2002 Ford Escape

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2007· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR NINE HOURS. PRIOR TO PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY USING SNOW. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN MARCH OF 2007, BUT NOT REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

• 12/30/2003· VISIBILITY

  AT TIMES OF HEAVY RAIN OR WET SNOW THE INTERIOR WINDOWS FOG SEVERELY. THEY FOG SO BADLY THAT CONDENSATION WILL RUN DOWN THE INSIDE OF WINDOWS RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS METHODS OF TWEAKING THE CONTROLS BUT CAN NOT SEEM TO KEEP THE WINDOWS DEFOGGED ADEQUATELY. WHEN MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE IN THE CAR THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN WHEN I AM ALONE. I AVOID DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THEM WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE SAFELY. I AM WORKING ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THOUGHT STRONGLY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TO NOTIFY YOU HERE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/29/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY WIFE WAS COASTING (TRAVELING DOWNHILL) IN OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT (2 WHEEL DRIVE) WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE EFFECT WAS AS IF THE KEY HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. SHE LOST ALL POWER (STEERING, BRAKES, ETC) AND COASTED INTO A SIDEWALK. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. TAKING THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS, SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (HAYWARD FORD - VERY HELPFUL, PERFORMED THE TSB WORK RIGHT AWAY), WHERE THEY TOLD HER OF A TSB THAT DESCRIBED THE APPROPRIATE STEPS FOR THE MECHANICS TO TAKE. THE SUPPOSED TSB INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AIR CHARGE BODY, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AIR CHARGE SENSOR GASKET, POWER RELAY FOR PCM, EGR SENSOR, AND THE PURGE REGULATION VALVE FOR VAPOR SYSTEM. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA TSB SITE FOR THE BULLETIN AND COULDN'T FIND IT. THE NUMBER WE WERE GIVEN WAS TSB 02-23-01. I NOTICED THAT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM BY THE NHTSA WAS CLOSED AND REOPENED IN SEP 2002. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ HERE AT THE NHTSA SITE, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR FORD TO WARN THEIR ESCAPE OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED.*AK

• 12/28/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 12/27/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHETHER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE OR DURING CITY DRIVING. STEERING WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT AND BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 42,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE FOURTH "STALL", WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY CONNECTED A "BLACK BOX" UNDERNEATH THE DASH AND HAD US DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WHICH IT DID A COUPLE DAYS LATER. THEY TOWED IT BACK TO THE GARAGE. APPARENTLY OUR PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH, I BELIEVE, OUR HARMONIC BALANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, WHATEVER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO NOT KNOW WHICH CYLINDERS ON THE ENGINE WAS FIRING AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND WE NOW HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO OTHER STALLING PROBLEMS. THE WORK ORDER READS AS FOLLOWS: DIAG, EEC TEST, NO CODES PRESENT, FOUND STICKY NG, R&R IAC, RETEST ALL OKAY AT THIS TIME; ALSO, WHILE THEY WERE PERFORMING THE MAINTENANCE THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT OUR POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, WHICH WAS COVERED BY OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF REPAIRS WAS 44,546. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS AT OUR DEALERSHIP IN OMAHA. THEY GAVE US A RENTAL CAR WHILE DIAGNOSING OUR PROBLEMS AND STUCK WITH IT UNTIL THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM(S). THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAD PURCHASED COVERED ALL REPAIR COSTS. *JB

• 12/27/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I-4 ENGINE (38K MI)- THROTTLE STICKS IN CLOSED POSITION. THROTTLE CABLE IS OKAY, BUT THROTTLE PLATE WILL STICK IN THROTTLE BORE IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MANNER, RESULTING IN INCONSISTENT PEDAL EFFORTS / PERFORMANCE. SPORADIC THROTTLE PERFORMANCE RESULTS IN OCCASIONAL SUDDEN ACCELERATION DURING LOW SPEED MANUVERS AS THROTTLE BECOMES "UNSTUCK" FROM CLOSED POSITION. DIFFICULT TO ANTICIOPATE BEHAVIOUR IN PARKING LOT MANUVERS HAS RESULTED IN DRIVER AVOIDING USE OF VEHICLE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.*AK

• 12/27/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 9,000 MILES HAS A TENDENCY TO STALL WHILE COASTING AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED. HITTING A SLIGHT SPEED BUMP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE OCCURRENCES. MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST 12 TIMES DURING THE LAST 4 WEEKS. THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO AN INFREQUENT TENDENCY OF A DEAD INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN STARTING WITH A KEY. IF I GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GET BACK IN, IT WILL EVENTUALLY START EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME WHEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED. BUT, MY COMPLAINT IS THE STALLING PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FIXING ANYTHING AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT STALLED ON THEM AS WELL. WHILE NOBODY HAS HIT MY DEAD VEHICLE YET, IT IS A CONCERN. THUS FAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESTART AFTER STALLING, IT IS NOT AN EASY RESTART. THE STALLING HAS MOSTLY OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN 3-6 MILES AND SLOWED FOR PARKING PURPOSES AND STALLS WHEN I SHARPELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR PARKING. THERE IS A LITTLE SPEED BUMP 20 FEET FROM MY PARKING SLOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I JUST WISH MY VEHICLE WOULD IDLE FASTER. *AK

• 12/27/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

  CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 2, 2002 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A BROKEN HEADLIGHT AND MISSING EQUIPMENT FROM THE VEHICLE, ON JULY 23, 2002 THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING STALLING, BRAKE AND ODOMETER PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A FLAW, THE STALLING AND THE ODOMETER PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEAKERS AND THE CLUTCH STICKING, CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A HOTEL.*JB

• 12/22/2015· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  STARTED MY CAR AND THE RPM GOING TO 4000 WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. WAS TOLD ITS THROTTLE BODY.

• 12/21/2015· SUSPENSION

  THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR. 14S02. I HAD IT TOWED TO FULLER FORD IN CINTI, OHIO. WHEN THE RECALL BROKE IN MY CAR, RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. IT CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I NEED A PASSENGER SIDE AXLE, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND A SWAY BAR LINK. FORD WILL NOT COVER THESE DAMAGES EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL CAUSED THE DAMAGE. JUST THANK GOODNESS I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS COMING TO A STOP OR I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I DONT BELIEVE FORD IS TAKING CARE OF THEIR ISSUE. A FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST THROUGH

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FORD ESCAPE '02 STALLED WHEN GOING 40 MPH UP THE HILL. TS

• 12/19/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON AN ICY SURFACE, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE HAD BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

• 12/18/2011· VISIBILITY

  YESTERDAY I DROVE AROUND TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS IN MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE AND IT WAS FINE. CAME HOME LAST NIGHT (TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS AROUND 27 DEGREES OUTSIDE) AND PARKED IT IN GARAGE. WHEN I WENT OUT TO GARAGE NEXT DAY (14 HOURS LATER) TO LEAVE AGAIN I NOTICED MY FORD ESCAPE HAD IT'S BACK GLASS THAT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED OUT OF IT AND ALL OVER THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. ALL DOORS TO GARAGE WERE SHUT AND LOCKED. THIS EXPLOSION OF GLASS HAPPENED ALL BY ITSELF AFTER BEING PARKED THERE THE NIGHT BEFORE. ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT THAT HAS BOTH BEEN STAYING ON AND CANNOT GET EITHER TO STAY OFF!! WORRIED VEHICLE IS GONNA FALL APART SOME DAY BEFORE I GET MY CHILD TO HIS SCHOOL ONE MORNING..NOT DEPENDABLE VEHICLE AFTER ALL!! :( SEEMS I HAVE READ MANY MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FROM ESCAPE OWNERS WANTING TO KNOW..ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR THE BACKGLASS?? OR EVEN ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS VEHICLE?? FEELING UNSAFE FOR MY CHILD TO RIDE IN NOW!! *TR

• 12/18/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. *AK

• 12/18/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK AT VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TRAVELING AT 20 MPH, VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED LOSING ALL POWER UTILITIES ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. A NUMBER OF PASSING MOTORISTS ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST IN MOVING VEHICLE OUT OF INTERSECTION BUT COULD NOT GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK KEY WOULD NOT TURN AS WELL. AFTER A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND DRIVEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF DIFFICULTY--AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE THAT IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE--DEALER WORKED ON VEHICLE FOR 1.70 HRS REPLACING OVER 13 PARTS,SUCH AS EEC RELAY,DPFE,AIRBYPASSVALVE,THROTLE BODY,MAF,VMV,THROTTLE BODY GASKET PER: TSB-02-11-6. RECHECK OK. ACCORDING TO THIS WEB SITE THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURED AT LEAST 50 TIMES. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. OWNERS OF ESCAPES SHOULD BE INFORMED AS THIS CAN& HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEEDS WITH POTENTIALLY FATAL OUTCOMES IF THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE COASTED TO A SHOULDER...*AK

• 12/17/2014· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS-BRACE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) BUT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

• 12/17/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE ENGINE FAILED TO IDLE IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER. THE ABS MODULE CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FIRE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

• 12/17/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAS NOW STALLED THREE TIMES RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES---HAVING INVESTIGATED THIS VEHICLE ON MY OWN I'VE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER IDENTICAL CASES. FORD NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THESE FAILURES AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK

• 12/15/2014· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,SERVICE BRAKES

  MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE REAR DOOR LATCH. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT MY MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING, THEY TOLD ME THAT RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2012. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY WOULD MY MASTER CYLINDER BE LEAKING AGAIN TWO YEARS LATER? I WONDER IF THIS JOB WAS EVER DONE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A JOB THAT WASN'T PERFORMED. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS MY REAR DOOR LATCH. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR DOOR LOCKING AND OPENING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE. NOW I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR DOOR LATCH BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL NOR DID I RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT HAVING THESE SERVICES COMPLETED. *TR

• 12/14/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WE HAVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT WE BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT OF 2002. IT HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND WAS COMING HOME WHEN IT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR THERE WAS ALSO A WHIRRING SOUND. HE GOT HOME AND TO OUR MECHANIC. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE EGS VALVE (?) WHICH IT TURNS OUT WAS CAUSED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER GETTING CLOGGED, BUILDING UP PRESSURED AND CAUSING IT TO BLOW. BASED UPON MY RESEARCH ON THE NET, THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON. I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TOWARDS A RECALL. OUR DEALER IS TRYING TO GET A NEW CC FROM THE EAST COAST (WE ARE IN THE SEATTLE AREA) BUT IT MAY TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS. *TR

• 12/12/2013· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES DUE TO HEATING THE BRAKES UP SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD CATCH MY CAR ON FIRE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE RPMS REVVED BETWEEN 5000-6000 SO I SWITCHED BACK IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I FINALLY HAD AN AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW IT DOWN AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY COULD BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO PARK. WHEN IT WAS IN PARK THE RPMS JUMPED ALL THE WAY UP TO 5000 AND SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN I OPENED THE HOOD AND REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIL NOW. MY CAR IS NO LEAKING OIL AND SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SEEMED AS THOUGH THIS WAS AN UNIMPORTANT ISSUE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR THEM SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO FIXED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THE LAST RECALL THEY HAD ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

• 12/12/2006· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT. SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN THE FALL OF 2003, AT DIFFERENT TIMES BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAVE GOTTEN STUCK WHERE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THEM FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, WHICH WAS FIXED WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 4 DAYS AGO AND THE DEALER IS GOING TO CHARGE ME A $300 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, PERIODICALLY, MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT I TRY. THEN THE NEXT DAY, IT WILL. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 15 TIMES SINCE THE FALL OF 2005. IN ALL OF THE INCIDENCES LISTED THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED, ALTHOUGH WE TRIED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST STUCK. *NM

• 12/12/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN STARTING OFF, OR ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL HAS A HESITANT/STICKING SENSATION. IT REQUIRES MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE TO DEPRESS IT, AND CAUSES AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN THE ENGINE SPEED. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FROM THE V-6 3.0 ENGINES, BUT NOT FOR MY 4-CYL. *JB

• 12/12/2003· VISIBILITY

  REAR WINDSHIELD THERMAL MELTED THE CONNECTION TO DEFROSTER. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY CHARGE. *AK *MR

• 12/12/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. WAS EITHER BRAKING OR DECELERATING BY LETTING UP ON GAS. CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, AND POSSIBLY OIL LIGHTS CAME ON. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP VEHICLE WITH HAND BRAKE. SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO PARK AND RESTARTED. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROX. 1/2 HOUR (15 MILES). WEATHER WAS COOL AND CLEAR.

• 12/12/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BRAND NEW 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT AUTOMATIC 4X2 STALLED 5 TIMES DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE DEAER AFTER BUYING IT. LOST POWER STEERING AND BOWER BRAKES AT OVER 35 MPH. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS AT ALL. *AK

• 12/11/2015· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO CROSS THE TRACKS, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE BACK IN GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NEED TO BE BOLTED BACK INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

• 12/11/2006· SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2002 ESCAPE ENGINE ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING. *TS CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL NOTICE (04V574000) AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN IN MARCH 2006. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2005 WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 1 YEAR/12000 MILES. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP WHEN IN USE. *JB

• 12/11/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. LUCKLY NO OTHER TRAFFIC WAS ON THE ROAD. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN "PARK" AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. DEALER HAS NO EXPLAINATION FOR LOSS OF POWER, BUT SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXCAPES HAVE EXPERENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF REPORTED EXCAPES STALLING I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MINE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.*AK

• 12/10/2005· POWER TRAINCrash

  WIFE PARKED VEHICLE ON STEEP UPHILL DRIVEWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. EXITED DRIVERS SIDE AND WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUING TO MAILBOX. WHILE AT MAILBOX OBSERVED VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ROLL BACKWARD CROSSING THE PATH WHERE SHE HAD JUST WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ACROSS STREET AND OVER CURB HITTING TREE. NEIGHBOR IN THEIR FRONT YARD ALSO OBSERVED THIS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. CALLED FORD CORP OFFICES TO ASK FOR REVIEW OF THIS BY THEIR SAFETY ENGINEERS. A CURSORY REVIEW BY THE DEALER INDICATED NO OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION LINKAGE OR OTHER ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES ANY FURTHER REVIEW AND SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST IN FINDING ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS IN NUMBERS 10031648, 568244, 10073682 AND 10026175. THERE ARE ALSO MANY REPORTS OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN OTHER SCENARIOS SUCH AS 10073741, 10087902, 10091048, 10092635 AND 10108659. DID NOT REVIEW COMPLAINTS ON SIMILAR MODELS SUCH AS MAZDA TRIBUTE NOR OTHER YEAR ESCAPES WHICH MAY HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD ENGINEERED THE CAR TO BACK DOWN A HILL, WHILE UNOCCUPIED, IN PARK, WITH THE IGNITION OFF. BUT APPARENTLY THEY CONSIDER THIS NORMAL AND OF NO CONSEQUENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE HURT AND THE ECONOMICS TURN AGAINST FORD BEFORE THEY WILL GET INVOLVED. REMINDS ME OF THEIR SAFETY ISSUES WITH FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S THAT CONTINUE TO EXPLODE IN FLAMES WHEN HIT FROM THE REAR. *JB

• 12/10/2003· SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS

  WITHIN ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (2002 FORD ESCAPE) THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. (SEE ODI #10051805 FOR INFORMATION REGARDING 1998 FORD RANGER COMPLAINT).*MR THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER CONTINUED TO STATE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AFTER ABOUT A YEAR THEY FINALLY NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING ON THE REAR, IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE TO THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT AND REAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NEED NEW TIRES. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *CB *JB

• 12/10/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND AT 45-50 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED OVER INTO HER LANE. THE VEHICLES STRUCK HEAD ON AND BOTH WENT DOWN A 15' BANK INTO A DITCH. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A OLDER CHRYSLER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS STILL GOING TO THERAPY FOR X-RAYS. *PH

• 12/10/2002· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING THE AT 30PMH THE STEERING WHELL BECOME INOPERABLE. BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/09/2015· SUSPENSION,WHEELS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) AT 80,707 MILES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCURATELY RESPOND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TURNED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

• 12/08/2015· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

• 12/08/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE WHEN IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE OWNER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS TO HIS HANDS FROM TRYING TO EXIT THE RESIDENCE SAFELY. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO ACCESS THE DAMAGES. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 01/13/12*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12

• 12/08/2004· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  3 YEARS OLD, 60,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY BLOWN. ITS IN THE SHOP CURRENTLY. THE OIL PAN IS LEAKING. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID. *JB

• 12/08/2003· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. *AK

• 12/07/2009· SERVICE BRAKES, AIRFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 35 MPH SHE SAW SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE FIGHTER CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACED OF RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. IN FACT, SHE WAS REFERRED TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. HER VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V156000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) .THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70000.

• 12/07/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON TWO OCCASIONS ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING, THE STEERING GOT SLUGGISH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT STIFF. *YH

• 12/06/2010· UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

  2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *KB

• 12/06/2007· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DON'T WORK ON BOTH SIDE[WEAK [RETURN][SPRINGS CAUSING DOORS NOT TO SHUT WHEN EXITING VEHICLE METAL CONNECTOR BLOCKS AND DAMAGES DOOR LOCK MECHANISM AND PUNCHING LARGE HOLES IN WEATHER STRIPS I'VE REPLACED TWICE ON EACH SIDE. A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS RETURNS SHOULD BE ISSUED. THIS PROBLEM CHEWS UP THE SEAT BELT CONNECTION METAL AND DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY STOP WORKING AFTER REPEATED CLOSURES. SOME ONE COULD THEN FALL OUT OF THERE CAR. *TR

• 12/06/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  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. CONSUMER THEN APPLIED GAS PEDAL HARDER, AND VEHICLE SURGED TO 20 MPH AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 2200.00.*AK

• 12/06/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS A CAR ON THE INTERSTATE, ENGINE DIED. THICK WHITE SMOKE ENGULFED THE BACK WINDOW FROM THE EXHAUST. WAS MOMENTARILY UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING IN BACK ON THE CAR. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES . I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND WHEN DEALER LOOKED AT IT WAS "LOCKED UP" THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED.*AK

• 12/05/2012· ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

  I OWN THREE FORD ESCAPES AND ON THIS VEHICLE I'VE HAD THE RIGHT FRONT ABS RING SNAP SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS WITH NO WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER. *TR

• 12/05/2012· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  AGAIN I OWN THREE OF THESE VEHICLES AND WHILE PUMPING GAS MY FUEL TANK STRAPS ROTTED OUT, SAME AS THE OTHER TWO. AGAIN DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T HELP ESPECIALLY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL THREE VEHICLES. *TR

• 12/05/2012· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINEFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A BURNING ODOR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 162,000.

• 12/04/2018· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRIAN BEMIS FORD (1380 DEKALB AVE, SYCAMORE, IL 60178, (815) 895-4584) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE RUSTED FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT CHARGE THE CONTACT A STORAGE FEE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT*JB

• 12/04/2007· AIR BAGS

  2002 EXPLORER XLT PURCHASED 1/03 WITH 37,995 MILES. NOW ONLY 39,996 I AM DISABLED AND DON'T DRIVE MUCH. HAD VEHICLE IN DUE TO WARRANTY OVER 11/26/07 TO CHECK THINGS OVER. WHEN I PICKED UP CAR AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING. THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT STOPPED. NEXT TIME USED VEHICLE LIGHT FLASHING THEN STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM IT THROWS A CODE #B2292, THEY ALSO SAID A BULLETIN OUT FROM FORD ON THIS #TSB03-11-03 ISSUED TO ALL MECHANICS - THAT THE PRETENSIONER SAFETY HARNESS BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED (DEFECT). I ADVISED THEM I WILL DISPUTE THIS DUE TO THE FACT THEY ALSO STATED FORD MAY BE DOING A RECALL. I CLAIM VEHICLE FINE TILL THEY WORKED ON IT. PART COMES IN TOMORROW, THEY SAY IT SHOULD BE READY IN A FEW HOURS, AND COST IS AROUND $295.. PLUS TAXES. ALSO HAD TO HAVE A REBUILT TRANY DONE LAST YR. ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT - I READ ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND I AM SHOCKED THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS NUTS. WHAT IS SCARY IS ALL THE FIRE REPORTS. *TR

• 12/04/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  STALLING AT LOW SPEED AND DECELERATING WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. *NLM