IllustrationBOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN 6 MONTHS FOR THE 2002. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN FORD ESCORT. I HAVE A 1998 & 2002 AND BOTH HAVE BROKEN REAR SPRINGS. ALSO EVERY TECHNICIAN I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THE PROBLEM. *JB
2002 Ford Escort
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Escort are lower than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escort years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 18 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Suspension complaints
4 reportsDT*: 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 DEALE…
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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. *NM
I PURCHASED BACK 2002 A NEW FORD ESCORT THAT NOW HAS BAD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT BACK TO DIAGNOSE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MODEL CAR AND CANNOT BE FIXED.MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT ONLY HAS 17,501 MILES AND NOW THE VIBRATI…
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I PURCHASED BACK 2002 A NEW FORD ESCORT THAT NOW HAS BAD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT BACK TO DIAGNOSE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MODEL CAR AND CANNOT BE FIXED.MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT ONLY HAS 17,501 MILES AND NOW THE VIBRATION SO BAD IT IS A SAFTY CONCERN.*AK
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. *AK THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING ON THE FRONT WENT OUT PREMATURELY, PER MECHANIC. *SCC *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.