2002 Ford Escape Acceleration Problems

Which parts fail

• Cables
  15
• Accelerator pedal
  9
• Cruise control
  4
• Linkages
  1

Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  57%
• 25k–50k
  710%
• 50k–75k
  1522%
• 75k–100k
  1116%
• 100k–150k
  1725%
• 150k+
  1218%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked in her driveway. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The fire department stated that the master brake cylinder and the cruise control cables were melted. The vehicle was deemed a total loss, but was not towed from the contact's residence. The dealer (lithia Ford of missoula, 3943 brooks st, missoula, mt 59804) and the manufacturer were called and the contact was awaiting a call back. The contact stated that she had not received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 145,000. .

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while making a left turn and pressing the accelerator pedal, the throttle became stuck and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a ditch. The driver sustained injuries to the left leg and left side after leaping from the vehicle. A police report was filed. While inspecting the vehicle, the police indicated that the throttle was stuck continued to rev after the crash. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

I was driving my Ford Escape 2002 out of town, I noticed my car pulling away from me. I took my foot off the throttle and noticed the the car was accelerating. I knew a stop sign and a highway was up ahead, after blowing threw the stop sign only being able to slow the car down to 20 with the brakes, I pulled the e-brake and still did not stop, afraid and scared I put the car in park, the car then snapped and went into reverse and the only thing I could do was aim for a pole and hit it. I got out of the car and it was still going with the engine smoking, fearing of a fire I shut the engine down.

7/5/2005. I was in baltimore, md in my 2002 Ford Escape. Trafic was moderately heavy. I started to change lanes and noticed a car in the lane so I pulled back into my lane at which point, the throttle on my vehicle stuck open. The engine was racing and attempts to brake were useless. I threw the moving vehicle into park where it continued to move. I then tried to shift to neutral in hoipes of regaining braking, but I hit reverse first, at which point my car rapidly reversed into another vehicle. Damage to the vehicles was limited as I hit a 3500 Chevy silverado truck, however, it was one of the most unnerving experiences I have ever had. The police were called as the other vehicle belongs to the city of baltimore department of public works. …

Attorney for driver's family and media reports indicate that the vehicle was being driven immediately after purchase in the phoenix / mesa area along arizona state route 87 towards payson. The final approach to payson involves a prolonged upward grade, which would have required heavy accelerator use by the driver. Along the way, the driver was unable to disengage the accelerator or otherwise bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The vehicle struck other vehicles as it traversed an intersection, and rolled, ejecting the driver, who suffered fatal injuries. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle documented that the cruise control cable connector was lodged against the underside of the engine cover and that the throttle was open to 84%. The vehicle had received the accelerator cable replacement for recall 04V574 in January of 2005. …

My 2002 Ford Escape was bought new in March of 2002. The problem with it accelerating at low speeds started about 6-7 months later. Returned to the dealership many times to have it checked but was told every time there was nothing wrong. I've had one accident as a result of this problem. I still own the same Escape and still have the problem with it . I was told that there were no complaints of this nature with these models but have since learned that there have been many. I also as have many people had the problem with the air-bag light on .again many trips to the dealer and was told nothing was wrong about $300 later for labor costs. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While the vehicle was stopped and waiting for a train to cross the tracks, the contact attempted to place the vehicle back in gear but the vehicle would not shift out of the park position. An independent mechanic was contacted and arrived at the scene. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the shift lever had disengaged from the transmission and would need to be bolted back into place. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V606000 (power train). The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would experience unexpected acceleration and was difficult to slow down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). …

As I was putting up to a red light, I applied the brakes and my automoblie would not slow down. It sped up resulting in me crashing into the car in front of me. When I applied the brakes the car did not slow down at all it sped up to at least 20 to 30 MPH. I had recieved a recall for this exact thing happening. Ford service manager jason preat has informed that there is nothing wrong with the accelerator cable (what the car has the recall for) and that is not why my car crashed. But I know what happen and Ford is responsible for this accident, my loss wages, and other various expends. This car has done this in the past and I thought that I had imaged it. It was never as serve as the last time. The service manager jason preat has denied that the recall on my veichile is the cause of this accident and has told me I would be spinning my wheels to get Ford to own up to this.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall for the NHTSA campaign number: 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, speed control) and the vehicle received the recall repair. The contact stated the vehicle never experienced any failures until after receiving the recall remedy. The contact stated that when attempting to accelerate the vehicle's throttle locks at high speeds and the acceleration pedal locks in the downward position. The contact stated that the brakes failed and in order to stop the vehicle's gear was moved to the park position. The contact informed the dealer and the manufacturer who stated that because the vehicle had already received the recall repair they would not be able to provide another repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 214,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that as the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into the contact's home, a nearby fence and finally a tree. The failure ceased once the vehicle crashed into the tree. The contact sustained injuries to the face, neck and the right foot. The passenger sustained minor lacerations to the face and shoulder. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the cable throttle stick. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign id number 12V353000 (vehicle speed control cables) in August 2012. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and denied assistance with the repair. The failure and current mileage was 173,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Acceleration complaints in other Escape years