2002 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,027 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
85,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 652 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 133 of 1,027 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 337 | 32.8% |
| Engine operation | 227 | 22.1% |
| Steering behavior | 164 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 79 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 67 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 133 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 76 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 74 |
| Electrical System | 66 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 63 |
| Suspension | 62 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 60 |
| Air Bags | 51 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 133; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 76; Vehicle Speed Control: 74; Electrical System: 66; Engine And Engine Cooling: 63; Suspension: 62; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 60; Air Bags: 51
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 107 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 92 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 79 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 101 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 161 |
| 150,000 and above | 112 |
Under 25,000: 107; 25,000 to 49,999: 92; 50,000 to 74,999: 79; 75,000 to 99,999: 101; 100,000 to 149,999: 161; 150,000 and above: 112
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (161). 375 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 183 |
| 2003 | 123 |
| 2004 | 96 |
| 2005 | 57 |
| 2006 | 46 |
| 2007 | 47 |
| 2008 | 35 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 43 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 85 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 16; 2002: 183; 2003: 123; 2004: 96; 2005: 57; 2006: 46; 2007: 47; 2008: 35; 2009: 31; 2010: 43; 2011: 44; 2012: 85; 2013: 32; 2014: 54; 2015: 44; 2016: 24; 2017: 22; 2018: 18; 2019: 11; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 337 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 227 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 164 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000698 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
FORD ESCAPE XLT 2002 STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, I WAS GOING 35 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, MY BRAKES AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002837 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
PURCHASED 2002 FORD ESCAPE FROM HINDER FORD OF ABERDEEN, MD IN JUNE 02 AND FROM THE START THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE PULLS (NOT DRIFTS) TO THE LEFT SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT FRONT TIRE WILL CROSS THE LINE IN 5 SECONDS IF STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED WHILE IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A TWO LANE AND WITHIN 3 SECONDS IF IN THE LEFT LANE. HINDER FORD GAVE ME THE FORD 800 NUMBER TO CALL BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN AFTER I PROVIDED THEM EXCERPTS FROM MARYLAND LAW THAT STATES A VEHICLE WITH A STEERING OR BRAKING PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000298 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
FORD ESCAPE '02 STALLED WHEN GOING 40 MPH UP THE HILL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002581 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE GEAR SHIFTER DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. SHIFTER IS ATTACHED TO STEERING COLUMN AND IS TOO LONG. WHENEVER CONSUMER TURNS ON RADIO GEAR IS KNOCKED INTO NEUTRAL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005289 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
I HAVE NOW HAD MY ESCAPE FOR 9 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 01/10/03 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR (NO MATTER HOW FAST I WAS GOING). THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT EVEN THE NEW TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE NOT HAD MY VEHICLE FOREVER AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO CONTACT ME ABOUT MY VEHICLE OR RETURN MY CALLS.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006739 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED , AND THE CLUTCH BURNED. THE CABLE WAS REINSTALLED. THERE WAS A CHATTERING IN THE CLUTCH, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BEING ABLE TO SHIFT. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. ALSO THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS BLED. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008154 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
FORD ESCAPE XLT MIDNIGHT EDITION 2002 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY. LUCKILY THERE WAS ROADWORK SO I COULD PULL OVER EASILY ALTHOUGH BRAKING AND STEERING WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. ONE WEEK LATER CAR DIDN'T START AND GARAGE TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY HAD BURST, THEY REPLACED BATTERY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010434 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE STALLED OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR OR SO AND THE CHECK ENGINE/CHECK EMISSION/CHECK BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A DEAD STOP BUT ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKING UP AND WAS BARELY MOVING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I HAD THE STALLING ISSUE HAPPEN LAST APRIL OR MAY 2002. THEY DID SOME "FIXES" AND RESET THE COMPUTER. I HAD READ RECENTLY READ, THEY FELT THAT RESETTING THE COMPUTER WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112356 · 2005-03-01 (March 1, 2005)
FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 45,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131225 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS. PUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND BETTER GAS BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. THE MECHANIC SAID THE THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR WAS*AK BAD. THE MECHANIC DID REPLACE IT AND HAVE THE PART. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS AROUND JUNE 1, 2005. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,285 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131225 at NHTSA ↗