2002 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

DRIVERS' SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING RENDERING IT USELESS FOR SAFE LANE CHANGES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN "FIXED" BY FORD DEALERS THREE TIMES WITH NO REMEDY, THE VIBRATION CONTINUES EVEN AFTER "REPAIRS."

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000802 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATED ENGINE STALLING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR AT A STOP, THEN IT WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER. TS WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE IN GEAR AT THE IDLE, IN PARK, THE RPM WOULD FLUCTUATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN RESTART. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 2,081 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001833 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I ACCELERATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK, THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. I COASTED DOWN THE DOWNHILL SLOPE AND FINALLY RESTARTED THE ESCAPE AFTER PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN I CALLED MARSHALL FORD EAST IN CLEVELAND, OHIO THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND SINCE IT HAD NOT HAPPENED AGAIN IT WAS NOT FUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002706 at NHTSA ↗

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE 4X4 HAS STALLED WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DECREASING SPEED TO STOP, WHILE ACCELARATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM TRAFFIC AND PLACED IN PARK OR NUETRAL TO RESTART. ON ONE OCCASION THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OTHERS HAD NO INSTRUMENTATION LIGHTS GO ON.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002748 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence: AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-04-10 (April 10, 2007)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 22, 1999, THROUGH JULY 19, 2002, EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP THAT COULD LEAK BRAKE FLUID. IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAP, IT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Consequence: CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP AND THE ABS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL BE MODIFIED. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED ON JANUARY 20, 2012. DUE TO A PARTS DELAY, HOWEVER, THE REMEDY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE CURRENTLY. IF PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, FORD WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES OUTSIDE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN IS RELATED TO 07V-156.

Reported: 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.

Consequence: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.

Consequence: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.

Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.