2002 Ford Escape reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Ford Escape — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,397
- 18 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- 135 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 96 reported crashes · 57 injuries · 3 deaths · 147 fires
What owners report fails — 2002 Ford Escape
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 135
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 76
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 74
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 66
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 63
4 recalls on record for the 2002 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 15V606000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated sh
- NHTSA 14V165000 · 2014 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a cra
- NHTSA 12V005000 · 2012 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.
- NHTSA 12V353000 · 2012 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could c
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Ford Escape
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Ford Escape units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford Escape reliable?
NHTSA has 1,397 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Ford Escape and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (135 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Ford Escape units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (135), engine and engine cooling:engine (76), vehicle speed control (74), electrical system (66). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Ford Escape?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.