Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 70 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.
The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words
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
WHILE IN MOTION, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME DUE TO CORROSION. I LOST STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO SKID TO THE SHOULDER. THE SAME ISSUE AS RECALL 14S02 BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.
THE MOUNTS THAT THE ENGINE SITS ON RUSTED AWAY, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP ONTO THE STEERING SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO STEER OR KEEP STRAIGHT
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.
MY VEHICLE IDLES TO 4000RPM AND CONTROL THE SPEED BY ITSELF, THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BACK BREAK AREA THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHERE I CAN'T PUT IT IN ANY GEAR SOMETIMES AND GETTING WORSE. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME LAST NIGHT BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING IT IDLED HIGH AND AS I BRAKE IT BARELY STOPPED AND WHEN RELEASING BREAK IT SPEEDS UP TO 50 OR MORE MPH AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE BREAK..I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND WAITED A WHILE AND TURNED BACK ON AND IT IDLED TO 4000 RPM AGAIN. COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK AND BREAK PEDAL WAS HARD. WHEN ARRIVING HOME TO BACK CAR IN DRIVEWAY TOWE GUY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IDLE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING CRANKED AND WAS AT 1000RPM AT FIRST START. ALSO AC PRESSURE. CAR RUNS HOT BUT NO SMOKE WATER BUBBLES IN COOLANT RESERVOIR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GAVE WARNING OF ANY OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED.
CROSS MEMBER BAR RUSTED OUT. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED.
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.
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALSO I HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSPENSION THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND NEVER WAS FIXED BY PREVIOUS OWNER NOW IM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS PAST RECALLED ISSUES. IF YOU OWN A CAR AND JUST PURCHASED IT BY PREVIOUS OWNER MAKE SURE THAT RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED ON VEHICLE. NOW I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE.
THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAD RECALL 14S02 DONE IN SEPT. 2016. AT THE TIME I REQUESTED THE SUB FRAME BE REPLACED. FORD INDICATED THE RUST WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH AND INSTALLED A BRACE. TODAY, THE SUB FRAME GAVE WAY RENDERING THE VEHICLE A PERIL TO DRIVE. THE STEERING IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT AVOIDED COLLISION.
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. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE AND CAUSED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MALFUNCTION. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE LEFT ALIGNMENT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
HAD RECALL 14S02 PERFORMED ON 12/30/15. INSTALLED FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE.THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT AND FAILED. THE CROSSBRACE KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY COMING APART BUT CAR IS NOW NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAYING THEY ALREADY PERFORMED THE RECALL. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SUBFRAME REPLACEMENT.
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
I WAS MAKING A RIDE AN MAPLE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A SORT OF POPPING NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FLAT TIRE. THATS WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS SO I KEPT DRIVE TO WHERE I LIVE.ON THE WAY HOME ALL I HEARD WAS A SCREECHING. WHEN I GOT HOME HOME I CHECK AND THE SUSPENSION HAD SNAPPED BECAUSE OF RUSTING
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE CENTERS AND MECHANICS TO TRY TO PINPOINT A BANGING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES AT LOWER SPEEDS. TO DATE I HAVE HAD TIE RODS, SWAY BARS, SWAY BAR LINKS, BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND ALL BODY MOUNTS, ENGINE MOUNTS, CONTROL ARMS, SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALL CHECKED AND ALL NUTS AND BOLTS TIGHTENED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A MECHANIC TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I KNOW MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE, HOWEVER I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE REPLACING PARTS IN HOPES THAT WE MIGHT FINALLY FIND THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND. I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS FAILING BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY, OUR ESCAPE HAD THE CONTROL ARM DETACH FROM THE SUB FRAME. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL BY FORD BECAUSE IT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. DESPITE THAT THE DAMAGED AREA OF THE CAR BEING WHAT IS RECALLED IN 14V165000. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP THIS ISSUE. LUCKY ENOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THE DAMAGED SUB FRAMES, NOT JUST FIX THOSE THAT HAVEN'T ALREADY BROKE AND CONSUMERS HAVE HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS TO GET FIXED. *TR
ON AUGUST 26, 2014, I WENT TO FAIR OAKS FORD LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SERVICE IN NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS FOR SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-165 REPAIRS, AND I ASKED THEM TO CHECK AN ISSUE WHERE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A SCRAPING/GRINDING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH CAN AFFECT RELIABLE STOPPING AND THE VEHICLE STEERING STABILITY. SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THEN IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE MECHANIC "PUSHED BACK" THE VACUUM PLATE COVER FOR THE ROTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO RESOLVE THE SCRAPING/GRINDING/KNOCKING ISSUE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING ACTION AND SUBSEQUENT NOISES AND RESPONSE OF VEHICLE EXHIBITED ITSELF AGAIN BY THE SECOND STOPLIGHT AWAY FROM THE FAIR OAKS FORD DEALER LOCATION. TWO DAYS LATER, ON AUGUST 28, 2014, I TOOK MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE TO GEARHEAD AUTO SALES & REPAIR IN GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS FOR AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR COST ESTIMATE. ON THE LIFT, THE ISSUE WAS APPARENT TO THE MECHANIC AT GEARHEAD TO BE THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE BEING FAULTY, AND HE REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, WITH BOOTS, CLAMPS AND GREASE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THE FORD DEALER MECHANIC INSPECTED AND REPAIRED MY VEHICLE FOR THE FORD SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-165 IN THE SAME PROXIMITY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT, BUT HE FAILED TO FIND AND REPORT THE EASILY SEEN FAULTY RIGHT FRONT AXLE PROBLEM THE GEARHEAD MECHANIC PROMPTLY REPORTED TO ME. INSTEAD, THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE FALSELY POINTED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR VACUUM PLATE BEING OUT OF PLACE AS BEING THE ISSUE CAUSING THE SCRAPING/GRINDING/KNOCKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. IS THERE ANY TIE TO THE "CORROSION-RELATED SEPARATION" SAFETY RECALL ISSUE THAT LED TO THE FAULTY RIGHT FRONT AXLE CONDITION? SINCE MY UNEMPLOYMENT OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, MY FORD ESCAPE HAS RARELY BEEN DRIVEN, AND ONLY IN MY LOCAL AREA. *TR
VEHICLE SUB-FRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STEERING CONTROL. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE COVERED BY FORD SAFETY RECALL 14S02 AND NHTSA RECALL 14V-166 THAT PROVIDED A REINFORCEMENT OF THE SUB-FRAME. UNFORTUNATELY THE REINFORCING PARTS NECESSARY FOR THE RECALL ACTION WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE BEFORE THE FRAME FAILED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,812.
CORROSION-RELATED SEPARATION LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM SUBFRAME. CAR START PULLING INSTANTLY TO THE RIGHT. HAVE TO CALL TOWING TO GET TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, FORD COMPANY REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02. DEALER QUOTE ME AROUND $2000 FOR REPAIR. *TR
CAR WAS MAKING CREAKING SOUNDS. GOING AROUND A CORNER THE CAR BASICALLY HAD NO STEERING OR CONTROL. GOT CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND BASED ON TAKING PHOTO OF THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT FORD DECIDED TO PUT A CROSS BRACE ON AS OPPOSED TO REPLACING SUB FRAME. I TOLD DEALERSHIP I DID NOT AGREE WITH DECISION THAT SUBFRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH CROSS BRACE INSTALLED.APROX 4 WEEKS LATER CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE. CONTACTED FORD TOLD ME TO TOW CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE WAS TOLD NOW THAT SUB- FRAME WAS BROKEN DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR REQUEST TO REPLACE SUB FRAME WAS DENIED. THE SUB FRAME HOLDS ENGINE,TRANS, ALL STEERING AND BRAKE COMPONENTS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WAS TOLD BY FORDSUPV THAT BECAUSE THEY PUT ON BRACE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE CORRECT REPAIR THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF SUB FRAME RECALL THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE SUB FRAME. THIS IS HOW FORD TREATS THEIR CUSTOMERS AND PUTS THEM IN HARMS WAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF FORD VEHICLES FORD WINDSTAR FORD ESCAPE ETC. YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE USING DEFECTIVE STEEL ON UNDER BODY COMPONENTS CAUSING EXCESSIVE RUST RESULTING IN CRITICAL COMPONENT FAILURES. IN MY 48 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN FRAME WHEN I ASKED FORD FOR PHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS TO [XXX]. FIELDS I WAS TOLD THAT IS NOT GIVEN OUT AND THAT THE FORD SUPERVISORS DENIAL WAS FINAL DECISION. I FEEL FORD IS 100% WRONG IN THIS ISSUE AND IS NOT MAKING SAFE CARS, AND WHEN THERE IS A RECALL WILL NOT EVEN FIX THE RECALLED PARTS. ONCE AGAIN THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH TO MY FAMILY IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE X-WAY SHAME SHAME ON YOU FORD MOTOR. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO FILING LAW SUIT OR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST YOU. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE UNLUCKY INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THESE CARS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.
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