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Problems · by component

2002 Ford Escape engine and engine cooling problems

296 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Escape cite engine and engine cooling, 28% of all 1,070 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

All 2002 Escape problems
Complaints
296
28% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
31
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (BLACKWELL FORD, 41001 PLYMOUTH RD, PLYMOUTH, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS FRAME, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND EXHAUST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2018Steering, Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 11065850
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE ACTIVATED, THE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST FUMES INCREASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2017Engine and engine coolingODI 10954777
“TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. JCC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10619020
“WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD TAKE ALONG TIME TO START. VEHICLE CHECKED NOTHING FOUND, NO TROUBLE CODE. CHANGED THINGS LIKE FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER AND OTHER SIMPLE THING. NOW VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING BUT THE VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. AGAIN NO TROUBLE CODES. THE TRUCK STALLED IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE MILE, A ROAD THAT IS TRAVELED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10463877
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10463002

Showing 6 of 296 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Remedy pending

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jul 26, 2012NHTSA 12V353000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

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