Ford Escape Complaints (2002)
1,027 consumer complaints on file.
- #10096885October 14, 2004AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10093802October 8, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING WESTBOUND APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME RESULTING IN FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. SUSTAINED WHIPLASH, TREATED AT HOSPITAL AND RELEASED. CONTINUING CARE WITH PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY TO REPORT AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CHECKED AFTER VEHICLE REPAIRS ARE MADE AND RESULTS SENT DIRECTLY TO FORD AT MY COST. FORD THEN REFERRED THE COMPLAINT TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. SITUATION CURRENTLY ONGOING. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10094629September 29, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10093264September 28, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CD4E. OWNER'S MANUAL AND INFORMATION FROM FORD STATES THAT ONLY MERCON TRANSMISSION FLUID IS TO BE USED, AND THAT USE OF MERCON V TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL DAMAGE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, COVER ON TRANSMISSION DIP STICK SAYS "USE MERCON V." DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AT 32000 MILES AND REPLACED WITH MERCON V FLUID. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 51000 MILES, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. FAILURE HAPPENED DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, BUT FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. HE DEALER SHOULD HAVE KNOW WHAT KIND OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TO USE, REGARDLESS OF INCORRECT STATEMENT ON DIP STICK CAP. HOWEVER, THE MISLEADING DIP STICK COULD CAUSE THE OWNER OR OTHERS TO USE INCORRECT TYPE OF FLUID, WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE COMPLETE TRANMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10093092September 23, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AFTER DRIVING THE ESCAPE FOR A FEW HOURS...RUNNING ERRANDS AND WHAT NOT...WE PARK THE CAR FOR A SHORT TIME...THEN THE CAR WON'T START. IT WILL TURN OVER, BUT IF THE GAS ISN'T KEPT ON IT STALLS. HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW AND THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE SITUATION. USUALLY AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, IT WILL START UP AND RUN FINE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO MONTHS NOW. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10093055September 22, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE REGULARLY AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING AND PUT INTO DRIVE. UNTIL RECENTLY WAS ABLE TO RESTART ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. UPON LAST STALL WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THIS IS STILL OCCURRING AFTER THE SAFETY RECALL 04S13, AND A FLIGHT RECORDER WITH 4 RECORDINGS OF REVERSE STALLS LED TO REPLACEMENT OF IAC VALVE, MASS AIR SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, EEC RELAY, DPFE SENSOR, AND A RESET OF KEEP ALIVE MEMORY. THE MOST RECENT STALL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND REMAINS AT THE DEALER UNTIL THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR MAKE ANOTHER GUESS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING AND SEEMS TO BE PROGRESSING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091396September 21, 2004STEERING:COLUMN, AIR BAGS
STEERING COLUMN. HIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE DASH. I AM UNAWARE IF THIS CAUSED FURTHER INJURY TO THE OPERATOR. I AM A LICENSED AUTO DAMAGE APPRAISER AND THOUGHT THIS TO BE VERY UNUSUAL AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091368September 20, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51,000 MILES. DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, O/D LOCKOUT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY ACTED AS IF IT WAS SHIFTING BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE, THEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. FORD DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT HAS NOT DIAGNOSED CAUSE OF FAILURE. FROM RESEARCHING USER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, I'VE LEARNED THAT FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (OASIS #16717) IN MARCH 2003 ADVISING THAT THE PCM BE REPROGRAMED TO CORRECT A TRANSMISSION SHUDDER PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PRECURSOR TO TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PCM REPROGRAMING IS ALSO REQUIRED BY SAFETY RECALL 04S13, ISSUED APRIL 2004. I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THIS RECALL WORK DONE BY THE DEALER, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BEFORE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. FROM READING USER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT TANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50-60,000 MILES IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR 2001-2003 ESCAPES WITH A CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AT LEAST FOR ONES WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PCM REPROGRAMED AS CALLED FOR IN THE 2003 SERVICE BULLETIN OR THE 2004 SAFETY RECALL.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091258September 19, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
WENT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN GARDEN GROVE, CA. I WAS GETTING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A COMPLETE BRAKE OVERHALL. I BALKED AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE FORD ASSOCIATE. I STATED "MY ESCAPE ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT AND YOUR TELLING ME IT NEEDS NEW ROTORS, PADS ON THE FRONT, AND SHOES AND DRUMS IN THE REAR". HE LOOKED STRAIGHT AT ME AND SAID YES YOU DO. I WENT HOME TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED IT TO BE TRUE.. THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 ESCAPE ARE WORN OUT AFTER 23,000 MILES. WHAT KIND OF GARBAGE IS THAT. I'M NOT HARD ON MY BRAKES EITHER. IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN AT 43,000 MILES I AM GOING TO BE VERY PISSED OFF. IF IT DOES HAPPEN. I WILL BE TRADING IT IN, AND IT WON'T BE FOR ANOTHER FORD.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10092777September 17, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
COMPLAINT REGARDING 2002 FORD ESCAPE.*MR THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, SKIP AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED A PART WHICH THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED WAS THE LATEST FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PART DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE E, SKIP AND STALL. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10092635September 17, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE ROARED. HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES WITH GREAT PRESSURE AND IT STILL HAPPENED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO DENIED OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND WHILE IN HIS POSSESSION, THE PROBLEM DID NOT DUPLICATE ITSELF. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091048September 15, 2004EQUIPMENT
WE DRIVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. IT IS DRIVEN BY BOTH MY HUSBAND (BILL) AND MYSELF. WHILE DRIVING WE STOPPED IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT TO EAT. WE PULLED INTO PARKING PLACE, FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED AND WE ALMOST WENT INTO THE RESTAURANT WINDOW. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE CAR BACK BY USING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. HE THEN REACHED DOWN AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. WE HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ON 4 SEPARTE OCCASSIONS AND HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE ON 6 OCCASSIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 4 WEEKS AGO. I WAS DRIVING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE, HAD MY HAND ON THE GEAR SHIFT TO PUT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT AS MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AS MY HUSBAND AND WENT INTO A PLATE GLASS WINDOW OF A RESTAURANT THAT FORTUNATELY WAS NOT OPEN AND BEING REMODELED. I DID $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE RESTAURANT IS CLAIMING $30,000 DAMAGE TO THEIR BUILDING. AGAIN WE HAD IT IN THE GARAGE. THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. WE HAVE HEARD FROM FORD THAT THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AS SOONER OR LATER, WHEN IT HAPPENS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A CAR THAT WORKS PROPERLY. OTHER TIMES WHEN DRIVING ALONG IT WOULD ACCELLERATE ON ITS OWN BUT THEN CUT BACK. MOST OFTEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE FOR SOME REASON. FORD GARAGE CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FORD CO. CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT SO THEY SAY. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10090904September 13, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING TWICE. ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE OTHER AT 10 MPH. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (COWLES FORD, WOODBRIDGE, VA) SINCE MY FIRST MAINTENANCE CHECK ABOUT MY ESCAPE HESITATING/SKIPPING. DOES NOT SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE PROPER GAS. FIRST COUPLE OF MAINTENANCE CHECK MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW, 2 1/2 YEARS LATER, THEY KEEP REPLACING SMALL PARTS THAT DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SHOW UP ON DIANOSTICS TEST NOR ON THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE THE FIRST ENGINE STALL (40 MPH) THAT MY ESCAPE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. AGAIN I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MY SUV IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE NO ADVANCED WARNING WHEN THE MOTOR WILL CUT OFF. I HAVE EMAILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO HIGH MANAGEMENT AT FORD IN MICHEGAN BUT HAVE YET TO EVEN GET AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY COMPLAINT. FORD SEEMS TO BE SO WILLING TO LET CUSTOMERS BE INJURED OR KILLED IN THEIR PRODUCTS. ON FELT LIKE A "VALUABLE FORD CUSTOMER" BEFORE I SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE AND AFTER THAT I FEEL LIKE A "VICTIM". SHAME ON FORD.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10090861September 12, 2004POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
DRIVERS SEAT MOVES FOWARD APPROX 1/2" ON ACCELERATION AND STOPPING. VEHICLE HAS NOISE POSSIBLE BEARING, TRANSMISSION, OR DRIVESHAFT LIKE A LOPE AS IF SOMETHING WAS OUT OF ROUND OR HAS A HIGH SPOT. IT IS NOT THE TIRES.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091639September 8, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091640September 8, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087902September 8, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE POLICE GARAGE WAITING TO BE INVESTIGATED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE TO RETRIEVE HER MAIL AND GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOWN AND PROCEED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED, NOT EVEN BY APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A GARAGE WALL, THROUGH A UTILITY ROOM AND CAME OUT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND HIT A SMALL TREE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10090469September 5, 2004STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, NOTICED THAT STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THIS IS THE 5TH REPAIR INCIDENT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. FORD DEALER AND FORD REP. CLAIM THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EACH TIME, BUT CONTINUES TO OCCUR EVERY 6-9 MONTHS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10088938September 1, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT - 38,000 MILES. RADIO TURNED OFF BY ITSELF, DASHBOARD GAGES ILLUMINATED AND THEN CAR DIED. CAR WAS ABLE TO BE RE-STARTED BUT THEN DIED SHORTLY AFTER. FORD HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAS BLOWN. AS 38,000 IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD CORPORATE HAS DECLINED PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, IT SEEMS THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED SO EARLY IN THE VEHICLES LIFE. OF COURSE CONSIDERING THE MANY, MANY ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT WERE COVERED I GUESS I SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED. AS A SIDE NOTE, I SUPPLY COMPONENTS TO THE AUTOMOTIVE OEM'S INCLUDING FORD. THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT A FORD. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE AND SEEING HOW FORD WORKS INTERNALLY I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO BUY ONE AGAIN. ALAN GOLDENSTEIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10089731August 25, 2004VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. WI DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0