Ford Escape Complaints (2002)
1,027 consumer complaints on file.
- #10356538September 20, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AS SMOKE BEGIN EMITTING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AS FLAMES POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BUT INDEPENDENTLY RE-IGNITED . THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10354915September 10, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AND WHITE SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE IGNITION WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A DAMAGED DECORATIVE COVER OVER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SHATTERED INTAKE MANIFOLDS. TWO SPARK COILS WERE LATER FOUND TO BE DAMAGED BY THE EXPLOSION. THE HEADS WERE RECONDITIONED AS IGNITION LEAKAGE THRU THE UNSEATED VALVES WAS A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE IGNITION OF THE RESIDUAL GASES IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SECONDARY CONTRIBUTION WAS THE ORIGINAL INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS OF AN OLD STYLE AND NOT CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THE BACKFIRE FORCE. A NEW, MODIFIED COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS AVAILABLE BUT NOT ON A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10354657September 9, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 104,000 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10354490September 8, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT HEARD THE ALARM, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE IN THE ABS AREA. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE ABS WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10352812August 30, 2010AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,959.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10350003August 17, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN HE AS ADVISED THAT THE ABS NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, AND FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,130.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10349538August 16, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
RECALL ON 2002 FORD ESCAPE FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE RECALL NUMBER 07V-156 I HAD THIS RECALL DONE AT LONG FORD IN EUREKA, MO. OCTOBER 13, 2008. ON AUGUST 7, 2010 THE WIRE BURNT ON THIS AND WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE. FORD SAID THAT THEY HAD ALREADY FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. UPDATED IVOQ 09./08/10*JB *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10349898August 16, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPLACED. AT 74,000 MILES IT WAS BLOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND ASKED FOR HIS OPINION. IT WAS BLOWN. HE CALLED ABOUT A REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER KEPT MANY REPLACEMENTS FOR 2002 ESCAPES BECAUSE OF FAILURES. I BOUGHT FORD BECAUSE I ALWAYS LOVED AND BOUGHT FORDS. BUT 3,3300.00 LATER, FORD HAS A PROBLEM. THE CAR RUNS BETTER NOW AND EVEN GETS 5 MILES PER GALLON BETTER ON GAS. FORD HAS A PROBLEM AS COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10348106August 9, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT SATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF SLIPPING BEFORE IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT THE CORE OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10347114August 3, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
REF.: 2002 FORD ESCAPE ON JULY 22 THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, MY SON WAS WASHING IT. IT STARTED BILLOWING SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT CAUSE. HE LIFTED THE HOOD, WATERED DOWN THE AREA THAT WAS BURNING. IT STARTED AND WE PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING MY WIFE ENTERED OUR GARAGE, AT ABOUT 7:00 AM, THE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE WITH A SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER. I DROVE THE FORD OUT ON TO THE DRIVE WAY. NOW IT MALFUNCTIONED, THE ABS AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WERE ON. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET. WHEN I TYPED IN 'SMOKE COMING FOR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2002 FORD ESCAPE' IT SENT ME TO A NHTSA WEBSITE WHERE LISTED WERE MANY 2002 FORD ESCAPES THAT HAD FOR NO REASON CAUGHT FIRE. THE PROBLEM STATED WAS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WITH RECALLS ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF FORD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT FORD ESCAPES HAD NO PROBLEMS AND NOT ON A RECALL LIST. I LATER CALLED THEM BACK AND GAVE THEM A RECALL NUMBER. I WAS ADVISED THAT HIS WAS NOT ONE OF THE VEHICLES COVERED BY THAT RECALL. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SUGGESTED A DIAGNOSIS BY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. MY WIFE IS NOW AFRAID OF IT, BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS AND AFRAID IT WILL BURST INTO FLAMES. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT P.O BOX 70, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN 48121-0070 WHERE I AN DIRECTED TO PERFORM A FULL COMPLETE INVESTIGATION FOR THEM WITH PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, DAMAGED PARTS, COPY OF PINK SLIP, REGISTRATION, COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT, REPAIR RECEIPTS OR ESTIMATES AND LETTER OF DENIAL OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM. IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY SETTLES THE CLAIM THEY WILL NOT COVER THE VEHICLE. I HAVE 90 DAYS TO RESPOND BEFORE THEY CLOSE THE CASE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY STATES THEY WILL ONLY REPAIR WHAT BURNT AND NOT GET MY VEHICLE TO FUNCTION AS IT DID PRIOR TO IT CATCHING FIRE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10346334July 30, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IN REVERSE AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 5 MPH; YET, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE CONTROL VALVES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL VALVES AND JUMPER HARNESS AND REPROGRAMMED THE CENTRAL COMPUTER. THE FAILURE DID NOT PERSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,946.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10343424July 15, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ERUPTED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR AN UNKNOWN REPAIR REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FIVE DAYS TO PERFORM THE SERVICE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DECLARE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED; AND TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10343466July 15, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I WENT TO THE LOCAL AUTOZONE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BULB. WHEN I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT PLUG, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MELTED. I REMOVED AND INSTALLED A NEW LIGHT BULB. I THEN TESTED THE NEW BULB TO MAKE SURE IT WORKED. IT DID NOT TURNED ON. THE HEADLIGHT PLUG SEEMS LIKE IT MELTED AT SOME POINT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10342207July 9, 2010VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GAGE BACK WINDOW WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER WITH ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTS TO BE REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10341773July 7, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ACCELERATOR ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE V6 STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. UPON TRYING TO MANUALLY "PULL" THE ACCELERATOR FREE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER. SPEEDS REACHED 70 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. I SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND SLOWLY APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE KEPT RACING AT 6000 RPM'S. UPON FINDING A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND DRIFTED TO THE SIDE ROAD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOT ADMITTING TO ANY PROBLEMS/ISSUES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AS WELL TO NO AVAIL, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING ON THE INTERNET. I AM CONVINCED THAT IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH THE CHILDREN, SHE WOULD HAVE CRASHED THE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10336044June 13, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND WAS RECORDED AS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. UPDATED 06/23/10 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10335765June 11, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS ASLEEP. LUCKILY A NEIGHBOR SAW THE FIRE AND STARTED TO WET DOWN MY HOUSE AND WE THEN BOTH ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO AND HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND THE FIRE MARSHALL POINTED ME TO FORD RECALL (# 07S51) OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MY ABS/BRAKE LIGHT ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10335779June 11, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MOVED SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL GEAR AND MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,111. UPDATED 07/29/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BECAME STUCK. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/07/10*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10332591May 27, 2010STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS... IT JUST STARTED ABOUT 2 YRS AGO SUMMER OF 08. CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF CAR. CAN BE FELT BY THE STEERING WHEEL (WHICH ALSO HAS THE SQUEAKING PROBLEM). OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS WARM. WENT TO THE FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING OF THIS... NEVER WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY HAD BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARM ASSEMBLY LINK, BOLT, HEX FOR FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED JUNE 09. ON SEPT 09 NOISE RETURNED AND HAD EVERYTHING TIGHTENED, LUBED. PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL AGAIN THE WEATHER WARMED UP THEN IS NOW BACK WORSE THAN EVER. NOT ONLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BUT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10331458May 20, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SPREAD TO A SECOND VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE CONTACT LOCATED A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI LOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE IN HIS VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0