Ford Escape Complaints (2002)

1,027 consumer complaints on file.

#10538169August 30, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES
MY ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN WE WENT TO GO TO TOWN AND IT WAS SMOKING THEN ON FIRE THIS WAS IN THE EVENING ABOUT 8 IF WE HADN'T GONE OUT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A HUGE FIRE WITCH COULD HAVE INVOLVED 3 OTHER CARS NOT TO MENTION OUR HOUSE WE LIVE IN RAMONA CA 92065 AND ITS FIRE SEASON WE ARE IN A RURAL AREA..
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534036August 7, 2013
CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING, CHILD SEAT
CONCERN THAT ONLY ONE CONNECTOR STRAP LOCKS ON GRACO AFFX BOOSTER SEAT AFTER CONNECTOR CLIPS ARE ATTACHED TO LATCH BRACKETS. OTHER ONE DOES NOT LOCK IN SO SEAT CAN BE PULLED OUT ON ONE SIDE. CALLED GRACO A BIT AGO AND THEY SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" AND NOT A DESIGN FLAW. HOWEVER, INSTRUCTIONS SUGGEST PULLING ON STRAPS WILL HOLD SEAT IN TIGHT UNTIL RELEASE BUTTON IS PUSHED. I AM READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN ON-LINE REVIEWS AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO SAY THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM....WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A PROBLEM!. BOTTOM LINE: WITH ONE SIDE OF THIS SEAT NOT LOCKING TIGHT LIKE THE OTHER SIDE AND ABLE TO SLIDE LOOSE FROM FLUSH AGAINST THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE SEAT, IS THIS BOOSTER SEAT SAFE FOR MY CHILD TO USE, I.E., DOES IT RETAIN ALL ITS APPROVED CRASH SAFETY FEATURES WHETHER THE SEAT IS LOCKED IN TIGHT (AS SOME USERS APPEAR TO BE ABLE TO DO) OR SLIDES LOOSE ON ONE SIDE WITH SLIGHT PULLING, SUCH AS MAY OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT?? NOTE: COULDN'T FIND DESCRIPTION OF BOOSTER IN DROPDOWN LIST FURTHER ON. IS GRACO AFFIX BOOSTER, MODEL 1839168 (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2002, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=ESCAPE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534051August 7, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM UNDER THE CARPORT AND FLAMES SURFACED AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523039July 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY, THE CAR TURNED ON ABS LIGHT ALL OF SUDDEN AND IN A LESS THAN A MINUTE THE CAR'S ELECTRICITY ALL SHUT OFF, ENGINES SHUT OFF, STEERING SHUT OFF, BRAKES SHUT OFF, RADIO SHUT OFF. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY MORE THAN 6 TIMES, BUT BEFORE, IT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, BUT THIS TIME, IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAPPENED WHILE PUTTING ON MY BREAKS, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE OF THE RECALL PROBLEM THAT THE CAR STOPS WHILE DECELERATING. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT RECALL WORKS HAVE BEEN ALREADY DONE ON THE CAR BEFORE IT HAPPENED. SO I SUSPECT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT FIGURE OUT THE MAIN REASON WHY THE CAR IS STOPPING WHILE DECELERATING OR JUST DIDN'T WORK ON THE RECALL AND LIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520963June 20, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE OPENING THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HINGES BROKE LEAVING THE WINDOW HANGING. ANALYZING WHERE THE BREAK OCCURRED (WHICH WAS THE SAME PLACE ON EACH HINGE), THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED EVEN IF THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. THE SCREW INSIDE OF THE CAR HOLDING THE HINGE TO THE WINDOW WAS RUSTED, APPARENTLY DUE TO THE PARTS NOT MAKING A WATER TIGHT SEAL ON THE WINDOW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND/OR PERSONS THAT WERE FOLLOWING. THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE PART # IS 420A68. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512534May 17, 2013
WHEELS, STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
LOWER CONTROL ARM RIPPED OFF UNDER CRADLE & RIPPED PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE SHAFT OFF THE TRANSMISSION - THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE CAR. IT APPEARS UNDER CRADLE RUSTED FROM INSIDE. I SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT OF THAT HAPPENING WHEN MY WIFE WAS ON THE FREEWAY, INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512410May 16, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
HAD POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RE-CALIBRATED, RE-PROGRAMMED PCM, ABS MODULE CONNECTOR REPAIR AND INSPECTION, ABS RELAY INSTALLATION AND MASTER CYLINDER CAP REPLACED, ALL RE-CALLS. FIND OUT HCU HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IS FAILING WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN RESULT IN BRAKES FAILING AND POSSIBLE DEATH FROM LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. THANK GOD THIS HASN'T HAPPENED BUT FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FIX THIS ISSUE WITH SO MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511860May 14, 2013
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
THE SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH FORD ESCAPES. AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER AREA. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW, AND ONE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF THE FAILURE HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEED. I THINK THE FORD RANGER FRAMES WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR RUSTING ISSUE, PERHAPS THE TWO ARE RELATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PROMPT ATTENTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511113April 24, 2013
VISIBILITY
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE PARKED UNATTENDED IN A PARKING LOT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON PRIOR TO INCIDENT. SECURITY CAMERAS REVEAL THEE WAS NO HUMAN TAMPERING PRIOR TO EXPLOSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509393April 24, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LINK FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE LINK FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS RUSTED AND BECAME FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508009April 11, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND BURNED OUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE INTAKE VALVES CRACKED AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504673March 27, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
TO START OFF THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUSH THE CLUTCH IN IT DIES AND YOU LOOSE ALL POWER , ANOTHER IS THE BUSHING IN THE CONTROL ARM SLIPPED OUT OF THE ARM MOUNT SO I HAD TO REPLACE IT AND ANOTHER THAT JUST HAPPENED IS THE GAS TANK STRAP AND SUPPORT PAN BROKE AND PLASTIC GAS TANK HIT THE GROUND ON ONE END AND THE OTHER IS GRINDING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP WONT FIX ANYTHING CAUSE IT AIN'T CONSIDERED POWERTRAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502481March 12, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 5/7/13 *CN UPDATED 05/28/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501450March 5, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 2002 ESCAPE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL ISSUED A FEW YEARS BACK. THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED THE DEALER SAID THE ABS MODULE WAS BAD- $900 TO FIX IT!! THEY SAY IT IS NOT RELATED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE OR BURN UP/MELT THE WIRING HARNESS?? I HAVE TO WAIT FOR PARTS TO MELT OR CATCH FIRE BEFORE THEY WILL FIX THE PART IT PLUGS INTO?? EVERY VEHICLE WE HAVE PURCHASED NOW IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS BEEN A FORD. WE PAID OFF BOTH OUR FORDS AND WERE READY TO PURCHASE AND HAND DOWN THE ESCAPE TO MY 16 Y/O DAUGHTER.IT IS NOT SAFE! MORE THAN 4 RECALLS ALL SAFETY RELATED ON THIS VEHICLE. OUR F150 GOES IN FOR A FEW RECALLS AND SPARK PLUGS- A WHOPPING $500 TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND AN EXTRA HOUR OF LABOR FOR EACH ONE THAT BREAKS OFF...LOVELY! AT THE MERCY OF FORD AND ONCE AGAIN, TOTAL DISSATISFACTION AND DISAPPOINTMENT. NOW THEY COULD CARE LESS WHO GETS HURT,I'M NOT GOING TO RISK MY DAUGHTERS LIFE OR ANYONE'S FOR THAT MATTER. FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS. ALSO, IT SAYS 'MODIFIED ABS SYSTEM' IN RECALL WITH MASTER CYLINDER CAP (NOT EVEN REPAIRED SEE BELOW)NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE IS $900 TO REPAIR. SOMEONE OR MANY WILL END UP INJURED OR WORSE! MY 2002 ESCAPE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL ISSUED A FEW YEARS BACK. THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM (NOT GOOD) WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED THE DEALER SAID THE ABS MODULE WAS BAD- $900 TO FIX IT!! THEY SAY IT IS NOT RELATED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE OR BURN UP/MELT THE WIRING HARNESS?? MORE THAN 4 RECALLS ALL SAFETY RELATED ON THIS VEHICLE THE NEWEST BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL IS THE MASTER CYLINDER FLUID CAP (DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS ONE AND IT WAS NOT FIXED AND MY FLUID IS LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499526February 21, 2013
AIR BAGS
I HAVE HAD MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE SINCE JUNE 2002. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY AIRBAGS BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. ALL OF A SUDDEN IN EARLY JANUARY 2013, I STARTED TO NOTICE MY CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD SINCE IT HAD NEVER DONE SO BEFORE AND I HAD NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS SO I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND THOUGHT THE LIGHT WOULD JUST GO OFF. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO GO ON AND SO I FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 15, 2003. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE PRE-TENSIONER CONNECTORS THAT CLIP TO THE WIRE HARNESS THAT MAKES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORK HAD HIGH RESISTANCE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITHOUT A FIX, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THEY CLAIMED THAT OVER TIME WITH THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE, THIS WILL HAPPEN AND THE CLIPS WILL NO LONGER CLIP AS THEY SAID. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS AIRBAGS WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING CREATING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY WITH YOU IN CASE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE THAT MIGHT WARRANT A MODEL RECALL IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498001February 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO DOWN SHIFT AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000. UPDATED 3/14/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. UPDATED 03/21/13
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496312February 4, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495313January 31, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SMALL HILL AND HAD A BLOW OUT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE HILL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10494658January 25, 2013
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND THE TIRE FELL SIDEWAYS. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND THE GARAGE CALLED AND SAID THE SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE COULD RUST SO BAD. FORD SHOULD SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOUR TRAVELING @ A HIGH SPEED AND THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATES YOU CAN HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND CAUSE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493468January 18, 2013
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY MADE A CLUNKING SOUND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OR MOVE IT FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I EXITED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND IT SEEMED FINE . I THEN WENT OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SAW THAT MY WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I FIGURED THAT I PROBABLY BROKE A TIE ROD. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE AUTO TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION. WHEN THE TOW DRIVER ARRIVED HE TOOK A LOOK AT MY ESCAPE AND SAID THAT MY SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT HAD SEPARATED IN TWO. BY DOING THAT MY WHEEL AXLE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. HIS OPINION WAS THAT IF I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THIS HAD HAPPENED IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR AUTO COLLISION AND MAYBE EVEN CAUSING MY ESCAPE TO ROLL OVER. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBFRAME AND I AM VERY FORTUNATE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE AND EVEN DEATH TO INNOCENT PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Escape