RoadVitals

2002 Ford Escape Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 30, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,027 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 10 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakesExterior lighting
Filed May 30, 2022
Fire reported

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
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Oct 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, AN ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAYNE EKERS FORD (2000 10TH AVE N, LAKE WORTH, FL 33461, PHONE NUMBER: (800) 749-8875) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE FUEL LEAK WAS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE WORKERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,325.

NHTSA ID
11032669
Incident
Jun 29, 2017
Mileage
108,325 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Mar 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE OVER HEAD LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE ALSO INDEPENDENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,337.

NHTSA ID
10701073
Incident
Feb 25, 2015
Mileage
132,337 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Nov 19, 2012

THE VEHICLE, AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON, AND THE GEAR INDICATOR SQUARE THAT SURROUNDS THE ENGAGED GEAR WAS MULTIPLYING, FLASHING AND "DANCING" FROM GEAR TO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, AND THIS TIME THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED. AFTER QUITE SOME TIME ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE FLASHING INTERIOR LIGHTS CEASED AND WOULD ONLY CONTINUE AGAIN ONCE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THOUGH REMOVING THE KEY CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO STOP FLASHING, EVEN ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED, THE INDICATOR SQUARE CONTINUED THE BEHAVIOR. PERIODICALLY DURING OPERATION THE LIGHTS STRENGTHEN IN AND OUT WHEN IDLING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10485212
Incident
Nov 9, 2012
Mileage
172,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 15, 2010

MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I WENT TO THE LOCAL AUTOZONE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BULB. WHEN I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT PLUG, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MELTED. I REMOVED AND INSTALLED A NEW LIGHT BULB. I THEN TESTED THE NEW BULB TO MAKE SURE IT WORKED. IT DID NOT TURNED ON. THE HEADLIGHT PLUG SEEMS LIKE IT MELTED AT SOME POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343466
Incident
Jul 14, 2010
Mileage
70,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 10, 2010

MY SISTER'S MAZDA TRIBUTE & MY FORD ESCAPE ARE THE SAME VEHICLE AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT PLUG MELT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10298922
Incident
Jan 9, 2010
Mileage
190,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 11, 2007

I HAVE TAKEN THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS NOT COMING ON, TURNING OFF, BLINKING WHILE IN USE, AND NOT TURNING OFF AFTER USE. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF WAS TO REMOVE THE FUSES. I AM HAVING TROUBLE EVEN FINDING OUT IF THIS ITEM WAS A DEFECT RECALL. THAT WAS PUT UP WITH THE FORD COMPANY I GREW UP WITH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10192989
Incident
Feb 2, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 6, 2006

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTRY ROAD LAST WEEK WHEN MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS WHICH WORKED. SATURDAY MORNING I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. NO MECHANIC WAS ON DUTY ;BUT THE OWNER VERIFIED THE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HE SAID TO BRING IT BACK MONDAY FOR A MECHANIC TO CHECK IT. MONDAY THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED ON MONDAY. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN WHEN THEY WERE NOT WORKING SO THEY COULD GET AN ERROR CODE. WELL, I HAD DONE THAT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE LIGHTS WORK NOW. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE; BUT I CANNOT FIND OUT IF OTHER CARS ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVE TO CATCH IT WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. ALSO THE DEALER IS NOT OPEN AT NIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.*JB

NHTSA ID
10149548
Incident
Feb 3, 2006
Mileage
25,400 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 4, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE, THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW, AND THE LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE OR HAD TOUCHED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED AWAY WITH THE IGNITION LOCKED, KEYS REMOVED AND VEHICLE IN PARK. ALSO THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK ON FOUR OCCASIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOLD THE CONSUMER THE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY, WAS BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10031648
Incident
Jul 30, 2003
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Dec 27, 2002

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.*JB

NHTSA ID
568244
Incident
Jul 2, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .