2002 Ford Escape Automatic Transmission Problems
- 44
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 44 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- transmission failed · 6 records
- automatic transmission · 5 records
- transmission failure · 5 records
- transmission fluid · 4 records
- side road · 4 records
- without warning · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 11 |
| 30–60k mi | 9 |
| 100–150k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 4 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 ford escape caught on fire. The transmission failed to shift the vehicle. Flames came out from under the vehicle then the vehicle did finally shut off and it was able to come to a stop. It continued to burn, tires exploded, etc. In the end most of the engine was on the ground. The transmission basically fell out of the vehicle. It left a trail of fluid before coming to a stop on the side of the highway. I…
Fire reported
ODI 10118423
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle is experiencing a problem with the transmission. When putting the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle will shut down. Owner has contacted the dealer who offered little to the solution. Provide further details. *nm
ODI 10107382
Automatic Transmission · Engine · Rack And Pinion
3 years old, 60,000 miles - transmission has completely blown. Its in the shop currently. The oil pan is leaking. The rack and pinion steering is leaking fluid. *jb
ODI 10102379
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford escape xlt, 51000 miles. Automatic transmission cd4e. Owner's manual and information from ford states that only mercon transmission fluid is to be used, and that use of mercon v transmission fluid will damage transmission. However, cover on transmission dip stick says "use mercon v." dealer flushed transmission at 32000 miles and replaced with mercon v fluid. Transmission failed at 51000 miles, requiring…
ODI 10093264
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford escape xlt, 51,000 miles. During freeway driving, o/d lockout indicator light came on and started flashing. Transmission briefly acted as if it was shifting between neutral and drive, then it failed completely. Towed to ford dealer for diagnosis. Ford dealer says transmission needs to be replaced, but has not diagnosed cause of failure. From researching user forums on the internet, i've learned that ford…
ODI 10091368
Automatic Transmission · Mechanical
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.*ak
ODI 10081260
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
Crash reported · 2 injuries
ODI 10073682
Automatic Transmission · Owners/Service/Other Manual
Two transmission failures. The transmission was replaced @ 18,118 miles and then again @ 39,933 miles.*ak
ODI 10059975
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford escape xlt has stalled without warning twice. Once at approximately 40 mph and the other at 10 mph. I have complained to the dealership (cowles ford, woodbridge, va) since my first maintenance check about my escape hesitating/skipping. Does not seems to be getting the proper gas. First couple of maintenance check mechanic said he could not find anything wrong. Now, 2 1/2 years later, they keep replacing…
ODI 10090904
Accelerator Pedal · Automatic Transmission · Engine · Headlights · Horn
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…
ODI 10031648
Automatic Transmission
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 *nlm
ODI 10015159
Automatic Transmission
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.
ODI 10005289
Automatic Transmission · Rack And Pinion
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…
ODI 769972
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. Immediately after purchasing the vehicle in august of 2002, it began stalling and lost all power. The contact received a recall notice in april of 2004 for nhtsa campaign id number 04v165000 (power train:automatic transmission:control module). She took the vehicle to a local dealer and received her free repair. In august of 2008, the failure recurred. While driving…
ODI 10242295
Automatic Transmission
Engined stall while coasting down a hill at 35 mph. Lost power steering and braking.*ak
ODI 763031
Automatic Transmission
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. *nlm
ODI 10021009
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Automatic Transmission · Gasoline
2002 ford escape xlt, vehicle would not start, engine turned over but soounded like it was going to blow up. After several attempts it finally started. It does this 2 or 3 times a day. Dealer says no problem, it will fix itself. Vehicles engine smoked on two occasions, thought the car was on fire. Dealer says there is nothing wrong. Vehicle will surge on its own, even with the brake depressed, almost as if i had…
ODI 759237
Automatic Transmission
I have owned the vehicle for 90 days. 30 of those days the vehicle was out of service. The car cannot be drive when gear assembly sticks.*ak
ODI 755222
Automatic Transmission
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.*ak
ODI 8009307