Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Ford Escape
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Ford Escape has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,027 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V606000 Rebuilt Transmission Shift Lever May Disengage NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15E045000 Front Wheel Bearing has Wrong Dimensions NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V165000 Lower Control Arm Corrosion-Regional Recall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V353000 Speed Control Cable Connector Interference NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V005000 ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V156000 ABS MODULE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E023000 MASTER CYLINDER LEAK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V602000 FORD/FMVSS 206/REAR LIFTGATE DOOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V574000 FORD/ACCELERATOR CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V165000 FORD/ENGINE STALLING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 294 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 149 complaints
- Electrical System 123 complaints
- Power Train 105 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 100 complaints
- Structure 87 complaints
Of the 1,027 complaints on file, 66 report a crash and 104 a fire; across all 1,027 complaints, owners report 42 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Ford Escape has a significant number of owner complaints and multiple recalls, indicating several reliability concerns, particularly with the engine cooling, brakes, and transmission systems. While not every unit may experience these failures, the high complaint volume suggests potential issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $600–$1,500 | common |
| Service brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| Electrical system | 90,000–130,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Battery and alternator checks
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Brake pedal softness
- Unstable idling
- Transmission slippage
- Electrical shorts or issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Ford Escape at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.