Problems · by component

2002 Ford Escape vehicle speed control problems

103 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Escape cite vehicle speed control, 10% of all 1,070 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
103
10% of all complaints
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

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 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
“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
“VEHICLE IDLES FAST IN PARK AND ACCELERATES QUICKLY WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS IN HIGH CONSTANT ACCELERATION MODE. BUCKS FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING POTENTIAL VEHICLE IMPACT WHILE BEHIND STOPPED TRAFFIC, PARKING OR TRAILING OTHER VEHICLES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 11011150
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RPM INDICATOR WENT ALL THE UP AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT TAPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPMS WENT DOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE FAILURE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 10979257
“MY VEHICLE DOES THE EXACT SAME THING AS NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 04V165000 OR FORD RECALL NO. 04S13. I HAVE THE YEAR AND ENGINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST. IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2016Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10908812

Showing 6 of 103 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

Vehicle speed control: cables

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Vehicle speed controlReported Dec 7, 2004NHTSA 04V574000
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.