Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing forcefully on the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal got stuck. The contact was unable to disengage the accelerator pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he did not attempt to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact shifted the ignition to off to stop the vehicle. The contact was unable to move the vehicle safely out of the road. The contact stated a bystander called the police department to assist with traffic. A police report was filed. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and disengaged the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000. The VIN was not available.
Wife parked vehicle on steep uphill driveway. Placed in park and turned ignition off. Exited drivers side and walked behind vehicle to passenger side continuing to mailbox. While at mailbox observed vehicle abruptly roll backward crossing the path where she had just walked behind the vehicle, across street and over curb hitting tree. Neighbor in their front yard also observed this. Vehicle sustained significant damage. Called Ford corp offices to ask for review of this by their safety engineers. A cursory review by the dealer indicated no obvious transmission linkage or other adjustment problem. Ford refuses any further review and shows little interest in finding any potential safety issue. I see similar reports of this in numbers 10031648, 568244, 10073682 and 10026175. …
In March 2004 while driving at a low rate of speed, I clipped the corner of a parked vehicle which caused my Ford Escape to overturn. No airbags deployed. In September 2009 while entering a freeway during a heavy rainstorm, driving at a low rate of speed, the Escape hydro planed, slammed into the cement barrier rendering the vehicle useless. Despite the vehicle having spun multiple times and being slammed into the barrier at such an impact the transmission dropped several inches, no airbags deployed. This vehicle was purchased new from butterfield Ford in salt lake, at a cost of $22, 200. In the 5+ years of owning this vehicle, I spent more than $10,000 in repairs - for a brand new vehicle. Despite my pleas to the dealer ship, I was never provided any remedy. …
On 2002 Ford Escape xlt, while driving car in reverse gear backing out of garage down hill and turning on road also with steep down hill, transmission shifter cable detached from transmission. Could not get car out of reverse gear. This caused a very dangerous situation as car rolled backwards down hill out of control when engine shut off. Used emergency brake to stop car and blocked wheels with rocks to diagnose. Bushing on shifter cable end closest to transmission disentegrated and shifter cable slipped off link to transmission such that the column shift was detached from transmission. Had no prior warnings to inspect this. Found through research that Ford had issued recall number 18s20 for Ford Escape model years 2013-2014 for exact same issue on July 18, 2018. Called Ford customer service. Ford refused to acknowledge this issue for model year 2002. …
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). …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While shifting gears from drive to park, the vehicle rolled backwards without warning. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by engaging the hand brake. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the shift gear stick disengaged from the transmission and the shift lever assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V606000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000. Updated 04/13/16 the repair shop replaced the shift cable. Updated 04/20/16.
Driver put the vehicle into park and without warning vehicle surged forward. This caused consumer to lose control of the vehicle, and hit some objects head on inside of the garage before stopping. The driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. Consumer will have the vehicle towed to the dealership. The driver was in the process of placing gear from drive to park when vehicle lurched forward. Upon impact, the shifter is between park and drive.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the contact heard a noise coming from the steering wheel and front of the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure and repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 7/16/15
My vehicle will randomly lock up and when I start it and try to move it into drive or reverse from park. And when I try to turn off my vehicle so that I can restart it my vehicle won't evem attempt to turn over or start but my electrical will still work just fine
Had been having a problem with a loud squeaking noise coming from the steering column when turning; checked the NHTSA service bulletins and found a bulletin from June 1, 2003 noting this same problem; check engine light was also on again; I made an appt at dealer to check out these issues (4/7/04). Took vehicle in on 4/9/04. Dealer found the following problems: noise was coming from the upper steering column because the wiring for the horn was pulled out and rubbing on the contact plate; additional noise found at lower end of steering column dealer deactivated the airbag system to remove and replace the steering wheel and contact; also found that they had to replace the steering column boot, which had to be ordered at the same time, a recall was issued for this vehicle regarding the power train control module; dealer performed the recall vehicle was in the shop from 4/9 - 4/14 and …
Related recalls
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.
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.
Transmission complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2002 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 105 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2002 Ford Escape, 10% of the model year's 1,027 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Escape transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-606 (floor shift, Sep 29, 2015); NHTSA recall 04V-165 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Apr 6, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.