There are 50 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2002 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
TL* 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.
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!
TL* 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.
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. *TR
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE GONE OUT. THE GAS PEDAL GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND THE ENGINE IS AT 6RPM'S. CALLED FORD AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD NEARLY 500K CARS RECALLED DURING THE EXACT YEAR MY CAR WAS BUILT THEY WILL NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IN THE MEANTIME MY TWO CHILDREN WERE HURT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T ACCELERATOR ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND THEN HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. FORDS SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP AND PAY THEM TO FIX MY VEHICLE, BUT TO KEEP THE RECEIPTS JUST IN CASE THEY ARE "FORCED" TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY COSTS. *TR
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. *TR
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *SMD 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. *JB
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.
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 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY BECAME STUCK WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RELEASED. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
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. *TR
TL* 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.
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. *TR
TL* 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.
TL* 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.
I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I WENT TO TAKE MY EXIT AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT THAT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AT ALL. IT KEPT ACCELERATING ALL THE WAY UP TO 90MPH. I TAPPED THE BRAKES BUT IT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES DUE TO HEATING THE BRAKES UP SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD CATCH MY CAR ON FIRE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE RPMS REVVED BETWEEN 5000-6000 SO I SWITCHED BACK IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I FINALLY HAD AN AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW IT DOWN AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY COULD BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO PARK. WHEN IT WAS IN PARK THE RPMS JUMPED ALL THE WAY UP TO 5000 AND SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN I OPENED THE HOOD AND REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIL NOW. MY CAR IS NO LEAKING OIL AND SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SEEMED AS THOUGH THIS WAS AN UNIMPORTANT ISSUE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR THEM SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO FIXED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THE LAST RECALL THEY HAD ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO SPEEDS OF 88 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED IMMENSE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE THEN MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED SIX YEARS EARLIER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND BURNED OUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE INTAKE VALVES CRACKED AS WELL.
VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER. THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST FOUR INCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING WHEN ITS WAS AT LOW SPEED OR STOPPED (WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE). THE ACCELERATIONS LAST A FEW SECONDS AND LURCH THE CAR FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO FORD FOR THE RECALL NOTICES INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE (11S24B ON 30 JUNE 12 AND 12S37B ON 20 SEP 12). THIS VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026