2002 Ford Escape problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (115) · Vehicle Speed Control (72) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (66)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
650 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift 2015-09-29 · campaign 15V606000 · 57 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: 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 v
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:wheel Bearing 2015-06-03 · campaign 15E045000 · 576 vehicles
Defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Structure:frame And Members 2014-04-02 · campaign 14V165000 · 348,950 vehicles
Defect: 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 at
Risk: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables 2012-07-26 · campaign 12V353000 · 529,719 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2012-01-09 · campaign 12V005000 · 244,530 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.
Fix: 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
Service bulletins (109)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Suspension 2016-04-21 · TSB160071 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall 14s02 - corrosion at forward attachment of lower control arm - requests for recall service action
Suspension 2016-04-21 · 16-0071 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
2001-2004 escape vehicles safety recall 14s02 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a corrosion-related separation of the forward attachment of the lower control arm (lca) from the subframe may occur. separation of the lca from the subfr
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2014-08-11 · TSB-14-0143 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: the lower control arm (lca) forward attachment will separate from subframe, causing diminishing directional control, due to operating in high corrosion areas for extended period of time. model 2001-2004 escape. *pe
Electrical System 2006-01-01 · 0693 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pcm failure - electrical accessories intermittent - inoperative. *tt
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2006-01-01 · 04208 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
camshaft tick noise - 3.0l 4v engine only. *tt
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys 2006-01-01 · 19016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replace timing belt idler pulley during 2.0l zetec engine cylinder head replacement - service tip. *tt
Showing the 6 most recent of 109 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-18 · Unknown Or Other“i bought a vehicle that has recalls on it. i contacted a dealer. im told the car is to old to fix the recalled abs relay. now i have a vehicle thats on the road a fire hazard. the ford dealership have left me my with and kids and grand kids in danger…”
2025-07-28 · Electrical System:ignition · 227,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated that while shifted in park(p), the key failed to release while the engine was running. the contact drove to a local o'reilly's where one of the employees was able to remove the key from the ignition. the failure had gotten progressively worse. the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined t…”
2024-08-12 · Engine“i have had to replace my engine/transmission several times and the problem keeps repeating itself. the engine will just die for no reason which is an extremely severe safety risk.…”
2023-01-23 · Suspension:subframe/Mounting Bracket · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and started drifting to the left. the vehicle was towed to the residence. an independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a rusted subframe. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the fa…”
2022-11-02 · Power Train · 213,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated while driving 40 mph and depressing forcefully on the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal got stuck. the contact was unable to disengage the accelerator pedal. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact stated he did not attempt to depress the brake pedal to stop the…”
2022-05-30 · Structure:body · 🔥 fire“vehicle was manufactured 04/2002 recalls state that from oct99 to jan04 multiple states had issues with rusting with suspension causing the car to crash. my vehicle was made in one of the states and has alot of underbody rusting. back hatch latch gets stuck often and will not open. drums on the back are sticking causing the vehicle to drag at take …”
2021-10-01 · Structure:frame And Members · 177,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer, he was informed that the subframe was severely corroded. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number 14v165000 (structure) however, the remedy failed to fix the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mil…”
2021-06-17 · Seat Belts“the passenger side flashes with the air bag symbol and has the seat belt too. sometimes the symbol just stays on the dash board.…”
2021-06-14 · Suspension · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the suspension of the vehicle. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the control arm needing to be replaced. the vehicle was n…”
2021-02-11 · Service Brakes · 195,002 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. the contact stated the vehicle failed to start. the brake warning light was illuminated. the contact noticed that there was water in the fuse box. the contact called friendly ford (2800 n telegraph rd, monroe, mi 48162, (734) 243-6000) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacturer was…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.