10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 116,180 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 25 mph, the wheel bearing completely detached from the vehicle, which resulted in the wheel detaching from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed that corrosion from the subframe caused the wheel bearing to detach and it needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
- West St Paul, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The dealer was to install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace for the unintended detachment of the lower control arm. A short time after the repair, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for another service, who noticed that the ball joint was separated from the control arm and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
- Blossvale, NY, USA
Peeling paint on roof, hutch and around the driver side rear door.
- Browns Mills , NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front passenger door, rear hatchback, and driver's side rear door were rusted and unable to be opened. The dealer stated that the doors needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 153,000.
- Atlanta , GA, USA
While driving on a rural city street at 30 mph I decelerated to prepare to turn right. When I began to make my right hand turn I heard a loud pop and the car began to rattle the car came to a stop within 10 feet of the pop. I applied a small amount of power to the engine to try and get completely out of the road, but the car would not move. Upon inspection of the front passenger tire it was facing 90 degrees in the opposite direction of the car, and pushed to the back of the wheel well. The cv shaft had come completely detached from the drive shaft. The vehicle had to be towed to a local shop that did sub-frame work. Upon inspection at the auto body shop it was revealed that the engine cradle had also become detached due to the proximity to the exhaust from the engine heating it up constantly. Along with the following parts needing replacement: Right front cv shaft, front engine cradle, front control arm bolts, control arm bushing, cv drive axle, heavy duty exhaust clamps. The shop had to remove and replace the engine cradle and the right front sub-frame. If I had been on a high speed interstate, and this happened I would have probable flipped, because the front right tire was unable to move, and was pulling towards the inside of the car. The total cost to get this repaired to a safe driving condition was $1352.69.
- Corning, NY, USA
While driving along a highway in Virginia, I heard. (and felt) a loud noise from the rear of the car. I thought I hit a pothole. I continued driving toward Florida, stopping in a motel in South Carolina. The next morning, while re-packing the car, I noticed the gas tank had fallen and was partly sitting on the rear axle.
- Ballroom Lake, NY, USA
Escape was hit on front left bumper by another vehicle, causing Escape to exit highway and crashing into and sliding down a concrete overpass pillar; damaging the front bumper, light, and complete left side of Escape. The airbag did not deploy!
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
On Nov 26 I was driving to my work at 45 miles per hour and the distance I kept from the car in front of me was sufficient to allow me stopping adequately. Suddenly, I noticed that traffic was approaching to a red light so I tap on the brakes to slow down and stop. However, the brakes were not reducing the speed so immediately I stamped on the brake pedal to let the car stop while simultaneously, I looked to realize that I could not change lanes. At this point I was left with no time to gear down the transmission or to pull the emergency brake. Consequently, my Ford Escape was forced to stop by crashing into the car in front of me and producing a domino effect involving a third vehicle in front of us. Fortunately, no personal injuries were reported from the other two drivers whose cars were involved.. I did suffered slight neck pain and after visiting the hospital I did not had major injuries or nothing to worry about so far. In regards to personal property damages, the two cars in front of mine, had minimal damages but, mine was severely damaged to the point is totally inoperable. All claims were reported and taken care by geico, my insurance company. Also a traffic crash car report was filed. I received a driving traffic citation from the police, which I plan to escalate to the courthouse, after knowing that the brake failure I experienced resulted from manufacturer's defects reported by Ford under recalls 11S24 and 12 S37. * please note that this writing is only for information purposes and to alert any other drivers to perform on-time maintenance check-ups to prevent similar or worst scenarios.
- Orlando , FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear hatch door failed to lock. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician verified that the door latch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 176,000 and the current mileage was 176,604.
- Griffith, IN, USA
Lower control arm ripped off under cradle & ripped passenger side drive shaft off the transmission - the wheel fell off the car. It appears under cradle rusted from inside. I shudder at the thought of that happening when my wife was on the freeway, instead of coming to a stop. This vehicle was always kept in the garage.
- Chardon, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph and heard an abnormal noise outside of the vehicle. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the sub frame was completely rusted and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 5/7/13 updated 05/28/2013
- Akron, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle made a clunking noise. After inspecting the vehicle, she noticed that the frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 93,000.
- Zanesville, OH, USA
1 - rear latch is not working properly. When it is cool outside, the latch will not open the back door. 2 - window latch has rusted causing the rear window to detach from the hinge. Not that I am bidder, but at 37K miles, the transmission blew.... I discussed this issue with both Ford and my dealership ([xxx]). both companies stated they could not help me and that it was on me to pay to correct. I explained that this was due to a lack of using proper supplies. They could not have cared less. I am hoping you can have them look into this because I would really hate to be involved in a car accident cannot use the rear as an exit.... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked, the rear lift gate hinge fractured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact stated the hinge part number was the same part number for the hinge being recalled under NHTSA campaign id number: 04V442000 structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments. The dealer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in that recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
- Lowell, MA, USA
Rear fenders rusting through, paint bubbling badly.
- Toronto, 00, USA
Paint peeling on left side of my Ford Escape 2003.
- Hanmer, 00, USA
While driving a piece of metal that was in the road pierced through the bottom vehicle's floorboard and rug, cutting consumer on the leg. Consumer stated dealer replaced floorboard and rug.
- Spotsylvania, VA, USA
- Washington, NJ, USA