2002 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,397 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Ford Escape, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 10 defect investigations. It scores 50/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 67,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2002 sits among all Escape years
What owners report
“Consumer states that while driving at any speed and without warning the vehicle will shut off causing consumer to pull over. Dealer notified. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
“I was driving down a small hill and had a blow out the brakes did not stop the car lost control and rolled over the side of the hill.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
“Consumer states that while driving and no warning the vehicle lost power and it was hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
“While driving vehicle stalled causing the steering wheel to lock up and the system to shut down, after the vehicle sat for 30 min the vehicle could be restarted, the dealer has been contacted, consumer states the problem was the pcm. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
“Vehicle idles fast in park and accelerates quickly while driving and remains in high constant acceleration mode. Bucks forward without warning, causing potential vehicle impact while behind stopped traffic, parking or trailing other vehicles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
“My vehicle should be covered under ford recall 14s02. Sub frame completely rusted through while driving endangering my family's safety. Illinois, "salt state". Currently at ford dealership unsafe to drive.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Escape
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 862 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 90,436 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 133,148 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Fix: 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…
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED…
Fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
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…
Fix: 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…
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 12V353000.
Led to recall campaign 12V005000.
Led to recall campaign 07V156000.
Led to recall campaign 04V165000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2002 Ford Escape drew 1,397 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 50/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2002 Ford Escape problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Ford Escape are engine (333 complaints), brakes & stability (204), and electrical (138).
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Ford Escape problems around 90,436 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 133,148 miles.
Does the 2002 Ford Escape have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.