2002 Ford Escape

● Typical for this model
2002 Ford Escape
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Escape Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2002 highlighted. 2000: 5 complaints 2000 2001: 996 complaints 2002: 1027 complaints 2002 2003: 558 complaints 2004: 499 complaints 2004 2005: 1394 complaints 2006: 464 complaints 2007: 254 complaints 2008: 1972 complaints 2008 2009: 1691 complaints 2010: 2067 complaints 2011: 1312 complaints 2012: 598 complaints 2012 2013: 2739 complaints 2014: 2067 complaints 2015: 1027 complaints 2016: 1028 complaints 2016 2017: 2620 complaints 2018: 1724 complaints 2019: 557 complaints 2020: 1546 complaints 2020 2021: 323 complaints 2022: 219 complaints 2023: 94 complaints 2024: 74 complaints 2024 2025: 20 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
2002: 1027 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20005
2001996
20021027
2003558
2004499
20051394
2006464
2007254
20081972
20091691
20102067
20111312
2012598
20132739
20142067
20151027
20161028
20172620
20181724
2019557
20201546
2021323
2022219
202394
202474
202520
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%

13% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 133 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP AND ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING .DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON DEFECTS OF...

NHTSA ODI report, 20020828

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED COMPLETELY, RESTARTING IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. ALL POWER WAS LOST AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20011129

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%

7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 76 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%

7% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 74 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FIRE THAT ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180117

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A SHOPPING CENTER. MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AS I WAS PREPARING TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020213

AT 300 MILES THE VEHICLE SURGED AND HESITATED FREQUENTLY. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. 1 WEEK LATER AFTER COMING TO A STOP, CONSUMER APPLIED ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE HESITATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20011206

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%

6% of complaints: electrical system — 66 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN FEB FROM FORD (RECALL ID 12V00500 - ISSUED JAN 2012). INDICATED POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE FLUIDS LEAKS THAT COULD CAUSE SHORTS IN THE ABS ELECTRONICS. WE CONTACTED DEALER. NO PARTS AVAILABLE YET.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120424

ON MARCH 7,2012, SOMEONE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120324

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 63 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 20011207 — PE (closed 20020910)

ENGINE STALLING

I 20020910 — EA (closed 20040415)

ENGINE STALLING

R 20040421 — power train

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

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 AGREE

Campaign 04V165000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040624 — RP (closed 20040831)

ENGINE STALLING

R 20050110 — vehicle speed control

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

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

Campaign 04V574000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050331 — latches/locks/linkages

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 FED

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 1-800-3

Campaign 04V602000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20061030 — PE (closed 20070417)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

R 20070402 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 07E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070423 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

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 CON

Campaign 07V156000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20090414 — DP (closed 20090415)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

I 20090415 — RQ (closed 20100115)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

I 20100114 — EA (closed 20120229)

Engine Compartment Fire

I 20101118 — AQ (closed 20151228)

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

R 20120619 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 FLUI

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 REM

Campaign 12V005000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20120717 — DP (closed 20120717)

Cruise Control Cable

I 20120717 — PE (closed 20130221)

Stuck Throttle

R 20120803 — engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control

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. Inad

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 availa

Campaign 12V353000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140530 — structure

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,...

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.

Campaign 14V165000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150520 — suspension

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...

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 15E045000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151023 — power train

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.

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.

Campaign 15V606000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2002 Ford Escape — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (133 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (76 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (74 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 04V165000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V574000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V602000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E023000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V156000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V165000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15E045000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V606000 (power train) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 2023 ▲ 2022

WORST YEARS

■ 2013 ■ 2017 ■ 2014

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2002 Ford Escape reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Ford Escape is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Escape?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Escape have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.