Ford Escape Complaints (2002)

1,027 consumer complaints on file.

#10159681June 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FOLLOW UP TO AN EARLIER REPORT REGARDING A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH IGNITION COIL PROBLEMS. ON MAY 30, THE VEHICLE LOST ANOTHER IGNITION COIL (3 PREVIOUSLY HAD DIED) AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN A RAINSTORM. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO MANIFEST ITSELF WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING OR VERY HUMID. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO MACQUIRE FORD AND WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED NUMBER 1 IGNITION COIL. THE COIL WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $390. THE TRUCK WAS PICKED UP FRIDAY, JUNE 2, DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AT 6PM THAT NIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK RAN ROUGH. THE DEALER WASN'T HAPPY TO SEE US BACK SATURDAY MORNING. THIS TIME COIL NUMBER 3 HAD GONE. NO ONE KNOWS WHY 5 COILS HAVE NOW FAILED AT THE COST OF $1300. THE FINAL ORIGINAL COIL HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. NO ONE AT FORD CAN GIVE AN ANSWER AND I AM OUT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND I SOMEHOW DOUBT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160524June 12, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, SEAT BELTS
2002 FORD ESCAPE ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL NOTICE (04V574000) AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN IN MARCH 2006.*KB THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH WAS REPLACED FEB 2005 WAS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 1 YEAR/12000 MILES. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP WHEN IN USE. *NM UPDATED 09/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159315June 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING THE NIGHT, THE VEHICLE ALARM SOUNDED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALERTED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED IT OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMAL PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159238June 7, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT THEN REVERSED AND PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS TURNED THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AFTER THIS, THE AXLE FRACTURED AS WELL. THE TIE ROD AND AXLE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 7/14/2006 - THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157957May 21, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LEFT REAR DOOR IS JAMMED CLOSED. WILL NOT UNLOCK EITHER ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HANDLE. DEALER IS VERY HELPFUL BUT UNABLE TO REPAIR. NTSB LISTS SEVERAL OF SAME COMPLAINT BUT FORD HAS NO SOLUTION. ONLY ONE REMAINING EXIT FROM REAR AND LIKELY TO FAIL FROM SAME DESIGN AND TRAP PASSENGERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155652April 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. LAST JUNE, I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS DURING WHICH TIME IT RAINED. WHEN I WENT TO START THE ENGINE, IT RAN SLUGGISHLY AND SHUDDERED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, VARNEY FORD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THERE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE #3 "SPARK PLUG COIL" (IGNITION COIL) HAD BURNED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT MOISTURE HAD ENTERED THE COIL. NO EXPLANATION FOR HOW THAT WAS HAPPENING WAS GIVEN. COST $180 TO REPAIR. YESTERDAY, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN, I WENT TO ONCE AGAIN START MY TRUCK. IT EXACTLY REPEATED THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT. THIS TIME HOWEVER, I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER...IT COULD NOT TRAVEL MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS TIME COILS NUMBER 4 AND 6 HAD FAILED. COST THIS TIME $325. ONCE AGAIN I WAS TOLD MOISTURE HAD SOMEHOW GOTTEN INTO THE COIL SYSTEM. SO IN OTHER WORDS, I OWN A TRUCK THAT CANNOT SIT IDLE FOR EVEN A DAY IN RAINY OR DAMP WEATHER WITHOUT A COIL BURNING OUT. FROM WHAT I GATHER FROM READING THE TRAVAILS OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS IS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. FORD SAYS "THERE MUST BE A PIN HOLE SOMEWHERE THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIX". WHILE THIS WOULDN'T PRESENT A PROBLEM IF I ELECTED TO LIVE IN A DESERT ENVIRONMENT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN EXPENSE AND RENDER THE TRUCK USELESS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THANK YOU. HEIDI ROBBINS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153327March 21, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
1) ON SATURDAY 18 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 PM, MY WIFE, LINDA, WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES WEST OF BROADUS, MT WHEN SHE PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2) AFTER PASSING THE VEHICLE, HER VEHICLE SPEED WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. INSTEAD, IT STUCK AT NEARLY 80 MPH. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE SPEED, EVEN APPLYING MAXIMUM BRAKING PRESSURE, HAD NO EFFECT. LINDA TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER NEGOTIATING A CURVE THAT COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A ROLL-OVER. LINDA TRIED RESTARTING THE MOTOR, BUT IT WAS STILL RACING, AND THE TACHOMETER REACHED 5000 RPMS. 3) FORTUNATELY, ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH AUTOMOBILES, STOPPED TO GIVE ASSISTANCE. HE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS ALLOWED THE MOTOR TO RETURN TO NORMAL SPEED, AND LINDA WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE AND COMPLETE HER TRIP HOME. THE ASSISTING MOTORIST DID INDICATE THAT THE CABLE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO BE LOOSE. UPON CHECKING VARIOUS WEB-SITES,INCLUDING THE NHTSA SITE, I FOUND THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 2004 FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V574000). I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL INFORMATION SITE (1-866-436-7332) BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE MY ESCAPE WAS MANUFACTURED, IT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE REPAIR. AS OF NOW MY VEHICLES CRUISE REMAINS DISABLED. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW NOT A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM BASED ON PLACE OF MANUFACTURE. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152423March 10, 2006
AIR BAGS
SMALL IMPACT UNDER 5 MILES PER HOUR AND MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR AT ALL. WAS HAVING A PROBLEM FOR A YEAR WITH MY SRS AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. TOOK IT TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING RESOLVED THE ISSUE. SEEMS THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MY AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE "HIGH" COST OF REPLACING THE AIR BAGS UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER WAS SHOCKED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AT ALL TO MY CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149548February 6, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTRY ROAD LAST WEEK WHEN MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS WHICH WORKED. SATURDAY MORNING I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. NO MECHANIC WAS ON DUTY ;BUT THE OWNER VERIFIED THE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HE SAID TO BRING IT BACK MONDAY FOR A MECHANIC TO CHECK IT. MONDAY THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WORKED ON MONDAY. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN WHEN THEY WERE NOT WORKING SO THEY COULD GET AN ERROR CODE. WELL, I HAD DONE THAT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE LIGHTS WORK NOW. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE; BUT I CANNOT FIND OUT IF OTHER CARS ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THEY HAVE TO CATCH IT WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. ALSO THE DEALER IS NOT OPEN AT NIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148363January 23, 2006
SEAT BELTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT HARNESS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148275January 21, 2006
AIR BAGS
CAR LOST CONTROL COMING TOWARD ME, SHE WENT INTO MY LANE SIDEWAYS. I T-BONED HER ON HER PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. SEAT BELT SAVED MY LIFE, BUT THE AIRBAGS WERE OF NO USE. WHY DON'T THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY ON THESE VEHICLES. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A MUCH FASTER SPEED OR HER, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10147666January 12, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILED AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144957December 12, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHEN STARTING OFF, OR ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL HAS A HESITANT/STICKING SENSATION. IT REQUIRES MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE TO DEPRESS IT, AND CAUSES AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN THE ENGINE SPEED. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FROM THE V-6 3.0 ENGINES, BUT NOT FOR MY 4-CYL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144886December 10, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WIFE PARKED VEHICLE ON STEEP UPHILL DRIVEWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. EXITED DRIVERS SIDE AND WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUING TO MAILBOX. WHILE AT MAILBOX OBSERVED VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ROLL BACKWARD CROSSING THE PATH WHERE SHE HAD JUST WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ACROSS STREET AND OVER CURB HITTING TREE. NEIGHBOR IN THEIR FRONT YARD ALSO OBSERVED THIS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. CALLED FORD CORP OFFICES TO ASK FOR REVIEW OF THIS BY THEIR SAFETY ENGINEERS. A CURSORY REVIEW BY THE DEALER INDICATED NO OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION LINKAGE OR OTHER ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES ANY FURTHER REVIEW AND SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST IN FINDING ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS IN NUMBERS 10031648, 568244, 10073682 AND 10026175. THERE ARE ALSO MANY REPORTS OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN OTHER SCENARIOS SUCH AS 10073741, 10087902, 10091048, 10092635 AND 10108659. DID NOT REVIEW COMPLAINTS ON SIMILAR MODELS SUCH AS MAZDA TRIBUTE NOR OTHER YEAR ESCAPES WHICH MAY HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD ENGINEERED THE CAR TO BACK DOWN A HILL, WHILE UNOCCUPIED, IN PARK, WITH THE IGNITION OFF. BUT APPARENTLY THEY CONSIDER THIS NORMAL AND OF NO CONSEQUENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE HURT AND THE ECONOMICS TURN AGAINST FORD BEFORE THEY WILL GET INVOLVED. REMINDS ME OF THEIR SAFETY ISSUES WITH FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S THAT CONTINUE TO EXPLODE IN FLAMES WHEN HIT FROM THE REAR. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144177December 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A PATCH OF SNOW IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE'S REAR END SPUN AROUND AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ABS SENSOR, THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP ,CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES DO TO THE SEAT BEAT BUCKLE BREAKING DURING THE ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10143002November 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HE TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142679November 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IF YOU COULD PLEASE FORWARD ME ANY OTHER RESOURCES WHERE I CAN SEEK A RESOLUTION I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. ON 7-14-05 OUR FORD ESCAPE V6 XLT (VIN: [XXX]) WAS TAKEN TO GALPIN FORD (VAN NUYS, CA) FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WHILE STOPPED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR BEING STUCK AND THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN IN ON 7-14-05 WHERE TECH'S DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM W/ AN "STP SENSOR MALFUNCTION", RESULTING IN THE SENSOR BEING REPLACED. ACCORDING TO [XXX] (SVC. ADVISOR) HE RELATED THAT THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM ON NEWER FORD ESCAPES, BUT NOT ON OUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE. HE SAID TO CONTACT FORD CORPORATE TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT. ON 7-17-05 I CONTACTED CORPORATE EXPLAINING THEM OF THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH, THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR OUR SPECIFIC MODEL AND YEAR. THEY SAID AT THIS TIME THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE MATTER. AS STATED BEFORE I AM SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER DUE TO FORD'S POOR HISTORY FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142698November 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND AIRBAGS NOT WORKING. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND IN CHAT ROOMS AND WITH FORD ISSUING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES THIS IS A LONG TERM ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIFFICULTY FIXING. SO I AM AT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE FORD MADE A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141750November 4, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WILL NOT GO BACK TO THEIR PARKED POSITION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141802November 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BUMPED THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, NO VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SPEED AT THE POINT OF IMPACT NEAR 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED SLIGHT INJURY TO LEFT ARM. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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