Most common 2002 Ford Escape problems
Share of the 1,027 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escape complaints by model year
Best Escape years: 2025, 2012, 2023. Years to avoid: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018, 2014. Compare all years →
2002 Ford Escape recalls (8)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Structure › Frame and members
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle speed control › Cables
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Ford is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999, through July 19, 2002, equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak brake fluid.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and the ABS electrical system will be modified. An interim letter was mailed on January 20, 2012.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector May have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utiity vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on March 31, 2005. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Show 2 more recalls
Vehicle speed control › Cables
On certain sport utility vehicles built with 3.0l v6 engines, the accelerator cable May prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. The recall began on January 10, 2005. Owners should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 engines, during deceleration, the engine can stall.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. Owner notification began on April 21, 2004.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 10 possible defects involving the 2002 Ford Escape:
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford motor company (Ford) and Mazda north American operations (Mazda) notified the agency that they will conduct recalls 07v-156 and 07v-157, respectively, to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles equipped with ABS.the recall campaign prescribes an inspection of the subject…
Engine stalling
Summary:the petitioner alleges that after having the recall remedy performed on her model year (my) 2001 Ford escape, it continued to exhibit an intermittent stall condition.consequently, she petitioned the agency to examine the adequacy of the recall remedy for safety recall 04v-165.on April 5, 2004, Ford motor company (Ford) notified the agency that it would conduct a recall of 321,903 my 2001 through 2002 and…
Stuck Throttle
In a letter dated July 25, 2012 Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-353 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which could result in a stuck throttle condition.The vehicles involved are model year (MY) 2001 through MY 2004 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6…
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford and Mazda notified NHTSA that they will conduct safety recalls to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS.recall 07v-156 involves approximately 446,450 my 2001-2004 escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999 through January 23,…
Engine stalling
Engine Compartment Fire
Ford and Mazda recalled model year (MY) 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape (07V-156) and Mazda Tribute (07V-157) vehicles due to non-crash fires or non-fire thermal events originating in the engine compartment at or near the ABS control module.Approximately 545,700 vehicles were subject to the initial safety recalls and approximately 424,700 vehicles were serviced under those campaigns.
Engine stalling
Ford's and Mazda's letters to NHTSA dated April 5 and April 9, 2004, state that they will recall model year 2001-03 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles with the v6 engine built thru September 11, 2002.dealers will adjust engine calibration in the programmable control module (PCM), which in its current setting, can cause the engine to shut down if the vehicle is decelerating at speeds below 40 MPH.
Cruise Control Cable
On July 8, 2012, The Center for Auto Safety has petitioned NHTSA to open defect investigations on Model Year (MY) 2002 ? 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles with certain cruise control cables.The Center for Auto Safety has also petitioned for a hearing to address whether Ford Motor Company (Ford) and Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) met their obligations to notify owners and correct a defect in…
Engine compartment fire
The office of defects investigation (odi) received a defect petition dated March 5, 2009 alleging that the petitioner never received the recall remedy for 07v-156 and that, as a result, the petitioner's my2003 Ford escape caught fire at the ABS control module.in response to odi follow-up, the manufacturer verified that the petitioner's vehicle had in fact received service related to safety recall 07V156 - a fact…
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three…
What 2002 Ford Escape owners say
Engine & cooling all 330 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While parked, the vehicle caught fire. The details of the fire were not available. The contact mentioned that the ABS warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V165000 (structure), 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control), and 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle and the suspension was unstable in the front. While parked, the vehicle caught fire on a second occasion. The fire department had to cut the hood open and inspected that the master cylinder was on fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was awaiting diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,703.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Ford Escape. After the vehicle was parked, the driver smelled a burning odor. The contact noticed black smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle exploded. The fire department extinguished the flames. The fire department assessed that the wiring harness was defective and caused the fire. The contact stated that the fire damaged the garage and the sidewalk concrete. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 07V156000 (service brakes, hydraulic) as a possible reason for the failure; however, the VIN was not provided there were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not provided. Updated 04/12/17lj
Brakes all 195 →
Vehicle was manufactured 04/2002 recalls state that from oct99 to jan04 multiple states had issues with rusting with suspension causing the car to crash. My vehicle was made in one of the states and has alot of underbody rusting. Back hatch latch gets stuck often and will not open. Drums on the back are sticking causing the vehicle to drag at take off, abs had a recall ford dealer "fixed" the issue abs light stays on. Radiator light stays on constantly even though fluids are at correct level radiator is not damaged. Battery light constantly stays on as well brand new battery and alternator wire are connected free of corrosion. Interior lights caught on fire and melted the plastic housing so I had to take out the small bulbs. Everything is available for inspection if needed.abs was looked at by Ford dealer and "fixed" but problem is still there. …
I bought a vehicle that has recalls on it. I contacted a dealer. Im told the car is to old to fix the recalled abs relay. Now I have a vehicle thats on the road a fire hazard. The ford dealership have left me my with and kids and grand kids in danger
Electrical system all 123 →
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifted in park(P), the key failed to release while the engine was running. The contact drove to a local O'Reilly's where one of the employees was able to remove the key from the ignition. The failure had gotten progressively worse. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the ignition lock cylinder had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 227,000.
I bought a vehicle that has recalls on it. I contacted a dealer. Im told the car is to old to fix the recalled abs relay. Now I have a vehicle thats on the road a fire hazard. The ford dealership have left me my with and kids and grand kids in danger
2002 Ford Escape engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 23 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford Escape a good car?
Based on 1,027 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Escape rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Escape at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford Escape?
The engine & cooling — 330 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the brakes (195) and electrical system (123).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Escape have?
There are 8 recalls for the 2002 Ford Escape, the most recent from September 29, 2015 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escape?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2012 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018 and 2014. See the full Ford Escape years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.