Problems · by component

2002 Ford Escape suspension problems

90 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Escape cite suspension, 8% of all 1,070 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
90
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the suspension of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the control arm needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced in 2014 under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (Structure) however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist and that he had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2021Suspension, StructureODI 11420877
“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN HEARD A LOUD BANG WHEN HITTING A BUMP. STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TO A SHOP. UPON INSPECTION, THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN AND WAS HANGING 6 INCHES LOWER THAN IT SHOULD. UPON CALLING FORD, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL FOR THE ROTTING, WITCH I QUESTIONED AND GOT NON ANSWERS AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUB-FRAME FOR THE EXACT ISSUE I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIANCING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2020SuspensionODI 11374355
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OF THE PARKING LOT, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL TURNED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER HEARING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD COUNTRY (280 N GIBSON RD, HENDERSON, NV 89014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE WAS THE SAME PARTS OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF RECALL THE REPAIR WAS DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,158.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2020SuspensionODI 11320708
“MY CAR JERKS, AND SWERVES BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT AND THE SUBRALFRAME ARE MESSED UP. IT WILL COST ME TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIX AND NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH IT. I DONT WANT TO SELL IT TO ANYONE BE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS AND GETS WORSE AT HIGH SPEEDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2020SuspensionODI 11307960
“ON 12/20/2013 I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, AND HAD TO PAY 1,279.79. IN APRIL 2014 YOU ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ITEM. FOR SOME TREASON YOU EXCLUDED MY CAR. CONSIDERING MY CAR REQUIRED THE EXACT ITEM REPLACED ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR, I AM REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THAT REPAIR. ALSO A COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OUT. A DEFECT THAT DOES NOT SEEM REPAIRABLE. IN LIGHT OF THE AIRBAG RECALL I AM CONCERNED I AM SITTING IN FRONT OF A LOADED GUN. I WILL KEEP THIS COMPLAINT WHERE MY FAMILY CAN FIND IT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS COMPLAINT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2019Suspension, Air bagsODI 11245533

Showing 6 of 90 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

Suspension: wheel bearing

Free remedy

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

SuspensionReported Jun 3, 2015NHTSA 15E045000
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.