Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 80 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 80, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and started drifting to the left. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a rusted subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
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.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN HEARD A LOUD BANG WHEN HITTING A BUMP. STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TO A SHOP. UPON INSPECTION, THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN AND WAS HANGING 6 INCHES LOWER THAN IT SHOULD. UPON CALLING FORD, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL FOR THE ROTTING, WITCH I QUESTIONED AND GOT NON ANSWERS AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUB-FRAME FOR THE EXACT ISSUE I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIANCING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OF THE PARKING LOT, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL TURNED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER HEARING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD COUNTRY (280 N GIBSON RD, HENDERSON, NV 89014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE WAS THE SAME PARTS OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF RECALL THE REPAIR WAS DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,158.
MY CAR JERKS, AND SWERVES BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT AND THE SUBRALFRAME ARE MESSED UP. IT WILL COST ME TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIX AND NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH IT. I DONT WANT TO SELL IT TO ANYONE BE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS AND GETS WORSE AT HIGH SPEEDS.
ON 12/20/2013 I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, AND HAD TO PAY 1,279.79. IN APRIL 2014 YOU ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ITEM. FOR SOME TREASON YOU EXCLUDED MY CAR. CONSIDERING MY CAR REQUIRED THE EXACT ITEM REPLACED ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR, I AM REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THAT REPAIR. ALSO A COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OUT. A DEFECT THAT DOES NOT SEEM REPAIRABLE. IN LIGHT OF THE AIRBAG RECALL I AM CONCERNED I AM SITTING IN FRONT OF A LOADED GUN. I WILL KEEP THIS COMPLAINT WHERE MY FAMILY CAN FIND IT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS COMPLAINT
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM LOOSENED AND NEEDED TO BE TORQUED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED A STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,074.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIBERTY MAZDA (91 WEST SERVICE RD, HARTFORD, CT) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED, CORRODED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TT
HAD A RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON MAY 30 2014 AND TODAY HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME PART AND FORD ISN'T RECOGNIZING IT AS A PROBLEM , THE PART IS $2000 AND VECHICLE IS STILL WORTH MORE THAN THAT AMOUNT AND I HAD TO BUY THE PART AND PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION AND FORD REFUSE TO CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT : THE RECALLED PART FAILED NOT SATISFYING THE RECALL ONLY LASTED 4 YEARS , CAUSING THE CECILE NOT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION
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
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.
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.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE POWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AWAY FROM THE SUBFRAME. AS A WOMAN I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED IT UP BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT EVEN WAS UNTIL I FOUND A RECALL FROM FORD THAT DIDN'T MEAN CRAP FOR ME BUT THAT FORD WON'T PAY FOR THEIR MESS OF A VEHICLE! I'M JUST HAPPY I DIDN'T CRASH INTO A NEARBY CAR AND WHEN THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN! DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET APPROXIMATELY 35MPH
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 30 MPH AND AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND UNSTABLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER A-ARM SUSPENSION HAD FRACTURED DO TO SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TAKATA RECALL RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM SUBFRAME. IN MOTION,ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING STRAIGHT . STEERING WHEEL 90 DEG.FROM CENTER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL 2IN. OUT OF TOE.PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED .DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR CO. DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM.
FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED INTO. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
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
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 APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME SEPARATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
I HAD A RECALL (#14S02) WHICH IS A CORROSION RELATED SEPARATION OF THE ATTACHMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE SUBFRAME. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE WHAT THEY DID WAS PUT A CROSSBAR ACROSS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUBFRAME INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE WHOLE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUBFRAME. THIS ACTION DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.
PASSENGER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION FROM FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREET WHILE TURNING. CV BOOT COVER ALSO DAMAGED BY CONTROL ARM FAILURE. AAA STATES THERE IS A LOWER CONTROL ARM CORROSION RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000. FORD DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL. CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN STATE OF OHIO.
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.
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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