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Engine & cooling

2002 Ford Escape Engine problems

Owners have filed 332 complaints about the 2002 Ford Escape's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 31% of all its complaints, most recently on August 12, 2024. They describe 5 crashes, 39 fires and 1 injury. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
332
Recalls
1
Crashes
5
Fires
39
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Engine recalls for the 2002 Ford Escape

Engine and engine cooling

12V353000529,719 vehicles affected

The problem
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
The risk
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.
The fix
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.

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

I have had to replace my engine/transmission several times and the problem keeps repeating itself. The engine will just die for no reason which is an extremely severe safety risk.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11608125
Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact noticed that there was water in the fuse box. The contact called friendly ford (2800 n telegraph rd, monroe, mi 48162, (734) 243-6000) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 195,002.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11395756
SteeringEngine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Steering · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11230636
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

My vehicle will randomly lock up and when I start it and try to move it into drive or reverse from park. And when I try to turn off my vehicle so that I can restart it my vehicle won't evem attempt to turn over or start but my electrical will still work just fine

Filed Incident Power train · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11202768
Engine & coolingFire

As shown in attached picture my coolant container is burning as if it is trying to catch fire. As also seen the coolant level is back at max but at one point was low. Concern is 🔥 safety. I was driving down the highway when I first smelt burning I did stop driving and it made it more intense. No actual fire took place but inside container it appears to have had a small fire or burn as shown by image.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11180005
BrakesEngine & coolingAcceleration & cruise controlFire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked in her driveway. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The fire department stated that the master brake cylinder and the cruise control cables were melted. The vehicle was deemed a total loss, but was not towed from the contact's residence. The dealer (lithia ford of missoula, 3943 brooks st, missoula, mt 59804) and the manufacturer were called and the contact was awaiting a call back. The...

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contact stated that she had not received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 145,000. .*Bf *tr

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11102440
Engine & cooling

Ford excursion v10 aluminum head complaint spark plug blew out of head. This happened while driving across country to visit my son, no warning just blew completely out of head and left me stranded along the roadside. This problem which ford is aware is not being fixed or recalled, truck just turned 100,000 miles but if one spark plug blew when will the others let go and exploded out of the head and leave me stranded again along a busy highway route 70 in a state which I have never been in before at 5 am in the...

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morning, without a knew head design this makes this vehicle very unreliable and not safe to drive , its like driving a time bomb just waiting for the next plug to blow, vehicle was 40,000 dollars in 2002 who has money to purchase another vehicle which is now almost 60,000 ford should be required to make replacement heads for all triton engines

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11098733
Driver assistanceBrakesEngine & cooling

Bought this car and 2 miles down road check engine, abs, and the brake as well as the over drive (only one flashing) came on. The car gear shift lever pops out of gear. The vehicle has a new tranny. The vehicle stalls, and is blowing tranny fluid. It has had the compute replacee on a recall. Every issue I have found relates to recalls, yet fore told me nope zero recalls on this even after I showed him proof of a recall on the engine itself. So recalls; 07v156000, 15v606000, 12v005000, and 04v165000 somehow do not apply? So I have to crash before ford willl even look at the car. It pops out of gear! Clearly an abs malfunction or not? All hazards.

Filed Incident Electronic stability control (ESC) · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11090818
Body, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. While the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for exhaust repairs, the technician noticed that the engine cradle and the lower part of the engine frame were corroded and needed to be replaced. The contact called suburban ford of sterling heights at (586) 268-7500 (40333 van dyke, sterling heights, mi 48313) and was informed that the vin was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 11083592
SteeringEngine & coolingBody, doors & structure

Tl* 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.

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine cooling · StructureNHTSA 11065850
BrakesAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford escape. After exiting the vehicle, there was a fire that erupted under the hood. The fire was extinguished by a fire company. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The insurance company was to investigate the failure. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) and 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect. *Tt *tr

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11063216
Engine & cooling

When I run my ac or heater exhaust comes in cant use either not sure whats going on with car but I do know that my car has been recalled prior to me owning the vehicle in 2015 of august and do know that it has not been fixed. Currently my car has 10 recalls and cant get my car fixed by ford

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11023522
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that exhaust fumes entered the cabin of the vehicle. When the heater and air conditioner were activated, the amount of exhaust fumes increased. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10954777
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford escape. After the vehicle was parked, the driver smelled a burning odor. The contact noticed black smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle exploded. The fire department extinguished the flames. The fire department assessed that the wiring harness was defective and caused the fire. The contact stated that the fire damaged the garage and the sidewalk concrete. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 07v156000...

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(service brakes, hydraulic) as a possible reason for the failure; however, the vin was not provided there were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The vin was not provided. Updated 04/12/17lj *cn

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10945610
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

My vehicle does the exact same thing as nhtsa recall number 04v165000 or ford recall no. 04S13. I have the year and engine associated with the recall but my vin is not on the list. It should be because it is very dangerous!

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10908812
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10899751
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact received a recall for the nhtsa campaign number: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, speed control) and the vehicle received the recall repair. The contact stated the vehicle never experienced any failures until after receiving the recall remedy. The contact stated that when attempting to accelerate the vehicle's throttle locks at high speeds and the acceleration pedal locks in the downward position. The contact stated that the brakes failed and in order to...

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stop the vehicle's gear was moved to the park position. The contact informed the dealer and the manufacturer who stated that because the vehicle had already received the recall repair they would not be able to provide another repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 214,000.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10892040
Engine & cooling

Lost all coolant from radiator all at once when turned car off when came home from store because coolant light came on.. Replaced thermostat first. That didn't work. Put in new water pump, ran for about another week , than did same thing. So replaced radiator . Mind you car never ran hot, coolant light just kept coming on.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10876417
Engine & cooling

Spark plug blew out of cylinder, cost me $455 in repairs. V6 3.0L 2002 ford escape.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10864198
Transmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. While the vehicle was stopped and waiting for a train to cross the tracks, the contact attempted to place the vehicle back in gear but the vehicle would not shift out of the park position. An independent mechanic was contacted and arrived at the scene. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the shift lever had disengaged from the transmission and would need to be bolted back into place. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number:...

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15v606000 (power train). The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would experience unexpected acceleration and was difficult to slow down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 132,000.

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10809630
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

I bought my 2002 ford escape in feb. 2015. Since then often when I put it in park it revs, the rpms range from 1500-3000. I read that a recall was declared in december of 2004. My car idles at a high range.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10790058
BrakesEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. While parked, the vehicle caught fire. The details of the fire were not available. The contact mentioned that the abs warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v165000 (structure), 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control), and 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle and the suspension was unstable in the front....

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While parked, the vehicle caught fire on a second occasion. The fire department had to cut the hood open and inspected that the master cylinder was on fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was awaiting diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,703.

Filed Incident Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10783466
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Tl* 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*cn

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 10721459
LightsEngine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the vehicle stalled. In addition, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the abs and the oil pressure warning lights illuminated. The over head light in the vehicle also independently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,337.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 10701073
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that the control arm seized and the contact lost control of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the cross member was faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10681195

Ford Escape engine complaints by year

Escape engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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