Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2002 / ford / escape
known issues
6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-20)
complaints
1,079 on file (2001-07-10 → 2026-04-18)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
148 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
Door and liftgate latch failureLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES12 complaints2013-11 → 2018-06ford-escape-2002-door-latch-failure
11102674 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRIE MOTORS FORD OF VALPO, 2052 W MORTHLAND DR., VALPARAISO, IN 46385, (219) 464-3523), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED
10552273 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
10574155 THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO AN INTERNET SEARCH. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND MY CAR WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION UNLESS IT IS FIXED
Fuel tank strap and shield corrosionFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6 complaints2014-07 → 2018-09ford-escape-2002-fuel-tank-corrosion
11127979 FUEL GAS TANK STRAPS ROTTED OUT CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO FALL
10887914 METAL TRAY SUPPORTING THE FUEL TANK HAS RUSTED. BRACKETS SUPPORTING THE TRAY HAVE RUSTED AND FALLEN OFF EXPOSING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK
10609298 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO BE EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500
Subframe and lower control arm corrosionSUSPENSION58 complaints2013-10 → 2023-01ford-escape-2002-subframe-corrosion
11503115 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
10906926 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE AND CAUSED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MALFUNCTION. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH
10547293 MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE UNKNOWN NOISES WHEN DRIVING, AND STEERING CONTROL BECAME VERY LOOSE. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY ROTTED THAT THE PASSENGER WHEEL CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND CAN NOT BE REATTACHED
Unintended acceleration and stuck throttleVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL24 complaints2013-09 → 2018-06ford-escape-2002-unintended-acceleration
10610777 BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUT INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR THROTTLED AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED. *TR
10555830 I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I WENT TO TAKE MY EXIT AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT THAT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AT ALL. IT KEPT ACCELERATING ALL THE WAY UP TO 90MPH. I TAPPED THE BRAKES BUT IT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN
11011150 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
Engine compartment fire after brake system failureSERVICE BRAKES12 complaints2013-11 → 2022-05ford-escape-2002-engine-fire
10660158 NEIGHBOR WOKE ME SAYING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. CAR WASN'T ON, THE KEY WAS NOT IN, AND IT HAD SAT OVERNIGHT. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE PUT OUT. CAR IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FIREMEN HAD TO BREAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ENGINE AREA BURNED WITH NOTHING BUT METAL VISIBLE AND A
10679391 TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT
10551228 ARRIVED HOME, PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND SHORTLY AFTER MY WIFE TOOK OUR PUPPY OUTSIDE AND SAW MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES AND SPARKS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FIREWALL AREA, CALLED FIRE DEPT AFTER MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Air bag warning light illumination and non-deploymentAIR BAGS16 complaints2014-03 → 2021-06ford-escape-2002-airbag-warning-light
11021164 THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. IT CONTINUES TO STAY ON AND BEEPS FIVE TIMES REPEATING FIVE TIMES. THIS OCCURS DURING START UP OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT ALSO OCCURS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING
11019333 AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES; CABLE COUPLING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT WHICH TRIGGERS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS
10636962 THE CABLE CONNECTIONS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG IS FAULTY CAUSING THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT TO COME ON OCCASIONALLY INDICATING THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE LOSE. THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2002 Ford Escape vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2002/ford/escape
@misc{wrenchpro_2002_ford_escape_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2002 Ford Escape},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2002/ford/escape}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
