2002 FORD ESCAPE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 1,015 complaints · 10 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (267 complaints · 26.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 65
  • Fires 103
  • Injuries 41
  • Deaths 2
Compare with 2001 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 267 of 1,015 owner complaints (26.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 267 complaints, 26.3% of reports ENGINE 267 · 26.3% · 2 crash reports 31 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 152 complaints, 15.0% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 152 · 15.0% · 8 crash reports 41 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 88 complaints, 8.7% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 88 · 8.7% · 20 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 83 complaints, 8.2% of reports POWER TRAIN 83 · 8.2% · 3 crash reports 1 fire reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 74 complaints, 7.3% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 74 · 7.3% · 21 crash reports 6 fire reports AIR BAGS: 65 complaints, 6.4% of reports AIR BAGS 65 · 6.4% · 21 crash reports STRUCTURE: 64 complaints, 6.3% of reports STRUCTURE 64 · 6.3% · 2 crash reports SUSPENSION: 53 complaints, 5.2% of reports SUSPENSION 53 · 5.2% · 1 fire reports STEERING: 35 complaints, 3.5% of reports STEERING 35 · 3.5% · 2 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 581 complaints, 57.2% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 581 · 57.2% · 25 crash reports 51 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 267 26.3% 2 crashes · 31 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 152 15.0% 8 crashes · 41 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 88 8.7% 0 crashes · 20 fires
POWER TRAIN 83 8.2% 3 crashes · 1 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 74 7.3% 21 crashes · 6 fires
AIR BAGS 65 6.4% 21 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 64 6.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 53 5.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
STEERING 35 3.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 581 57.2% 25 crashes · 51 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2001; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2004. 2001-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2002-Q1: 33 owner reports 33 2002-Q2: 47 owner reports 47 2002-Q3: 67 owner reports 67 2002-Q4: 35 owner reports 35 2003-Q1: 33 owner reports 33 2003-Q2: 35 owner reports 35 2003-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2003-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2004-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2004-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2004-Q3: 37 owner reports 37 2004-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2005-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2005-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2005-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2005-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2006-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2006-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2007-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2007-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2007-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2008-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2009-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2009-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2010-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2011-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2011-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2011-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2012-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2012-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2012-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2013-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2013-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2014-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2015-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2016-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2001 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 04V165000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V165000 Recall campaign 04V574000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V574000 Recall campaign 04V602000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V602000 Recall campaign 07E023000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E023000 Recall campaign 07V156000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V156000 Recall campaign 12V005000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V005000 Recall campaign 12V353000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V353000 Recall campaign 14V165000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V165000 Recall campaign 15E045000 ◆ Recall campaign 15E045000 Recall campaign 15V606000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V606000 Investigation PE01043 ● Investigation PE01043 Investigation EA02027 ● Investigation EA02027 Investigation RP04002 ● Investigation RP04002 Investigation PE06048 ● Investigation PE06048 Investigation DP09003 ● Investigation DP09003 Investigation RQ09002 ● Investigation RQ09002 Investigation EA10002 ● Investigation EA10002 Investigation AQ10001 ● Investigation AQ10001 Investigation DP12005 ● Investigation DP12005 Investigation PE12019 ● Investigation PE12019
  • Campaign 04V165000 was reported 855 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V574000 was reported 1,118 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V602000 was reported 1,164 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E023000 was reported 1,975 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07V156000 was reported 1,987 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 12V005000 was reported 3,722 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V165000 was reported 4,447 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15E045000 was reported 4,710 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V606000 was reported 5,048 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2001-Q4 Owner reports 16
2002-Q1 Owner reports 33
2002-Q2 Owner reports 47
2002-Q3 Owner reports 67
2002-Q4 Owner reports 35
2003-Q1 Owner reports 33
2003-Q2 Owner reports 35
2003-Q3 Owner reports 30
2003-Q4 Owner reports 24
2004-Q1 Owner reports 22
2004-Q2 Owner reports 22
2004-Q3 Owner reports 37
2004-Q4 Owner reports 13
2005-Q1 Owner reports 14
2005-Q2 Owner reports 19
2005-Q3 Owner reports 11
2005-Q4 Owner reports 10
2006-Q1 Owner reports 6
2006-Q2 Owner reports 6
2006-Q3 Owner reports 15
2006-Q4 Owner reports 19
2007-Q1 Owner reports 7
2007-Q2 Owner reports 20
2007-Q3 Owner reports 13
2007-Q4 Owner reports 7
2008-Q1 Owner reports 10
2008-Q2 Owner reports 8
2008-Q3 Owner reports 7
2008-Q4 Owner reports 6
2009-Q1 Owner reports 5
2009-Q2 Owner reports 12
2009-Q3 Owner reports 7
2009-Q4 Owner reports 6
2010-Q1 Owner reports 9
2010-Q2 Owner reports 9
2010-Q3 Owner reports 18
2010-Q4 Owner reports 7
2011-Q1 Owner reports 12
2011-Q2 Owner reports 16
2011-Q3 Owner reports 10
2011-Q4 Owner reports 6
2012-Q1 Owner reports 21
2012-Q2 Owner reports 28
2012-Q3 Owner reports 21
2012-Q4 Owner reports 15
2013-Q1 Owner reports 10
2013-Q2 Owner reports 7
2013-Q3 Owner reports 6
2013-Q4 Owner reports 9
2014-Q1 Owner reports 7
2014-Q2 Owner reports 17
2014-Q3 Owner reports 24
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 13
2015-Q2 Owner reports 10
2015-Q3 Owner reports 7
2015-Q4 Owner reports 14
2016-Q1 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q3 Owner reports 12
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 5
2017-Q2 Owner reports 7
2017-Q3 Owner reports 9
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 11
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 3
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q3 Owner reports 4
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q3 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V165000
Recall campaign 1 04V574000
Recall campaign 1 04V602000
Recall campaign 1 07E023000
Recall campaign 1 07V156000
Recall campaign 1 12V005000
Recall campaign 1 12V353000
Recall campaign 1 14V165000
Recall campaign 1 15E045000
Recall campaign 1 15V606000
Defect investigation 1 PE01043
Defect investigation 1 EA02027
Defect investigation 1 RP04002
Defect investigation 1 PE06048
Defect investigation 1 DP09003
Defect investigation 1 RQ09002
Defect investigation 1 EA10002
Defect investigation 1 AQ10001
Defect investigation 1 DP12005
Defect investigation 1 PE12019
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (10)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V165000

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V574000

    Report date
    Component:
    VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
    Consequence:
    AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V602000

    Report date
    Component:
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
    Consequence:
    IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E023000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07V156000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V005000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP AND THE ABS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL BE MODIFIED. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED ON JANUARY 20, 2012. DUE TO A PARTS DELAY, HOWEVER, THE REMEDY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE CURRENTLY. IF PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, FORD WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES OUTSIDE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN IS RELATED TO 07V-156.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V353000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V165000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15E045000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V606000

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 1,015 complaints · page 1 of 41

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources