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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 →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
325
199998
200068
200133
200210
2003
Compare all Escort years →

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

What owners reported most

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

What owners actually said

33 reports
43,460 miles · Nov 7, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 FORD ESCAPE STALLED WHILE GOING DOWN-HILL AT 35-40 MPH. ENGINE STOPPED. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLACING IN "NEUTRAL" POSITION. FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH EVENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LAST SUCH FAILURE WAS ON THE SAME ROAD AND AT EXACTLY THE SAME LOCA…

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2002 FORD ESCAPE STALLED WHILE GOING DOWN-HILL AT 35-40 MPH. ENGINE STOPPED. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLACING IN "NEUTRAL" POSITION. FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH EVENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LAST SUCH FAILURE WAS ON THE SAME ROAD AND AT EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION!! GIVEN THE SIMILARITY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS, I SUSPECT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM OR SOFTWARE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045640

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

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2003
Power TrainWheelsCrash

WHILE DRIVING DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF VEHICLE. NAR 06/18/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT LOSING FRONT TIRE AND RIM AS A RESULT DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10024668

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10021797

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10011997

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2003
Power TrainStructure

THE BUMPER SEPARATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10006928

1 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 VE…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10003179

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

STALLS AT RED LIGHTS WON'T IDLE VIBRATION AT IDLE SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR. DT

NHTSA ODI #769479

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ODI #8021433

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Tires

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND SMASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. (NO TIRE INFO WAS GIVEN) (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT 10-90-580) *YH

NHTSA ODI #567679

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.