FORD ESCORT · model year

2002 FORD ESCORT

41 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002FORDESCORT carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 ESCORT is engine and engine cooling with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and power train:automatic transmission (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 ESCORT. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

41
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
TIRES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
STEERING2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS2
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1

Recalls (1)

04E04800012/07/2004

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR V

Recent Complaints

20170306CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20170306CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20111117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2002 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPPING AND DYING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACE THREE TIMES, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE STALLING. *JB

20090731SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,367.

Mileage: 7,367

20090731SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,367.

Mileage: 7,367

20090426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WE HAVE A 2002 ESCORT ZX2 . THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FEBRUARY 2002 . I HAVE HAD SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE -RODS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE WIRING TO THE TAIL LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE BLOWING AND WE REPLACE IT , THEN THE LIGHT BULBS BLOW THEN WE REPLACE THEM . WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AND HE HAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE REFLECTOR ARE MELTED. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TAIL LIGHTS WORKING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE CONTROL . UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE BULBS THE BULBS HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THE LIGHT BULBS HAD HOLES IN THEM BUT STILL WORKED AS BRAKE LIGHTS . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT CLOSEST TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 116,402

20090426STEERING

WE HAVE A 2002 ESCORT ZX2 . THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FEBRUARY 2002 . I HAVE HAD SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE -RODS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE WIRING TO THE TAIL LIGHTS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE BLOWING AND WE REPLACE IT , THEN THE LIGHT BULBS BLOW THEN WE REPLACE THEM . WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AND HE HAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE REFLECTOR ARE MELTED. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TAIL LIGHTS WORKING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE CONTROL . UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE BULBS THE BULBS HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THE LIGHT BULBS HAD HOLES IN THEM BUT STILL WORKED AS BRAKE LIGHTS . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT CLOSEST TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 116,402

20081211FireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SHATTERED AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER BY LETTER OR PHONE WITHIN 15 DAYS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,890.

Mileage: 59,890

20080317ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. FOR ONE MONTH, THE KEY DIDN'T FIT INTO THE IGNITION AND WHEN IT WAS IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AS OF MARCH 16, 2008, THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20071203WHEELS

12/01/05, 03/08/07.11/19/07 HAD TO REPLACE TIE-ROD ION MY 2002 FORD ESCORT. NOTICED THUMPING, TOOK TO MECHANIC. HE SAID HAD I NOT BROUGHT IT IN, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS SEEMS TO INDICATE A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THIS CAR. *TR

Mileage: 56,200

20070914ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN IDLING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 042410 REGARDING THE ENGINE WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HEARING SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPDATED 12/12/07

Mileage: 75,000

20070822TIRES:BEAD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TWO BRIDGESTONE POTENZA G009 (NA) SUMMER TIRES (SIZE 205/40/R17) ON MAY 12, 2007. ONE OF THE TIRES EXPLODED AS THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALLS SEPARATED FROM THE BEADS. BRIDGESTONE STATED THAT SHE MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. SHE INFORMED THEM THAT SHE DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANY POTHOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW AND THERE IS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LEFT ON THEM. THE DOT NUMBER MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20070822TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TWO BRIDGESTONE POTENZA G009 (NA) SUMMER TIRES (SIZE 205/40/R17) ON MAY 12, 2007. ONE OF THE TIRES EXPLODED AS THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALLS SEPARATED FROM THE BEADS. BRIDGESTONE STATED THAT SHE MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. SHE INFORMED THEM THAT SHE DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANY POTHOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW AND THERE IS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LEFT ON THEM. THE DOT NUMBER MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20061212SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN 6 MONTHS FOR THE 2002. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN FORD ESCORT. I HAVE A 1998 & 2002 AND BOTH HAVE BROKEN REAR SPRINGS. ALSO EVERY TECHNICIAN I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 46,822

20061104EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT -- NO HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS. NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO FAILING. *NM

Mileage: 120,990

20060905SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE DONE AT A GARAGE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE REAR SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM. *NM

Mileage: 47,000

20060905POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE DONE AT A GARAGE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE REAR SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LOCK SYSTEM. *NM

Mileage: 47,000

20060126CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 20MPH, NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN 2 MILES FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT SIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND INSPECTED THE AIR BAGS. THE POLICE NOTICED THE SMELL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE PRESENT, ALTHOUGH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. THE INSURANCE ALSO FILED A REPORT AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

Mileage: 64,002

20060126SUSPENSION

I PURCHASED BACK 2002 A NEW FORD ESCORT THAT NOW HAS BAD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT BACK TO DIAGNOSE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT MODEL CAR AND CANNOT BE FIXED.MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. IT ONLY HAS 17,501 MILES AND NOW THE VIBRATION SO BAD IT IS A SAFTY CONCERN.*AK

20051005TIRES

DT: 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR EXCEPT WHEN HE HAS TO. WANTED VEHICLE TO BE SAFE. I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN HITTING A BUMP, THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS HITTING THE STRUT. DEALERSHIP PUT SIXTEEN INCH TIRES ON CAR, AND IT CALLS FOR SIZE FIFTEEN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THEY PUT THE WRONG SIZE RIM AND TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WITH ONLY 40 MILES ON IT. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT TO PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR.*AK

Compare 2002FORDESCORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 FORD ESCORT have?
The 2002 FORD ESCORT has 41 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 FORD ESCORT?
Yes, the 2002 FORD ESCORT has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 FORD ESCORT?
The most-complained component for the 2002 FORD ESCORT is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2002 FORD ESCORT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.