Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Ford Escape problems

Owners filed 1,070 complaints about the 2002 Ford Escape with NHTSA between Jul 2001 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (296).

Complaints
1,070
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
68
Reported by owners
Fires
108
Reported by owners
Injuries
45
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling296
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic152
  3. Electrical system125
  4. Power train115
  5. Vehicle speed control103
  6. Suspension90
  7. Structure90
  8. Air bags83
  9. Steering71
  10. Service brakes41
  11. Engine36
  12. Visibility33
  13. Latches/locks/linkages21
  14. Fuel system, gasoline20

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200117
2002185
2003124
200496
200569
200648
200766
200839
200932
201044
201144
201285
201332
201454
201544
201624
201722
201818
201911
20206
20214
20222
20231
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

296 reports3 crashes31 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS, BUT WAS NOT TOWED FROM THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (LITHIA FORD OF MISSOULA, 3943 BROOKS ST, MISSOULA, MT 59804) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. .*BF *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2018Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 11102440

Service brakes, hydraulic

152 reports7 crashes39 fires3 related recalls
“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. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2018Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, EngineFire reportedODI 11063216

Electrical system

125 reports32 fires
“I bought a vehicle that has recalls on it. I contacted a dealer. Im told the car is to old to fix the recalled abs relay. Now I have a vehicle thats on the road a fire hazard. The ford dealership have left me my with and kids and grand kids in danger”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11732085

Power train

115 reports5 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing forcefully on the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal got stuck. The contact was unable to disengage the accelerator pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he did not attempt to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact shifted the ignition to off to stop the vehicle. The contact was unable to move the vehicle safely out of the road. The contact stated a bystander called the police department to assist with traffic. A police report was filed. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and disengaged the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2022Power trainODI 11491872

Vehicle speed control

103 reports26 crashes10 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED MANUALLY, IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, TO AN UNKNOWN PLACE OF BUSINESS. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A SQUEALING AND CRACKING NOISE. THE WHEEL BEARING AND STRUTS WERE FAULTY ON THE VEHICLE AS STATED BY THE CONTACT. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME BECOMING SEVERELY RUSTED UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2017Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11013938

Suspension

90 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and started drifting to the left. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a rusted subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2023SuspensionODI 11503115
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.