2002 Ford ESCORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
51,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 33 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 21.2% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 18.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
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 | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Steering: 2; Suspension:Rear:Springs: 2; Tires: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 6; 2003: 7; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2011: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10021797 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045640 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
2002 FORD ESCAPE STALLED WHILE GOING DOWN-HILL AT 35-40 MPH. ENGINE STOPPED. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLACING IN "NEUTRAL" POSITION. FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH EVENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LAST SUCH FAILURE WAS ON THE SAME ROAD AND AT EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION!! GIVEN THE SIMILARITY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS, I SUSPECT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM OR SOFTWARE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 43,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003179 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL. MOST NOTICABLE DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. WAS MENTIONED TO SALESPERSON AT TIME OF TEST DRIVE. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE. AT NO TIME PRIOR TO PURCHASE DID ANYONE STATE IT WAS A BUILT IN DEFECT. WHEN WE MET THE SERVICE PEOPLE THEY WERE TOLD THE TYPE OF VEHICLE BEING PURCHASED AND THE FACT WE WOULD BE BRINGING IT IN FOR THE SHAKING. THIS WAS INTENTIONALLY DISHONEST. WE ATTEMPTED TO TRADE IN ON ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SAME DEALERSHIP OFFERED US $7500. THIS IS AFTER 3 MONTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011997 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058013 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE REMAINED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006928 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE BUMPER SEPARATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112353 · 2005-03-01 (March 1, 2005)
STOPPED AT LIGHT, HEARD NOISE LIKE A POP, WENT TO GO CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. GOT OUT LOOKED UNDER CAR HOLE IN TRANSMISSION PARTS LYING ON GROUND. TOWED TO A MECHANIC ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN? MECHANIC STATED DEFECTIVE TRANSAXLE, REAR END GEARS GO OUT LITERALLY POP OUT OF TRANSMISSION. JASPER WILL NOT REBUILD THESE TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ONLY PLACE TO GET NEW IS FROM FORD WHICH WOULD HAVE COST $3300 TO REPLACE. FOUND USED REPAIRS COST OVER $1300. MECHANIC STATED JUST HAD A 1999 ESCORT IN REPAIRED BEFORE IT PUT HOLE IN TRANSMISSION. NO WAR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266763 · 2009-04-26 (April 26, 2009)
WE HAVE A 2002 ESCORT ZX2 . THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FEBRUARY 2002 . I HAVE HAD SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE -RODS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE WIRING TO THE TAIL LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE BLOWING AND WE REPLACE IT , THEN THE LIGHT BULBS BLOW THEN WE REPLACE THEM . WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AND HE HAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE REFLECTOR ARE MELTED. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TAIL LIGHTS WORKING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE CONTROL . UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE BULBS THE B…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,402 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435936 · 2011-11-17 (November 17, 2011)
2002 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPPING AND DYING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACE THREE TIMES, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE STALLING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10435936 at NHTSA ↗