Had been having a problem with a loud squeaking noise coming from the steering column when turning; checked the federal safety agency service bulletins and found a bulletin from june 1, 2003 noting this same problem; check engine light was also on again; I made an appt at dealer to check out these issues (4/7/04). Took vehicle in on 4/9/04. Dealer found the following problems: noise was coming from the upper steering column because the wiring for the horn was pulled out and rubbing on the contact plate; additional noise found at lower end of steering column dealer deactivated the airbag system to remove and replace the steering wheel and contact; also found that they had to replace the steering column boot, which had to be ordered at the same time, a recall was issued for this vehicle regarding the power train control module; dealer performed the recall vehicle was in the shop from 4/9 - 4/14 and dealer had to pay for a rental car steering column boot was ordered and I had to take the vehicle back into the dealer on 4/23/04 to have them install it. After leaving the dealer on the 23rd, I realized that my horn, cruise control and left brake light were all inoperable, so I took the vehicle back into the dealer on 4/26/04. Dealer found that the clock spring was not making contact, so they had to deactivate the airbag again to remove the steering wheel and replace the clock spring; for the rear brake light, the dealer had to replace the bulb element vehicle was in the dealer for two days and they had to pay for a rental car for me again,
2002 Ford Escape transmission complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 105, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Intermittent problem. Vehicle will start but will not idle. Will stall unless gas is applied at all times. Will stall if decelerating. First time problem occurred, power relay search was addressed. Then PCM recall was applied, and problem happened again. Now dealer says air bypass valve needs to be replaced. Car has 42,000 miles on it.
Power train slipping. This will be the second transmittion for this 3 year old car. The first went out at 30,000 and now the other one is going. The vehicle is high mileage, but it is one owner and 90% of the miles are highway miles.
Driver put the vehicle into park and without warning vehicle surged forward. This caused consumer to lose control of the vehicle, and hit some objects head on inside of the garage before stopping. The driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. Consumer will have the vehicle towed to the dealership.*ak the driver was in the process of placing gear from drive to park when vehicle lurched forward. Upon impact, the shifter is between park and drive.
2002 ford escape v6. Multiple problems the the automatic transmission, shuddering, and now a total failure. For the shuddering the fluid was flushed and replaced with a different type, and new codes programed. *ak haven't taken it in for the total failure yet. (tomorrow)
Recall notice for 2002 ford escape arrived a month too late. *mr the consumer sold the vehicle a month before the recall notice arrived. The vehicle began stalling prior to recall notice 04s13 or 04v-165000. Prior to the recall the vehicle was taken to the dealer to alleviate the problem. The dealer suggested a gas treatment system for the fuel injection, but the stalling persisted. The consumer request compensation for the treatment, time lost and stress ford put her through with the escape.
Out of warranty transmission failed at 49k miles. *ph the vehicle experienced a shudder since 37k miles which only occurred a couple times per month. Ford failed to alert the consumer of the problem. The consumer requested reimbursement for the repair. Service bulletin#16056636254
Two transmission failures. The transmission was replaced @ 18,118 miles and then again @ 39,933 miles.
With no warning the automatic transmission on our escape failed completely at 44,130 miles. So far, no financial assistance has been offered by ford or the repairing dealer dispite attempts by me to get relief for the $2700 repair bill! We have had a loud noise coming from the drivetrain since about 18,000 miles and had it checked at 25,000 by our local ford dealer. The dealer insisted that it was only tire noise...which while very sceptical, we accepted with the caveat that when we eventually replaced the tires, the noise would be gone our we expected the vehicle to be repaired at no charge. Since the transmission's very premature failure, we have revisited the powertrain noise as we now suspect its source may have caused the transmission failure. Both front wheel bearings have been changed, the wheels and tires have been substituted and the very loud noise continues. Two ford dealers have inspected the vehicle and no one yet has an idea of what the source of the noise is now! This truck is a true lemon and I think ford should be stepping up to the plate to fix and pay for this problem as well as all or most of the transmission repair!!!!
Vehicle stalled and lost power while driving between 40-45 MPH. Vehicle has almost been rear ended 4 times. Dealership made three attempts to correct the problem by updating the iac valve, and reprogramming the PCM.
The vehicle stalled. Once while the vehicle was in the drive, the horn began to blow, and the lights started to blink. No one was in the vehicle or had touched the vehicle. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership to be repaired, however they were unable to repair it because they could not duplicate the problems. *ak the vehicle also rolled away with the ignition locked, keys removed and vehicle in park. Also the accelerator became stuck on four occasions. A representative from told the consumer the reason why the vehicle rolled away, was because the emergency brake had not been applied. *ph
Consumer states that while vehicle was in park and no with warning the left axle snapped, causing the vehicle to roll backwards, resulting in a accident. Dealer notified.
2002 ford escape has a transmission slip problem that they didn't want to cover under warranty. This is a dangerous situation when this happens if passing another vehicle causing the vehicle to stall. Also, if turning in front of another vehicle oncoming and it stalls you could get hit from the side.
I have had multiple problems from first day I bought the truck starting with all my cd's getting jammed one at a time ejecting from my 6xcd indash changer I also then proceeded to have trouble with starting the truck in cold or hot weather or even humid weather proceeding with constant break noises from first week whick multiple times its been worked on but no luck fixing also now left drivers side headlight casing started presenting a bad seal in headlight which in return caused me to have to replace set of headlights with installation for 90 dollars also my sunroof is sticking when you go to shut it and hoding down button and out of all these defects you think it wouldnt be enough to deal with trying to get fixed when you work two full time jobs and had no transportation for work and yet ford dealership did not want to assist me in any way with rental for their defects of vehicle leaving me stuck with no transportation for work due to relocating to dallas then atlanta and not knowing anyone whom could help me with getting to employment and home locations but to top it off my 2002 ford escape xlt is also having a problem with leather seats wearing extremly bad yet I try to keep them as clean and repliished as possible but yet seats are of poor quality which also the leather stearing wheel is fading with spots of darker and lighter leather wrapping and same for the dash and radio controls, all are fading with dark and lighter black spots all over yet I keep my truck spotless and I take extreme care of it for my vehicle is my baby but seems to be with ford im going to be forced to find something else with all the safety issues of the engine stalling not starting and not being able to shift in gear and forcing the vehicle ignition to be swutched off and then back on to start back up (if it will start the next time)
I bought the vehicle used. I am concerned with all of the updates that I have seen on the safety issue of the vehicle simply shutting down in the middle of driving. The problem I am dealing with is the 4wd is stuck in 4wd. The 4wd light isn't on, but when I turn sharply, I can feel the wheels grabbing for traction. It is at the dealership now (only had 2 weeks) and they have not identified the problem.
The vehicle stalled without warning which made the vehicle difficult to control. The engine would rev when the accelerator was pressed but the vehicle would not move. The dealer reprogrammed the computer but the problem re-occurred. *jb
The engine stalled without warning. The dealer reprogrammed the PCM. *jb
Nar 02/28/2003 mr the consumer experienced problems with the clutch and flywheel.
There was a burning smell coming from the vehicle's clutch and it wouldn't go into 1st or 2nd gear. The dealer was notified. Ph the transmission failed , and the clutch burned. The cable was reinstalled. There was a chattering in the clutch, and the clutch pedal had gone to the floor before being able to shift. The entire clutch system was replaced. Also the slave cylinder was bled. Scc
I have now had my escape for 9 months. I took it to the dealership on 01/10/03 because the transmission would not shift past 2nd gear (no matter how fast I was going). The dealer replaced the transmission and when they test drove it even the new transmission did not want to shift. Needless to say I have not had my vehicle forever and the dealership refuses to contact me about my vehicle or return my calls.
Consumer stated the gear shifter design was defective. Shifter is attached to steering column and is too long. Whenever consumer turns on radio gear is knocked into neutral.
Consumer stated on july 2, 2002 the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a broken headlight and missing equipment from the vehicle, on july 23, 2002 the vehicle began experiencing stalling, brake and odometer problems, the brakes were replaced due to a flaw, the stalling and the odometer problems could not be duplicated, also there were problems with the speakers and the clutch sticking, consumer stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake disengaged and the vehicle rolled into a hotel.
Power steering leaked in oct 2001, problem caused by failed rack and pinion steering system. Dealer replaced after having vehicle in shop for a month. In nov 2002, the vehicle suffered a transmission failure while crossing a major intersection. Barely managed to get through the intersection without an accident. The nearest ford dealer happened to be across the street. Took into service dept and they found that the transmission had failed and was welded together. The only service performed was rack/pinion replacement by original dealer in oct 2001. Experts tell us that transmissions are not welded. They are bolted. Either vehicle came from factory with welded transmission (poss. Other vehicles with same problem) or original dealer damaged transmission when installing new rack/pinion system and welded the damage without reporting it to the consumer. Not happy about 2 major problems in just over a year. Dt
The gas pedal and brake pedal vibrate constantly between 1600-1800 RPM's. I took the truck to the dealer, but was told that it was a trait of the vehicle. I have driven other ones and they do not show this trait. It happens in every gear of the transmission, but when in park the pedals won't vibrate at stated RPM. As the load on the vehicle increase the intensity of the vibration increases. The condition is very annoying because it occurs at normal highway and city speeds. I would like to get the issue resolved, but the manufacturer seems unwilling to help. Dt
Consumer states while shifting into reverese on level ground, the vehicle jumped into forward, took off and hit a light pole before stopping. Dealer and the manufacturer has not been notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information. Mr
While driving at 35mph on flat surface and with no warning engine will stall, causing consumer to pull over. Dealer will be notified.
Vehicle stalled twice at 40 MPH. Dealer replaced PCM sensor and reprogrammed computer.
Engined stall while coasting down a hill at 35 MPH. Lost power steering and braking.
Bought vehicle 11/1/2001. The first time, 1/9/2002 with only 1547 miles, let off of gas, coasting down hill, approx 40 MPH, car died, lost power steering and brakes. After coasting to a stop, car restarted. Dealer replaced powertrain control module relay. 2nd time, on 5/3/2002, with 3949 miles, similar conditions, car died, lost power steering and brakes, car restarted after coasting to a stop. Dealer changed the fuel mixture in the computer. I have serious doubts that this has fixed the problem.
Vehicle cuts off when decelerating, going down a hill to accelerate up a hill. Problem is intermittent. Also, ford is aware of problem, but not sure of what solution could cure the problem. Please provide more information.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Ford Escape?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history