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.
2002 Ford Escape engine problems
330 complaints (32% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 67,000. 5 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 330
- of this car's complaints
- 32%
- typical mileage
- 67,000
- crashes
- 5
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine: gasoline133
- Engine76
- Exhaust system8
- Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor6
- Exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)2
- Cooling system2
- Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe1
- Exhaust system: emission control1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Escape engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Ford Escape engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Stalling 226Loss of power 43Check engine light 37Engine failure 26Won't start 9Knocking 8
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Engine stalling
Summary:the petitioner alleges that after having the recall remedy performed on her model year (my) 2001 ford escape, it continued to exhibit an intermittent stall condition.consequently, she petitioned the agency to examine the adequacy of the recall remedy for safety recall 04v‑165.on april 5, 2004, ford motor company (ford) notified the agency that it would conduct a recall of 321,903 my 2001 through 2002 and certain 2003 my escape vehicles equipped with 3.0l engines manufactured between january 21, 2000 and september 11, 2002 at the kansas city assembly plant.these vehicles exhibited an intermittent engine stall during decelerations at vehicle speeds below 40 MPH due to an excessively rich fuel-air mixture in the engine.as a remedy, ford dealers are instructed to reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to a revised calibration to prevent the stalling condition. In its july 23, 2004 response to the office of defects investigation?s (odi) july 1, 2004 information request letter, ford states that as of june 30, 2004 the recall remedy has been completed on 174,014 vehicles.additionally, only a small number of vehicle owners (less than .1%) who have had the remedy performed on their vehicles have had additional deceleration stalling issues.ford also states that the PCM has to ?learn? The new program and that any subsequent stalling would be temporary.to verify ford?s claim, odi conducted a random survey of 20 complainants who had the remedy performed on their vehicles and who experienced a subsequent stalling event.odi found that most of them had isolated stalling problems, supporting ford?s allegation that the PCM must ?learn? The new program.in addition, in a phone conversation with odi, the petitioner stated that a ford engineer found a faulty ignition switch as the cause of the stalling in her vehicle.thus, there is no evidence at this time to suggest the recall remedy is inadequate.for the foregoing reasons, further expenditure of the agency?s investigative resources on the issue raised by the petitioner does not appear to be warranted and the petition is denied.
RP04002
Engine stalling
Ford's and mazda's letters to the federal safety agency dated april 5 and april 9, 2004, state that they will recall model year 2001-03 ford escape and mazda tribute vehicles with the v6 engine built thru september 11, 2002.dealers will adjust engine calibration in the programmable control module (PCM), which in its current setting, can cause the engine to shut down if the vehicle is decelerating at speeds below 40 MPH. The engine shuts down due to excessively rich air-fuel mixtures being sent to the engine.when the engine shuts down, drivers may notice a loss of power assist for their steering and brakes. The majority of the complainants have indicated to the agency that the stall is intermittent and can happen more than once.
EA02027
Engine stalling
PE01043
What 2002 Ford Escape owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
The mounts that the engine sits on rusted away, causing the engine to drop onto the steering system while driving.
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
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.
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 contact stated that she had not received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 145,000. .*bf
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
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.
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.
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.
Questions about the 2002 Ford Escape engine
Does the 2002 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Owners have filed 330 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Ford Escape, 32% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Escape engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 67,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2002 Ford Escape engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
Other 2002 Ford Escape problems
Brakes 195Electrical 123Transmission 105Acceleration 100Body 87Suspension 80Airbags 79Steering 70Fuel system 37Visibility 34Locks 20Seat belts 14Lights 12Tires 12Wheels 10Driver assistance 5Seats 3
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