Most common 2002 Ford Escort problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escort complaints by model year
Best Escort years: 2003, 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1997, 1995, 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
What 2002 Ford Escort owners say
Engine & cooling
Car has a hesitation when accelerating under load. This is most noticable when the car is warm and especially when using the air conditioning. Automobile was taken to a general mechanic and they were unable to find the cause of the problem. On this date, vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The dealer indicated that there are no service bulletins regarding this issue and there were no error codes in the computer. The dealer stated that they believed this to be a characteristic of the car and it is due to the air conditioning compressor temporarily reducing engine power when cycling on and off. This is a dangerous condition as the car can lose power during the act of passing a vehicle or merging onto a highway.
Shaking in steering wheel. Most noticable during acceleration and deceleration. Was mentioned to salesperson at time of test drive. He stated he would have the tires balanced and an alignment done. At no time prior to purchase did anyone state it was a built in defect. When we met the service people they were told the type of vehicle being purchased and the fact we would be bringing it in for the shaking. This was intentionally dishonest. We attempted to trade in on another vehicle and the same dealership offered us $7500. This is after 3 months and 3 thousand miles for a defect they knew about. The TSB did not correct the problem.
Wheels & tires
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Escort. The contact purchased two Bridgestone potenza g009 (na) summer tires (size 205/40/r17) on May 12, 2007. One of the tires exploded as the contact's wife was driving 25 MPH. The tread separated from the tire and the sidewalls separated from the beads. Bridgestone stated that she must have struck something in the road to cause the blow out. She informed them that she did not drive over any potholes. The contact stated that the tread on the tires still looks brand new and there is less than 10,000 miles left on them. The dot number May not be accurate. The tire failure mileage was 9,500 and the vehicle current and failure mileages were 97,000.
12/01/05, 03/08/07.11/19/07 had to replace tie-rod ion my 2002 Ford Escort. Noticed thumping, took to mechanic. He said had I not brought it in, there could have been very serious consequences. This frequency of these incidents seems to indicate a serious and dangerous defect in this car.
Transmission & drivetrain
Dt*: the contact stated while having routine tire maintenance done at a garage, the mechanic determined the rear spring was fractured. The contact did not have any problems with the vehicle. Updated 11/21/2006 - the consumer contacted the manufacture but they did not respond. The vehicle would not shift from park. The dealer replaced the shift lock system.
When driving at any speed, the vehicle let off a howling noise. Took vehicle to the dealer, and the dealer stated the front axle prematurely failed. The left wheel bearing on the front went out prematurely, per mechanic.
2002 Ford Escort engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford Escort a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Escort rates better than average: 87% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escort at the same age. It is one of the best Escort years by this measure. 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 Escort?
The engine & cooling — 11 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the wheels & tires (5) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Escort have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Ford Escort. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escort?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1995, 1998 and 1999. See the full Ford Escort years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escort problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 50% 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.