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
Unintended Acceleration
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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 | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 74 | 24 | 8 | 110,031 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 65 | — | 24 | 84,168 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 63 | — | 18 | 88,315 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 62 | 3 | — | 128,033 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 60 | 3 | 20 | 108,488 mi | |
| Airbags | 51 | 14 | — | 83,754 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 44 | 3 | 2 | 76,057 mi | |
| Brakes | 40 | 6 | 8 | 136,966 mi | |
| Body Structure | 38 | 2 | 1 | 133,783 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 37 | 5 | — | 106,547 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 36 | 2 | 8 | 144,785 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 33 | — | 17 | 100,840 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 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 System | 16 | — | — | 130,864 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 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 | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 12 | — | — | 92,740 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 11 | — | — | 33,500 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 11 | — | — | 43,084 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 10 | — | 1 | 162,796 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Ford Escape
4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,123,256 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 2001-2004 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 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
2002 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Ford Escape reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Ford Escape?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Ford Escape?
How safe is the 2002 Ford Escape?
Does the 2002 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Ford Escape?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
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.
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