Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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. …
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
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 contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the brake pedal depressed to the floor and there was smoke emitting from the vehicle. The vehicle caught on fire which was extinguished by the contact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ABS electrical system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic). However, the contact did not receive the recall notice. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had surpassed the statue of limitations for the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.
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 vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the repair did not remedy the condition. The contact had not experienced any failures prior to the recall repair. The contact noticed excessive smoke under the hood and the cap leaked brake fluid, which impacted the power steering pump and caused a short within the wires and the ABS. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that the vehicle would need to be towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing and repair. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.
ABS light came on as I was parking to have dinner and an hour later upon returning I noticed smoke coming from the engine on the drivers side from under the hood... Smelled wires or electrical type burning smell and had to disconnect the battery from the terminal to stop further damage... It was a wiring housing attached close to the ABS module... I looked on the internet and found this to be a recall on over 446460 vehicles and description matched mine exactly... I have pictures to verify this claim... Upon further review of the other 4 recalls im experiencing the following numbers: 04s2s NHTSA:04V574000/ 04c09 NHTSA: 04V602000//NHTSA: 07e023000 which is thru cardone industries so im contacting them.... My vehicle was diagnosed when brake red brake light came on and was low brake fluid but no hydraulic leaks.. But showing fluid to be on reservoir and master cylinder... …
2002 Ford Escape parked in driveway. Last driven 5 hours earlier. The alarm sounded alerting my husband inside. He looked out of the window and saw smoke rolling from under the hood of the vehicle. He ran out with fire extinguisher and put out the flames. Hopefully, this immediate detection of the fire limited the amount of damage. We were more fortunate than several other complainants. The ABS module appears to be where damage was sustained. This is a recall for several 2002 escapes beginning in 2007, but when checking online with Ford, my VIN number states that there are no recalls on this particular vehicle. I didn't receive a recall notice from Ford, and have on other occasions for this vehicle.I investigated several complains previously filed involving 2002 escapes, and they are hauntingly the same scenario. Also, the VIN numbers on several of these are very similar to mine. …
2002 Ford Escape parked in driveway. Last driven 5 hours earlier. The alarm sounded alerting my husband inside. He looked out of the window and saw smoke rolling from under the hood of the vehicle. He ran out with fire extinguisher and put out the flames. Hopefully, this immediate detection of the fire limited the amount of damage. We were more fortunate than several other complaints. The ABS module appears to be where damage was sustained. This is a recall for several 2002 escapes beginning in 2007, but when checking online with Ford, my VIN number states that there are no recalls on this particular vehicle. I didn't receive a recall notice from Ford, and have on other occasions for this vehicle. I investigated several complaints previously filed involving 2002 escapes, and they are hauntingly the same scenario. Also, the VIN numbers on several of these are very similar to mine. …
Wife had just gotten home from grocery store and about a half hour later the dog was barking. She looked into the garage and the 2002 Ford Escape was on fire. She broke a window to put water on the fire to keep it from spreading to other cars and boat in garage. Fire department arrived and finished putting out the fire. Escape was a total loss and garage had heavy soot and smoke damage. After getting the insurance companies notification of fire and getting wife's cuts stitched we got home about 7:00 p.m. Went to get the mail and there was a safety recall notice from Ford mailed on April 24, 2007 from michigan about the anti lock brake module. It stated the module could short out even with the key in the off position. Notified Ford the next morning of fire. …
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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 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 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 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…
Brake complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 195 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Ford Escape, 19% of the model year's 1,027 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Escape brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-005 (control unit/module, Jan 9, 2012); NHTSA recall 07V-156 (control unit/module, Apr 10, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 51 fires and 11 injuries and 1 death to brakes 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.