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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,787 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.

2002 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2002 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Oct 142020

Escape

  • 14,000 miles

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

Gears is hard to shift to the right gear and lights went out early like a drain in electrical and my stearing is becoming hard to turn on streets and out my drive way

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #36

Aug 082019

Escape

  • 163,000 miles
While in motion, the lower control arm separated from the subframe due to corrosion. I lost steering but was able to skid to the shoulder. The same issue as recall 14S02 but my vehicle was not included.

- Reidsville, NC, USA

problem #35

Jun 192019

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
The mounts that the engine sits on rusted away, causing the engine to drop onto the steering system while driving.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #34

Jan 312019

Escape

  • 55 miles

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

It's difficult to steer or keep straight

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #33

Feb 082018

Escape

  • 165,000 miles
My engine coolant light stays on even after taking steps to fix it as it was a problem with the 2002 Ford Escapes, and there is a problem with my power steering as fluid and all that is fine, which I read was a recall also.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #32

May 112018

Escape

  • 116,349 miles
My vehicle idles to 4000rpm and control the speed by itself, there is a leak in the back break area the steering wheel locks where I can't put it in any gear sometimes and getting worse. Had to get it towed home last night because while driving it idled high and as I brake it barely stopped and when releasing break it speeds up to 50 or more mph and I had to keep my feet on the break..I pulled over and turned the switch off and waited a while and turned back on and it idled to 4000 RPM again. Could not shift the gear from park and break pedal was hard. When arriving home to back car in driveway towe guy had no problem with idle. The following morning cranked and was at 1000rpm at first start. Also ac pressure. Car runs hot but no smoke water bubbles in coolant reservoir. My check engine light never gave warning of any of the problems listed.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #31

Dec 152017

Escape

  • 79,000 miles

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

Cross member bar rusted out. Please see attached.

- Wauconda, IL, USA

problem #30

Jan 272018

Escape

  • 185,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While driving 10 mph, the steering wheel shook without warning. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (blackwell Ford, 41001 Plymouth rd, Plymouth, mi) where it was diagnosed that the cross frame, lower control arm, and exhaust needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #29

May 232017

Escape

  • 150,500 miles
Airbag light stays on and also I have a issue with the steering wheel and suspension there are other issues with the car and never was fixed by previous owner now im stuck with a car that has past recalled issues. If you own a car and just purchased it by previous owner make sure that recalls have been fixed on vehicle. Now I dont know what to do with my vehicle.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #28

Apr 122017

Escape

  • 124,000 miles
The 2002 Ford Escape had recall 14S02 done in Sept. 2016. At the time I requested the sub frame be replaced. Ford indicated the rust was not severe enough and installed a brace. Today, the sub frame gave way rendering the vehicle a peril to drive. The steering is inoperative. The vehicle was in motion but avoided collision.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #27

Nov 142016

Escape

  • miles

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

Ford dealership is refusing to fix uncarriage and control arm. They are saying there is no recall for it. However I found the recall 14S02. Describing the issue the dealership stated is wrong with my truck. But they want me to pay cash instead of them fixing the issue

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #26

Sep 122016

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While driving 40 mph, the lower control arm separated from the engine cradle and caused the alignment of the steering wheel to malfunction. This made the vehicle extremely difficult to steer and almost caused a crash. In addition, the steering wheel became stuck in the left alignment position. The vehicle was taken to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Baraboo, WI, USA

problem #25

Jul 112016

Escape

  • 160,000 miles
Had recall 14S02 performed on 12/30/15. Installed front subframe crossbrace.this does not fix the problem. Passenger side subframe rusted out and failed. The crossbrace kept it from completely coming apart but car is now not safe to drive. Ford will not do anything about this saying they already performed the recall. This recall should be expanded to include subframe replacement.

- Sussex, WI, USA

problem #24

Aug 152015

Escape 6-cyl

  • 228,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact heard an abnormal noise upon making a turn. The steering wheel turned, but the wheels remained straight when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure), but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the technician installed two brackets but not the engine mount brackets. The contact felt that the recall remedy was not performed accurately. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 228,000.

- Stockbridge, MI, USA

problem #23

Oct 122015

Escape

  • miles
I was making a ride an maple road when all of a sudden I hear a sort of popping noise almost like a flat tire. Thats what I thought it was so I kept drive to where I live.on the way home all I heard was a screeching. When I got home home I check and the suspension had snapped because of rusting

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #22

Jul 182015

Escape

  • 127,000 miles
On July 18, 2015 at approximately 1:30 pm I was driving up bear creek mountain and heard a loud pop then the vehicle started sliding before I finally got it to stop. I slide about 50 feet and if I'd slide about 3 more feet I would have been over the side of the mountain. The sub frame had snapped in two and it pulled the right front axle out. This made the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle had to be put on a roll back and taken away.also damaged was the right front tire and, molding around the fender. If I had been on the interstate with this vehicle my family would not have survived the wreck. It is lucky that we didn't go over the mountain. I did nothing to cause the sub frame to break and I think Ford should be held liable. I spoke with the Ford customer relations center and they told me that because there was no extended warranty and it was not under the 2002 Escape recall and that the fact that there was no fire or large crash that they could do nothing about the sub frame breaking. My insurance carrier has also contacted Ford customer relations and was told the same thing. I asked the lady at Ford if someone had died in the wreck would I still be told the same thing and she replied yes. According to Ford they can't give out telephone numbers to legal department or addresses or email addresses. I was also told that I could not speak to a supervisor because they could not transfer calls. I was transferred to the lady I was speaking to by another lady. Go figure. I think that Ford is liable for this structural failure and needs to make things right.

- Ceres, VA, USA

problem #21

Jun 232015

Escape

  • 190 miles
Driving about 25mph hear a loud clunck lost controll of vehicle break pedle to the floor truck still moving had to use er brake to stop. Got out passanger front tire was turned completly diff way, the ball bearer was detached, this could have killed me if I was on freeway! called Ford they continued to tell me this wasnt part of recall called mehcanic said the subframe so rusted it has completly detached from ball bearers causing tire to basically fall off. Ford will not fix it, gave me every other alternitive on what it could be. I had it towed to my house, Ford wont have it towed to the lot to look at it and on top of that wont see it for a week if I do get it towed up there! what a mess. Ill never shop with them again. They wont care until this kills someone.

- West Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #20

Mar 192015

Escape 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While driving at 30 mph, the vehicle jerked and the contact heard a noise coming from the steering wheel and front of the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure and repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 7/16/15

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #19

Dec 192014

Escape

  • 105,000 miles
My 2002 Ford Escape has been to multiple dealer service centers and mechanics to try to pinpoint a banging noise that comes from the front right side when driving over bumps or potholes at lower speeds. To date I have had tie rods, sway bars, sway bar links, ball joints replaced and all body mounts, engine mounts, control arms, shocks and struts all checked and all nuts and bolts tightened. I have not been able to have a mechanic tell me what the issue is. I have searched the internet and see several complaints all for the same problem. I know my truck is not the only one, however I cannot afford to continue replacing parts in hopes that we might finally find the cause of the sound. I feel Ford needs to take responsibility for whatever it is that is failing before someone ends up seriously injured.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #18

Sep 042014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 77,000 miles
Driving down a busy highway, our Escape had the control arm detach from the sub frame. We took the car to the dealer and they told us this would not be covered under any recall by Ford because it had completely separated. Despite that the damaged area of the car being what is recalled in 14V165000. Ford has done nothing to help this issue. Lucky enough there was no accident, but this is a huge safety issue and someone is going to get killed. Ford needs to fix the damaged sub frames, not just fix those that haven't already broke and consumers have had to pay thousands to get fixed.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

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