10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 24 / 8
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 18 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 72,859 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 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
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stationary, the vehicle would not accelerate forward. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not accelerate forward. The vehicle was pushed manually, in the neutral position, to an unknown place of business. Furthermore, the contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal there was a squealing and cracking noise. The wheel bearing and struts were faulty on the vehicle as stated by the contact. The steering wheel made a loud squeaking noise when turned left or right while driving various speeds in addition to the vehicle frame becoming severely rusted underneath. The dealer was not contacted about the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Richmond, KY, USA
Vehicle idles fast in park and accelerates quickly while driving and remains in high constant acceleration mode. Bucks forward without warning, causing potential vehicle impact while behind stopped traffic, parking or trailing other vehicles.
- Converse, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. When the vehicle was started, the RPM indicator went all the up and the vehicle spontaneously accelerated. The contact tapped on the accelerator pedal and the rpms went down. While driving approximately 40 to 50 mph, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle displayed the failure since November of 2016. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
- York, ME, 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 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
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. The contact stated that while making a left turn and pressing the accelerator pedal, the throttle became stuck and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a ditch. The driver sustained injuries to the left leg and left side after leaping from the vehicle. A police report was filed. While inspecting the vehicle, the police indicated that the throttle was stuck continued to rev after the crash. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
- Deuluth, GA, USA
2002 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle unintended acceleration. The consumer stated while sitting at a traffic light, the vehicle spontaneously accelerated, hitting the vehicle in front of hi, because his foot was on the brake, the crash was not as violent as it could have been. Two of the passengers in the other vehicle went to the hospital with shoulder injuries. The consumers vehicle was declared totaled.
- Washington, DC, USA
On 4/10/2014, I was driving the vehicle and noticed that when I let my foot off the gas pedal, the car showed no signs of slowing...as if I was still accelerating. I had to use the brake to make the car slow down. On 4/12/2015, I was pulling into the driveway and let my foot off the pedal to coast to the parking position, when it suddenly accelerated, and I almost hit our fence. There is definitely something wrong with the acceleration system.
- Durham, NC, USA
Vehicle was driven towards a crossing and the light was red. I tried to stop, but instead it accelerated on applying the brakes and T-boned a car on the crossing. The brakes on this car were serviced a few times in the past and the complete history is available at the dealer....updated 04/02/15
- Surrey Bc, DC, USA
I was driving my Ford Escape 2002 out of town, I noticed my car pulling away from me. I took my foot off the throttle and noticed the the car was accelerating. I knew a stop sign and a highway was up ahead, after blowing threw the stop sign only being able to slow the car down to 20 with the brakes, I pulled the E-brake and still did not stop, afraid and scared I put the car in park, the car then snapped and went into reverse and the only thing I could do was aim for a pole and hit it. I got out of the car and it was still going with the engine smoking, fearing of a fire I shut the engine down.
- Connersville, IN, USA
Backed out of driveway, put into drive and the car throttled and accelerated unexpectedly and caused me to run into a tree. The vehicle has been totaled.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that immediately after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 and NHTSA campaign number: 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) the vehicle started to surge back and forward. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The techician stated that the front vacuum tube was leaking and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The vehicle was not re repaired. The failure mileage was 155,000.
- Harrison Township, MI, USA
I was approaching a traffic light to turn. As I applied the brake instead of stopping the truck accelerated. Hitting the back of a vehicle.
- Goldsboro, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving into his driveway at a low speed, with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and crashed into his shad and side wiped his neighbor's house. The vehicle continued to accelerate with force when the contact applied to the brake pedal. The vehicle finally came to a stop when the vehicle crashed into an area of bushes. However, the engine continued to rev and the wheels continued to spin. The contact was the able to turn off the engine. Upon inspection, the insurance company totalled the vehicle. The contact suffered injuries to the neck and body. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 67,000.
- Middlesboro , KY, USA
While driving my 2002 Ford Focus V6 I have experienced several instances of sudden unintended vehicle acceleration. I took my car to parks Ford in wesley chapel, fl who said they suspect it is from my throttle cable sticking but they would not fix it for me even though many Escapes have had the same problem and resulted in numerous deaths. It would cost me over $400 to fix and just because my particular VIN number is not part of the recall for they would not help me. I even spoke to someone at the main Ford office who said the same thing. This is blatantly refusing to stand by their product, even though they realize this could result in a very serious safety problem. I told the man at Ford that I guess they want to wait until someone else dies of this problem and he said if he was me and knew what I know he just wouldn't drive that car, which proves that they realize the seriousness and yet refuse to make it a recall on my car even though the same issue resulted in several deaths for Escape owners in the past.
- Tampa, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, he attempted disengage the cruise control but the vehicle maintained 75 mph. The contact stated that he depressed that brake pedal but the engine continued to rev. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the throttle cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
- Valdosta, GA, USA
- Lolo, MT, USA