2002 Ford Escape Visibility Problems

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE'S BACK WINDOW JUST EXPLODED PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. TEMPERATURE WAS MILD IN 70'S. NO RAIN.

NHTSA ID

10881819

Incident

Jun 29, 2016

THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SUPPORT BROKE WHILE OPENING THE REAR WINDOW. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GRAB THE REAR WINDOW BEFORE IT COULD BREAK. I WOULD NOTE THAT THE FALLING REAR WINDSHIELD CAN STRIKE THE OPERATOR AND/OR BYSTANDER AND COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURIES THAT COULD INCLUDE BRUISES TO THE HEAD, NECK OR BACK, AND POSSIBLY CUTS TO THE FACE, ARM OR HAND. I TOOK MY FORD ESCAPE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER (FRIENDLY FORD OF MONROE, MI) TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME EXACT DEFECT AND HE TOLD ME TO SAVE MY RECEIPT IN CASE MY VEHICLE IS RECALLED IN THE FUTURE. THE REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE COST $236.00 AT THE DEALER. I NOTED THAT ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2004, FORD NOTIFIED THE OWNERS THAT IT WILL RECALL APPROXIMATELY 955,732 VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY 2002 AND 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND/OR HINGES. I'M SURE THESE HINGES WERE ALSO USED ON 2002 FORD ESCAPES. BEFORE BUYING THE ABOVE LISTED FORD ESCAPE, I TEST DROVE SEVERAL OTHER ESCAPES. ON ONE OF THE ESCAPES THAT I TEST DROVE, I OPENED UP THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AND NOTICED THAT ONE HINGE WAS BROKEN AND THAT THE GLASS WAS HANGING FROM JUST ONE HINGE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD NOT BE BUYING THIS VEHICLE. MY NIECE ALSO OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND HER HINGE BECAME RUSTED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEE "NHTSA RECALL" 04V442000 FOR DETAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551762

Incident

Nov 3, 2013

Mileage

182,000 mi

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE PARKED UNATTENDED IN A PARKING LOT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON PRIOR TO INCIDENT. SECURITY CAMERAS REVEAL THEE WAS NO HUMAN TAMPERING PRIOR TO EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ID

10511113

Incident

Apr 12, 2013

Mileage

112,489 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD EXPLOSION WHILE THE CONTACT DRIVING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED, CAUSING SCRATCHES TO THE SIDE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

10480721

Incident

Oct 16, 2012

Mileage

112,000 mi

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454464

Incident

Apr 8, 2012

Mileage

104,861 mi

YESTERDAY I DROVE AROUND TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS IN MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE AND IT WAS FINE. CAME HOME LAST NIGHT (TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS AROUND 27 DEGREES OUTSIDE) AND PARKED IT IN GARAGE. WHEN I WENT OUT TO GARAGE NEXT DAY (14 HOURS LATER) TO LEAVE AGAIN I NOTICED MY FORD ESCAPE HAD IT'S BACK GLASS THAT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED OUT OF IT AND ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. ALL DOORS TO GARAGE WERE SHUT AND LOCKED. THIS EXPLOSION OF GLASS HAPPENED ALL BY ITSELF AFTER BEING PARKED THERE THE NIGHT BEFORE. ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT THAT HAS BOTH BEEN STAYING ON AND CANNOT GET EITHER TO STAY OFF!! WORRIED VEHICLE IS GONNA FALL APART SOME DAY BEFORE I GET MY CHILD TO HIS SCHOOL ONE MORNING..NOT DEPENDABLE VEHICLE AFTER ALL!! :( SEEMS I HAVE READ MANY MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FROM ESCAPE OWNERS WANTING TO KNOW..ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR THE BACKGLASS?? OR EVEN ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS VEHICLE?? FEELING UNSAFE FOR MY CHILD TO RIDE IN NOW!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10440354

Incident

Dec 18, 2011

OUR REAR HATCH WINDOW ON OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLS EXPLODED OVERNIGHT WHILE SITTING UNDISTURBED IN OUR GARAGE. IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 10 HOURS IN OUR ENCLOSED GARAGE WHEN IT EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. I'M WONDERING IF THE REAR DEFROST WASN'T CUT OFF WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF? WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AFTER THE WINDOW SHATTERED THE REAR DEFROST WAS ON. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET WITH SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. REAR WINDOW EXPLODING ON FORD ESCAPES SOUNDS COMMON. INSURANCE COMPANY IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ME, BUT I IMAGINE WE WILL BE PAYING MOST OF THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET SINCE WE HAVEN'T MET A DEDUCTIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376628

Incident

Jan 14, 2011

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GAGE BACK WINDOW WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER WITH ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTS TO BE REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70000.

NHTSA ID

10342207

Incident

Jul 9, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD ESCAPE SPONATEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY . *TR

NHTSA ID

10256481

Incident

Jan 26, 2009

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD ON THE FORD ESCAPE CRACKED WHEN I RINSED IT WITH A REGULARLY GARDEN HOSE. SINCE I RINSE ALL MY CARS FREQUENTLY AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE GLASS WAS VERY THIN AND LIKELY CRACKED FROM THE COLD WATER HITTING THE WARMER GLASS. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS. I HAVE SCHEDULED A GLASS COMPANY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 22 AT MY HOUSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193676

Incident

Jun 18, 2007

Mileage

32,000 mi

WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WILL NOT GO BACK TO THEIR PARKED POSITION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141750

Incident

Oct 29, 2005

Mileage

33,200 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WOULD FREEZE UP IN THE HOSES. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CLEAN THE DIRT AND DEBRIS OFF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108803

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. WI DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089731

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

(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

NHTSA ID

10086134

Incident

Jul 16, 2004

Mileage

29,085 mi

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE SUN ROOF. COMPLAINT WAS ALREADY ON FILE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086129

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

15,464 mi

SUN ROOF STICKING DURING OPENING.CLOSE OPERATION; VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER AND INTERMITTENT OPERATION WAS VERIFIED; FAULTY SUN ROOF SWITCH WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM; NEW SWITCH WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. *AK AT THE SAME TIME, THE COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF; NO LEAKS FOUND; PROBLEM NEVER IDENTIFIED

NHTSA ID

10086126

Incident

Sep 12, 2003

Mileage

18,601 mi

WINDSHIELD CREAKS WHEN IT'S RAINING/WET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067815

Incident

May 29, 1998

Mileage

100 mi

THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER WHEN IT RAINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE MOLDING, AND IT'S NOT A SAFETY DEFECT IT WAS NORMAL. *AK WHILE DRIVING WATER WOULD GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10044217

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE REAR WINDOW ON MY COMPANY-OWNED FORD ESCAPE HAS SHATTERED. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE DURING THIS SECOND OCCURANCE, DURING A NIGHT WHEN THE TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE TEEN'S. I'D BLAME THE COLD WEATHER, BUT THIS ALSO HAPPENED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO DURING THE SUMMER WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON A HIGHWAY. IN BOTH CASES, THE SHOCKS THAT HOLD THE REAR WINDOW UP WHEN OPEN, HAVE EXTENDED TO FULL LENGTH, AND AS A RESULT, SCRATCHED THE PAINT ON THE REAR TAILGATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054516

Incident

Jan 19, 2004

Mileage

54,000 mi

2002 FORD ESCAPE ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE REAR WIPERS NOT WORKING AND ENGINE MAKES AND JERK AT 3K RPM, NOT PART OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054515

Incident

Jan 17, 2004

COMPUTER CONTROLS LOCKED DOWN THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE COMPUTER WAS RESETTING WHEN IT DONE THIS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE WINDSHIELD IS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR AND THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE MY CAR IS THE ONLY ONE THEY KNOW OF.

NHTSA ID

10069157

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

AT TIMES OF HEAVY RAIN OR WET SNOW THE INTERIOR WINDOWS FOG SEVERELY. THEY FOG SO BADLY THAT CONDENSATION WILL RUN DOWN THE INSIDE OF WINDOWS RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS METHODS OF TWEAKING THE CONTROLS BUT CAN NOT SEEM TO KEEP THE WINDOWS DEFOGGED ADEQUATELY. WHEN MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE IN THE CAR THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN WHEN I AM ALONE. I AVOID DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THEM WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE SAFELY. I AM WORKING ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THOUGHT STRONGLY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TO NOTIFY YOU HERE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10051294

Incident

Dec 28, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

REAR WINDSHIELD THERMAL MELTED THE CONNECTION TO DEFROSTER. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY CHARGE. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10050461

Incident

Dec 12, 2003

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 FOR ESCAPE XLT LEAKS INSIDE EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WINDSHIELD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR BUT FORD WILL NOT COVER IT AS A DEFECT. THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY MANUFACTURER. FILED COMPLAINTS WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WILL BE TALKING TO THE MEDIA. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043110

Incident

Oct 17, 2003

STIFF ACCELERATOR PEDEL. CANNOT MAKE A SMOOTH ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE PEDAL DOESN'T SEEM TO "GIVE" UNTIL IT'S PUSHED TOO MUCH. WHEN IT'S PUSHED TOO MUCH. THERE IS A SURGE OF ACCELERATION AND USUALLY THE TIRES JUST SPIN, WHETHER IT'S RAINING, SNOWING OR JUST PLAIN DRY OUT.

NHTSA ID

10039414

Incident

Sep 23, 2003