10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 8
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 128,238 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The mounts that the engine sits on rusted away, causing the engine to drop onto the steering system while driving.
- Chicago, IL, USA
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
- Canyon Country, CA, USA
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.
- Desoto, TX, USA
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 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
- Columbia, PA, USA
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.
- South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
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.
- Washigton, MI, USA
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.
- Talladega, AL, USA
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
- Fresno, CA, USA
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 (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
- Greenville, NC, USA
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!
- Pottersville, MO, USA
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.
- White Plains, MD, USA
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 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.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
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.
- Lake Park, FL, USA
Spark plug blew out of cylinder, cost me $455 in repairs. V6 3.0L 2002 Ford Escape.
- Palm Coast, FL, USA
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: 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.
- Chicago, IL, USA
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.
- Auburn, PA, USA
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. 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.
- Canton, OH, USA
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
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.
- Ocala, FL, USA
- Monroe, MI, USA