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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

What owners actually said

33 reports
120,990 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT -- NO HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS. NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO FAILING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172627

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…

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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

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10148751

64,002 miles · Jan 26, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 20MPH, NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN 2 MILES FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT SIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED INJURIE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 20MPH, NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN 2 MILES FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT SIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND INSPECTED THE AIR BAGS. THE POLICE NOTICED THE SMELL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE PRESENT, ALTHOUGH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. THE INSURANCE ALSO FILED A REPORT AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI #10148736

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2005
Tires

DT: 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR EXCEPT WHEN HE HAS TO. WANTED VEHICLE TO BE SAFE. I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN HITTING A BUMP, THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS HITTING THE STRUT. DEALERSHIP PUT SIXTEEN INCH TIRES ON CAR, AND IT CALLS FOR SIZE FIFTEEN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING W…

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DT: 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR EXCEPT WHEN HE HAS TO. WANTED VEHICLE TO BE SAFE. I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN HITTING A BUMP, THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS HITTING THE STRUT. DEALERSHIP PUT SIXTEEN INCH TIRES ON CAR, AND IT CALLS FOR SIZE FIFTEEN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THEY PUT THE WRONG SIZE RIM AND TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WITH ONLY 40 MILES ON IT. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT TO PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10138666

42,000 miles · Aug 7, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO WARNING LIGHT WHEN OIL PUMP FAILED. THIS NON-ACTION LED TO MY ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPAIRED. MILEAGE WAS AT APX. 45,000. WARRANTY RAN OUT, MUST PAY ON MY OWN. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS SINCE MY WARNING LIGHT DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10131867

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2005
Power Train

STOPPED AT LIGHT, HEARD NOISE LIKE A POP, WENT TO GO CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. GOT OUT LOOKED UNDER CAR HOLE IN TRANSMISSION PARTS LYING ON GROUND. TOWED TO A MECHANIC ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN? MECHANIC STATED DEFECTIVE TRANSAXLE, REAR END GEARS GO OUT LITERALLY POP OUT OF TRANSMISSION. JASPER WILL NOT REBUILD THESE TRANSMISSIONS D…

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STOPPED AT LIGHT, HEARD NOISE LIKE A POP, WENT TO GO CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. GOT OUT LOOKED UNDER CAR HOLE IN TRANSMISSION PARTS LYING ON GROUND. TOWED TO A MECHANIC ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN? MECHANIC STATED DEFECTIVE TRANSAXLE, REAR END GEARS GO OUT LITERALLY POP OUT OF TRANSMISSION. JASPER WILL NOT REBUILD THESE TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ONLY PLACE TO GET NEW IS FROM FORD WHICH WOULD HAVE COST $3300 TO REPLACE. FOUND USED REPAIRS COST OVER $1300. MECHANIC STATED JUST HAD A 1999 ESCORT IN REPAIRED BEFORE IT PUT HOLE IN TRANSMISSION. NO WARNING OR ANYTHING BUT NOISE THAT DAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112353

40,000 miles · Nov 26, 2004
Engine And 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 …

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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.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100581

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENTIRE CAR VIBRATES NOTICEABLY AT IDLE. DEALER STATED THAT IT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE, BUT SINCE THERE WAS AN EXISTING TSB ON THE PROBLEM, ATTEMPTED A FIX. (TO NO AVAIL.) *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080745

4,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE REMAINED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10058013

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.