Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the suspension of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the control arm needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced in 2014 under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (Structure) however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist and that he had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer, he was informed that the subframe was severely corroded. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number 14V165000 (Structure) however, the remedy failed to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000.
The front passenger door locking system is defective and is stuck in the lock position. Unable to open door from the outside or the inside of the car. This is a safety issue that should have been addressed in the past since I noticed numerous complaints regarding this same problem on the internet or your NHTSA website. The Ford dealer service manager also mentioned to me that this is a recurring problem that should have been addressed in the past by Ford. Service fee is $500 if the repairman is able to open the door without breaking it as sometimes it does break causing an even more expensive repair. This is an expensive repair job for a jammed locking mechanism that should easily be working properly. God forbid I am involved in a car accident and my wife, other front passenger or myself is unable to open the door in case of an emergency. …
Driving on a 45 mi/hr road I hit a minor bump (approx 1" raised road across all lanes) due to poor road maintenance. After hitting this bump there was a loud popping noise every time I turned the wheel fully left or right. I could also feel this in my feet underneath the car. I was concerned and had plans to drive it to the auto shop later that day. When turning left out of a parking lot in town, heading to the shop, I noticed when I went to straighten out the wheel the steering wheel was a complete 90 degrees off from normal once I got the vehicle going straight. It did not feel safe to drive and I had it towed into the auto shop. After inspection it was found to be a rotted out and cracked sub frame. Ford did a recall on this specific part in 2014 due to major corrosion issues with the 2001-2004 models. …
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be serviced. While the mechanic was test driving the vehicle at approximately 35 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front passenger side lower control arm fractured, which caused the wheel to separate from the suspension. Prior to the test drive, the contact was informed by the mechanic of severe rust on the lower control arm. The vehicle was towed back to the facility. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer (elkhorn motors Ford, 910 n wisconsin st, elkhorn, wi 53121, [phone]) was contacted and a subsequent VIN search showed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While attempting to accelerate from a traffic light, the steering failed without warning. The contact stated that the steering wheel went in one direction and the wheels went in a different direction. The vehicle was towed to reineke Ford Lincoln of lima (1360 greely chapel rd, lima, oh 45804, [phone]) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the passenger side lower control arm support was severely rusted, which caused the lower control arm to fracture and separate from the vehicle. The contact was informed that the sub frame, cross member, control arm, and steering assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Received notice in mail my Ford was recalled due to corrosion related separation of forward attachment of lower control arm from subframe. This was fix with just reinforced crossbar...an independent mechanic just recently check my veh due to steering and front end issue I have been having and discovered the area where the crossbar hold on to is rusted off..I can not drive vehicle...this rust they tell me was/or would have been notice of time cross bar was install and should have notified me that more work should have been done. Perhaps correct/replace the whole thing...I would like to have it repaired at fords request,,,the dealership denied due to recall fixed according to Ford. Had I been aware if this rust issue at time of repair I would have been able to deal with it and not be at risk driving all these past months....
Sub frame/cradle rusted and caused a separation of the right front axel and stabilizer. The failure occurred while driving, just as we were exiting the highway. A loud thud occurred and the steering wheel shifted making driving and steering extremely difficult. This vehicle, according to Ford's records, had a structure recall for the same issue (14V165000) the vehicle had been repaired at a Ford dealer for the said recall a few years ago. Ford is unwilling to help pay for the current repairs as we did not take it to a dealer for repair (which would have required towing as the car was barely drivable). This is a potentially dangerous situation and, it seems, the recall did not correct the original problem.
Related recalls
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.
Body complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 87 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Ford Escape, 8% of the model year's 1,027 complaints. The component named most often is body (38 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Escape body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-165 (frame and members, Apr 2, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.