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CarComplaints.com Notes: With questionable safety ratings, a faulty power control module (PCM) and a rear subframe that can rust out, the first model year Escape is known for problems. But the worst one of all? A design flaw that carried through multiple model years and caused dangerous unintended acceleration.

A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.

Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Ford Escape accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2001 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #3

Apr 052002

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states that the vehicle will stall out while the consumer is driving at highway speeds. All the lights and the instrument panel shut off also. Contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything. Nlm

- Napples, FL, USA

problem #2

Mar 152002

Escape

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving dashboard lights will go off without aprior warning, had contacted dealer about the problem.

- East Aurora, NY, USA

problem #1

Jan 152002

Escape 4WD

  • miles
The overhead map lights in the front of the vehicle do not come on when the driver door is opened. The center and back dome lights come on and then fade, however, there isn't enough light in the front of the vehicle to see to put the key in without manually turning on the map light. I have 2 friends who have the same year model, and their map lights come up. When I contacted the dealer, he said a change in wiring was made to their vehicles and would gladly charge me $300 to fix mine. I live in Alaska where 6 months out of the year it's dark and I believe this is a safety harzard in getting into the vehicle without having adequate lighting to see to put the key in. We've talked to the sevice manager and they are unwilling to do anything for us. They have apologized for wasting my time, and leaving me sit in their waiting area for 8 hours and then announcing they "forgot" about me. When told it would take an addtional 3 1/2 hours to fix, and cost me $300, there wasn't enough time left in the day to complete the job if I chose to spend the money and would have had to come back at another time. I feel this is a true safety hazard when I can't see to put the key in and start the vehicle up.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

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