Complaints
41
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
14
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Ford Escort Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#15 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:39,667 mi
#24 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
#33 complaints
Automatic Transmission
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Ford Escort.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | — | 39,667 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Bead | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,667
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Springs
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Bumpers
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Bead
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Rim
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Escort. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escort Years
2002 Ford Escort — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Ford Escort reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Ford Escort has 41 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 5 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Ford Escort?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (5 complaints, avg 39,667 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (4 complaints); Automatic Transmission (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Ford Escort?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 39,667 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Ford Escort?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Ford Escort include 6 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Ford Escort have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Ford Escort as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Ford Escort?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escort reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Ford Escort
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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