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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2002 Ford Escort

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 33 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
  • Power Train: 5 reports
  • Suspension: 4 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
  • Steering: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    325
    1999    98
    2000    68
    2001    33
    2002    10
    2003
    Compare all Escort years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    11    Power Train
    5    Suspension
    4    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    3    Steering
    3
    All reported categories
    Tires
    3    Air Bags
    2    Electrical System
    2    Wheels
    2    Exterior Lighting
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Structure
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    1

    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 reports
    Clear category filter
    46,822 miles · Dec 12, 2006
    Suspension

    BOTH 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

    NHTSA ODI #10175921

    47,000 miles · Sep 5, 2006
    Power TrainSuspension

    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 DEALE…

    Read full complaint

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10167354

    Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2006
    Suspension

    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10148751

    15,900 miles · Aug 1, 2003
    Power TrainSuspension

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10024948

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.