Worst 2002 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Ford Escape.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 135 | 1 | 1 | 17,615 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 76 | 1 | 10 | 34,260 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 74 | 24 | 8 | 110,031 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 65 | — | 24 | 84,168 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 63 | — | 18 | 88,315 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 62 | 3 | — | 128,033 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 60 | 3 | 20 | 108,488 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 51 | 14 | — | 83,754 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 44 | 3 | 2 | 76,057 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 40 | 6 | 8 | 136,966 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 38 | 2 | 1 | 133,783 mi | |
| STEERING | 37 | 5 | — | 106,547 mi | |
| ENGINE | 36 | 2 | 8 | 144,785 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 34 | — | 5 | 131,939 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 33 | — | 17 | 100,840 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 27 | 1 | — | 112,894 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 27 | 3 | 5 | 59,588 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 21 | — | — | 51,766 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 18 | — | — | 51,938 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 16 | — | — | 130,864 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 16 | — | — | 111,507 mi | |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 15 | 1 | — | 87,429 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 14 | 9 | — | 56,213 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 14 | 1 | — | 134,593 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 12 | — | — | 57,212 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 12 | — | — | 92,740 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 11 | — | — | 33,500 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 11 | — | — | 43,084 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 10 | — | 1 | 162,796 mi |
Recalls for 2002 Ford Escape
6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,653,032 vehicles.
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 could disengage from the transmission without warning.
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 could disengage from the transmission without warning.
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 attachment of the lower control arm.
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.
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.
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.
Other Ford Escape Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99