT.... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT-GATE LATCH WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V602000 COMPONENT: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS: LATCH WAS RELATED, HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF $85. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE HER VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
2002 FORD ESCAPE REAR DOOR AND WINDOW ARE JAMMED AND CANNOT BE OPENED ALSO REAR DRIVERS DOOR. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE, AND THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGES HAVE BROKEN 3 TIMES [ONE TWICE, THE OTHER ONCE] IN NORMAL OPERATION. THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM COVERED BY SAFETY RECALL 04S20, BUT FORD SAYS THAT ONLY APPLIES TO CARS BUILT IN DIFFERENT ASSEMBLY PLANTS, NOT MINE. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT. SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN THE FALL OF 2003, AT DIFFERENT TIMES BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAVE GOTTEN STUCK WHERE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THEM FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, WHICH WAS FIXED WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 4 DAYS AGO AND THE DEALER IS GOING TO CHARGE ME A $300 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, PERIODICALLY, MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT I TRY. THEN THE NEXT DAY, IT WILL. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 15 TIMES SINCE THE FALL OF 2005. IN ALL OF THE INCIDENCES LISTED THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH WE TRIED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST STUCK. *NM
LEFT REAR DOOR IS JAMMED CLOSED. WILL NOT UNLOCK EITHER ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HANDLE. DEALER IS VERY HELPFUL BUT UNABLE TO REPAIR. NTSB LISTS SEVERAL OF SAME COMPLAINT BUT FORD HAS NO SOLUTION. ONLY ONE REMAINING EXIT FROM REAR AND LIKELY TO FAIL FROM SAME DESIGN AND TRAP PASSENGERS. *JB
REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILED AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. *JB
SINCE TAKING POSESSION OF A NEW 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLS IN SEPTEMBER 2001, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CUSHIONING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS NOT AS DENSE AS THE CUSHIONING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THE LEFT PORTION OF THIS SEAT HAS REMAINED COMPRESSED THROUGH NORMAL DAILY USE, AND WILL NOT SPRING BACK TO MATCH THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THIS HAS CREATED A SOMEWHAT UNLEVEL SEATING POSITION WITH RESPECT TO A DRIVER "LEANING" INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I HAVE JUST NOTICED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS COMPRESSION, CRACKS AND TEARS HAVE FORMED IN THE VINYL UPHOLSTERY TRIM WHERE THE CREASES ARE MOST APPARENT, AND LOOK ONLY TO GET WORSE THROUGH REPEATED USE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS TO THIS SEAT.
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. SPOKE WITH FORD NUMEROUS TIMES, THEY WILL NOT PAY THE $400 TO BE FIXED. I AM ONLY 1,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY.*AK
TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR DOOR LATCHES AND/OR ELECTRIC LOCKS HAVE FAILED SUCH THAT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. FIRST THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $400.00 NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS COULD BE A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY RISK IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. *JB
DRIVERS SEAT MOVES FOWARD APPROX 1/2" ON ACCELERATION AND STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS NOISE POSSIBLE BEARING, TRANSMISSION, OR DRIVESHAFT LIKE A LOPE AS IF SOMETHING WAS OUT OF ROUND OR HAS A HIGH SPOT. IT IS NOT THE TIRES.*AK
PASSENGER REAR DOOR WAS LOCKED SHUT. WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY OR OTHERWISE. I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED (STILL UNDER WARRANTY), BUT NOW I THINK THE OTHER REAR DOOR AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS STARTING TO NOT OPEN ON THE FIRST TRY AND THIS IS VERY FRUSTERATING AND UNSETTLING. *AK
(1) CE LIGHT ON AGAIN (2) VEHICLE NOT IDLING NORMALLY (3) VEHICLE NOT ADVANCING FROM STOP (4) SMELL BURNING OIL FROM ENGINE WHEN SHUT OFF, NO VISIBLE OIL LEAK FOUND ON DRIVEWAY (5) RATTLING FROM LF OF THE VEHICLE; SPEED OF RATTLING DIRECTLY RELATED TO SPEED OF VEHICLE; STARTS AROUND 25 MPH. (6) DRIVER'S SEAT LURCHES FORWARD ON SEAT TRACK WHEN BRAKING; ONLY OCCURS WITH LIGHTER WEIGHT DRIVERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE 30K MILE CHECK & TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE ISSUES. DEALER DID THE FOLLOWING - ISSUES 1-4: ENGINE COVERED IN OIL UPON INSPECTION (SECOND OIL LEAK); LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT COVER & OIL PAN; DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT COVER GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE GASKETS, & OIL FILTER; DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MONITOR SENSOR AGAIN (THIRD TIME). ISSUE 5: DEALER DID NOT HEAR NOISE COMING FROM LF OF VEHICLE; HEARD A NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE; REAR LIFT DOOR LATCH LOOSE; ADJUSTED/OILED IT. ISSUE 6: DEALER COMPARED PROBLEM WITH OTHER ESCAPES; FOUND TO BE A NORMAL CONDITION OF POWER DRIVER'S SEAT TO HAVE SOME PLAY IN IT (THIS IS VERY UNSAFE; SEAT LURCHES FORWARD 1-2IN WHEN BRAKING; I'M A SHORT FEMALE WHO STRUGGLES TO SIT A MIN OF 10IN FROM THE SW FOR THE AB; MOVING ME FORWARD ANOTHER 1-2IN IN A CRASH IS NOT SAFE). DEALER FOUND FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS BELOW SPECS; STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR 30K MILES; SEEMS TOO SOON. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED TO NHTSA REGARDING EXCESSIVE BRAKE/ROTOR WEAR. VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP 7/16-7/23. DEALER PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR (THIRD TIME). PICKED UP VEHICLE & DROVE IT OFF LOT; HEARD RATTLING FROM THE LF OF VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK & A MECHANIC WENT ON TEST DRIVE WITH ME, HEARD NOISE. TOOK IT BACK & INSPECTED VEHICLE TOGETHER. I NOTICED THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED & DETACHING FROM VEHICLE. HAD BEEN SLAPPING OUTSIDE OF APILLAR WHEN DRIVING, MAKING NOISE. DEALER STATED THEY WOULD ORDER NEW PART & I'D HAVE TO BRING VEHICLE BACK AGAIN TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. *AK
CHECK BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE; TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER; DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD COMES ON AND STAYS ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED; TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER; DEALER REPAIRED THE SHORT TO GROUND IN THE BRAKE LAMP CIRCUIT. *AK
FAILURE OF PASSENGER DOOR TO OPEN ON A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT SUV PREVENTING PASSENGER FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. NO KEYLOCK EXISTS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE . *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER' 4-5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN SHE TURNED ON HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONER THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL. EACH TIME THAT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IF THE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE FOUL SMELL. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING A WIND CAME INTO VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE AGAIN. HOWEVER, CONSUME COMPLAINED VEHICLE WAS FALLING APART, AND THE DEALERS WILL NOT HELP.*AK
THE DOORS ON THE ESCAPE WILL LOCK THEMSELVES CLOSED. THEY WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES TO THIS CAR ON 2 DIFFERENT DOORS. WHAT IF THEY LOCKED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND WE COULD NOT GET OUT?*AK
PURCHASED 2002 MODEL IN 10/01. THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING AND LOOSE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THE BOLT IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAME UNSECURED. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO CUSTOMER ERROR. IN 2002 THE UPHOLSTERY OVER THE CARGO SPACE WAS HANGING DOWN FROM THE CEILING AND THE FOAM INSULATION AROUND THE DOOR (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) WAS NOT SECURE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE UPHOLSTERY WAS FIXED BUT THE INSULATION WAS NOT. AT THAT TIME I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE IDLING WHEN IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS ALSO VIBRATING AND SKIPPING WHEN IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALLEGEDLY CHECKED WITH NOT PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE THE INSULATION REPAIRED AND THE IDLING/VIBRATION CHECKED. THE INSULATION WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE CAR WAS FINE. IDLING/VIBRATION AND SKIPPING STILLS CONTINUES TODAY. ALSO THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CAR WAS NOT ON AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. I TRIED TO UNLOCK IT WITH THE REMOTE KEY. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE LOCKS WOULD SOMETIMES JAM. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THESE PROBLEMS. NOT CORRECTION. AT THIS TIME I AM COLLECTING ALL DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMITTING A LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
PURCHASED 1ST ESCAPE 6-7-02. DEALER HAD CAR 7 OUT OF 11 DAYS FOR STALLING ISSUES AND HATCH LOCK REPAIRS. DEALER REPLACED VEHICLE WITH NEW VEHICLE 6-25-02. ON 6-26-02 NEW CAR STALLED ON DECELERATION BETWEEN 6-6:30 PM GOING DOWN AN INCLINE ON PEARL DRIVE. ON 6-28-02 CAR STALLED ON DECELERATION AROUND 5 PM ON DOWNHILL SLOPE OF MUEGGE ROAD. THE CAR WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REQUEST ALL TSB TESTS BE PERFORMED BY DEALER AT ONE TIME TO REMEDY ISSUES. AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM FORD TO SEE IF THAT IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT, RESULTING IN DRIVER UNABLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER OR DASHBOARD SIGNALS.*AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
REAR DOOR IS JAMMED CLOSED. WILL NOT UNLOCK EITHER ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HANDLE. DEALER ADVISES "NO KNOWN FIX" AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR. DEALER ALSO ADVISES THAT OTHER REAR DOOR MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. DEALER REPORTS "FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON A FIX" BUT CANNOT PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN A REPAIR CAN BE MADE.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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