2002 Ford ZX2 (ESCORT): complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
46,436 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 41.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010924 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
MY SON, WHILE UPSET, HIT HIS HEAD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. A POST OR SOME OTHER OBJECT MOUNTED WITHIN THE SEAT BACK STRUCK HIS HEAD, CAUSING A BLEEDING WOUND. WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT RATHER THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IT IS MY OPINION THAT HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE INJURY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I DO HAVE A DIGITAL PICTURE OF THE INJURY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100093 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)
CAR STALLS WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING AND COMING TO STOP. CAR ALSO STALLS WHEN ON FREEWAY IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN 5 SEPARATE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. FORD ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE EMERGENCY FUEL SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 2400 MILES ON IT AND HAS CONTINUED NOW, WHEN IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 YEARS AND NOW HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102472 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS ON ACCELERATION (APPROX 17 TIMES) HAS STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT 60MPH,WILL NOT RESTART FOR APPROX 15-60 MINUTES AFTER STALL. CAR IS COVERED UNDER FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED AT TIME OF SALE. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO ORIG DEALER MULLINAX FORD EAST TWICE, BOTH TIMES ADVISED WAS REPAIRED BUT CAR STALLED W/I DAYS/HOURS OF REPAIR. CAR WAS TOWED TO JOHN LANCE FORD 11-15-04WHO CANT FIND ANY PROBLEMS THOUGH IT HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO SERVICE GARAGE.WE ADVISED SERVICE MANAGER CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DANGER TO OURSELVES & OTHERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,472 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129792 · 2005-07-23 (July 23, 2005)
I WAS INVOLVED (ALONG W/ PASSENGER) IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR TURNED RIGHT. WHEN I SAW THAT THE CAR HAD SUCCESSFULLY TURNED I ACCELERATED TO 45-50 MPH. WHEN I CAME UPON THE ROAD, WHICH THE CAR HAD TURNED, THE OTHER CAR DID A COMPLETE "U TURN" AND CAME OUT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD GOING THE OPOSITE DIRECTION. I TRIED TO STOP BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. I HIT THE BACK PASSANGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE HAULT. WHEN I STRUCK THE OTHER CAR, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR WAS TOTA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142450 · 2005-11-11 (November 11, 2005)
IN MAY 2002, I PURCHASED A FORD ESCORT ZX2. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE PUT 21,000 MILES ON THE CAR. RECENTLY, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. YESTERDAY, MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MILLER BROTHERS FORD IN ELLICOTT CITY, MD. THIS MORNING I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATING THAT ONE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE HAD FAILED AND THE SECOND WAS ALSO ABOUT TO GO. BOTH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS $890.00. …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175263 · 2006-12-05 (December 5, 2006)
2002 FORD ZX2 HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING, MILEAGE IS ONLY 54400. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 54,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242289 · 2008-09-15 (September 15, 2008)
CAR HAVING STARTED HAVING A "PULL" WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGNS. THE PULL KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND FEELS NOW LIKE NOT SWITCHING GEARS PROPERLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALMOST STOPS AND BUMPS BEFORE CONTINUING TO NEXT GEAR. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION CENTER, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242795 · 2008-09-18 (September 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT, SHE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT EXTEND OUTWARDS OR RETRACT TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS HAVING MINOR RETRACTING ISSUES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,350. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/0…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242795 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.