Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 19 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
GEARS IS HARD TO SHIFT TO THE RIGHT GEAR AND LIGHTS WENT OUT EARLY LIKE A DRAIN IN ELECTRICAL AND MY STEARING IS BECOMING HARD TO TURN ON STREETS AND OUT MY DRIVE WAY
FORD DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX UNCARRIAGE AND CONTROL ARM. THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. HOWEVER I FOUND THE RECALL 14S02. DESCRIBING THE ISSUE THE DEALERSHIP STATED IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY CASH INSTEAD OF THEM FIXING THE ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) AT 80,707 MILES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCURATELY RESPOND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TURNED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
ON JULY 18, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I WAS DRIVING UP BEAR CREEK MOUNTAIN AND HEARD A LOUD POP THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING BEFORE I FINALLY GOT IT TO STOP. I SLIDE ABOUT 50 FEET AND IF I'D SLIDE ABOUT 3 MORE FEET I WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE SUB FRAME HAD SNAPPED IN TWO AND IT PULLED THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE OUT. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT ON A ROLL BACK AND TAKEN AWAY.ALSO DAMAGED WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND ,MOLDING AROUND THE FENDER. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THIS VEHICLE MY FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE WRECK. IT IS LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T GO OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE SUB FRAME TO BREAK AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. I SPOKE WITH THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT UNDER THE 2002 ESCAPE RECALL AND THAT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO FIRE OR LARGE CRASH THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE SUB FRAME BREAKING. MY INSURANCE CARRIER HAS ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ASKED THE LADY AT FORD IF SOMEONE HAD DIED IN THE WRECK WOULD I STILL BE TOLD THE SAME THING AND SHE REPLIED YES. ACCORDING TO FORD THEY CAN'T GIVE OUT TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO LEGAL DEPARTMENT OR ADDRESSES OR EMAIL ADDRESSES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD NOT SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT TRANSFER CALLS. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE LADY I WAS SPEAKING TO BY ANOTHER LADY. GO FIGURE. I THINK THAT FORD IS LIABLE FOR THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND NEEDS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH HEAR A LOUD CLUNCK LOST CONTROLL OF VEHICLE BREAK PEDLE TO THE FLOOR TRUCK STILL MOVING HAD TO USE ER BRAKE TO STOP. GOT OUT PASSANGER FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETLY DIFF WAY, THE BALL BEARER WAS DETACHED, THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF I WAS ON FREEWAY! CALLED FORD THEY CONTINUED TO TELL ME THIS WASNT PART OF RECALL CALLED MEHCANIC SAID THE SUBFRAME SO RUSTED IT HAS COMPLETLY DETACHED FROM BALL BEARERS CAUSING TIRE TO BASICALLY FALL OFF. FORD WILL NOT FIX IT, GAVE ME EVERY OTHER ALTERNITIVE ON WHAT IT COULD BE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE, FORD WONT HAVE IT TOWED TO THE LOT TO LOOK AT IT AND ON TOP OF THAT WONT SEE IT FOR A WEEK IF I DO GET IT TOWED UP THERE! WHAT A MESS. ILL NEVER SHOP WITH THEM AGAIN. THEY WONT CARE UNTIL THIS KILLS SOMEONE.
VINYL DOOR PANEL OF FRONT PASSENGER DOOR PEALED OFF. *TR
MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE UNKNOWN NOISES WHEN DRIVING, AND STEERING CONTROL BECAME VERY LOOSE. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY ROTTED THAT THE PASSENGER WHEEL CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND CAN NOT BE REATTACHED WITHOUT REPLACING THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
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..
LOWER CONTROL ARM RIPPED OFF UNDER CRADLE & RIPPED PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE SHAFT OFF THE TRANSMISSION - THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE CAR. IT APPEARS UNDER CRADLE RUSTED FROM INSIDE. I SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT OF THAT HAPPENING WHEN MY WIFE WAS ON THE FREEWAY, INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. *TR
ONE ALLOY WHEEL RIM ORIGINAL TO MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAVE PIN-SIZE HOLES WHICH CAUSES AIR TO CONSTANTLY ESCAPE LEADING TO POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. INCIDENT DATE IS WHEN DIAGNOSTICS FROM SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS REPORTED TO ME. *TR
I RECENTLY HAD $2,900 WORTH OF REPAIRS DONE TO MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT IN JULY. MY VEHICLE WAS BUCKING AND ALMOST STALLED WHEN I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS CLOGGED CAT CONVERTERS. THE CAR HAS THREE SETS OF THEM. THIS IS THE EFFECT OF THE CAUSE WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FAULTY OXYGEN SENSORS AS WELL AS BAD SPARK PLUGS. AT THE END OF SEPT THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING WELL AND I WENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE EGR VALVE WAS BLOWN AND THEIR WAS BROKEN BOLTS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS REPLACING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I WAS FURIOUS AND PROCEEDED TO RETURN TO THE MERRICK BELLMORE SERVICE CENTER. HE TOLD ME IF THE PROBLEM WAS ON HIS END THAT HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATS WHERE CLOGGED AGAIN. HE DIDN'T PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE CATS GETTING CLOGGED THE FIRST TIME. THE MECHANIC HAS SINCE REPLACED THREE SETS OF CAT CONVERTERS AND HE HAS A BILL FOR $1600 AND HAS HAD MY CAR AT HIS SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS NOW. THE SHOP IS "TRYING" TO GET FORD TO PAY FOR THE EXHAUST PARTS. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK WITH THE OWNERS OF THIS SERVICE STATION TO NO AVAIL (THE CLERKS TELL ME 5 DIFFERENT SET OF NAMES AS TO WHO IS THE OWNER) ALL I WANT IS MY CAR BACK AND LET THIS SERVICE STATION "EAT" THIS CURRENT BILL DUE TO THE FACT THAT ON THE BILL THAT I PAID IN JULY THE WARRANTY ON PARTS IS ONE YEAR OR $12,000 MILES. I AM FRUSTRATED, ANGRY AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. *TR
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. *JB
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?
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. *AK
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".*AK
NAR 05/28/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER FAILED TO MAINTAIN REASONABLE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED TWO CAR COLLISION. *CB
NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL. *CB
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
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
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
Data on this page last refreshed .