2002 Ford Escape Fuel System Problems

FUEL GAS TANK STRAPS ROTTED OUT CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO FALL

METAL TRAY SUPPORTING THE FUEL TANK HAS RUSTED. BRACKETS SUPPORTING THE TRAY HAVE RUSTED AND FALLEN OFF EXPOSING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.

STARTED MY CAR AND THE RPM GOING TO 4000 WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. WAS TOLD ITS THROTTLE BODY.

THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP RUSTED THROUGH AND BEGAN DRAGGING ON THE HIGHWAY SENDING UP A SHOWER OF SPARKS. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE METAL SHIELD AROUND THE TANK DISINTEGRATED INTO RUST FLAKES, AND THE SHIELD WHERE IT PASSES OVER THE DRIVESHAFT HAD FALLEN AND WAS RUBBING ON THE MOVING DRIVESHAFT. I RECOGNISED THE PROBLEM AND WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE TANK AND SHIELD TEMPORARILY TO LIMP HOME, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER IS CATASTROPHIC, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THESE PARTS ARE CONTINUALLY SUBJECT TO SALT AND SNOW.

FUEL TANK STRAP HAS CORRODED AND BROKEN AND THE FUEL TANK COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN A FUEL SPILL AND/OR FIRE. THERE IS ALSO A RUST HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK METAL PROTECTIVE COVER THE SIZE OF MY HAND AND THE FUEL CELL IS EXPOSED. HAVE NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY DECLINED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM CITING THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL. FORD HAS ALSO TOLD ME IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF CORRODED PARTS WHICH I WILL SUBMIT UPON REQUEST TO MY EMAIL ADDRESS WHICH IS : [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THERE WOULD BE A SUDDEN DECELERATION IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO BE EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD FOCUS V6 I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. I TOOK MY CAR TO PARKS FORD IN WESLEY CHAPEL, FL WHO SAID THEY SUSPECT IT IS FROM MY THROTTLE CABLE STICKING BUT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT FOR ME EVEN THOUGH MANY ESCAPES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND RESULTED IN NUMEROUS DEATHS. IT WOULD COST ME OVER $400 TO FIX AND JUST BECAUSE MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I EVEN SPOKE TO SOMEONE AT THE MAIN FORD OFFICE WHO SAID THE SAME THING. THIS IS BLATANTLY REFUSING TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT, EVEN THOUGH THEY REALIZE THIS COULD RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I TOLD THE MAN AT FORD THAT I GUESS THEY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE DIES OF THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAID IF HE WAS ME AND KNEW WHAT I KNOW HE JUST WOULDN'T DRIVE THAT CAR, WHICH PROVES THAT THEY REALIZE THE SERIOUSNESS AND YET REFUSE TO MAKE IT A RECALL ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ISSUE RESULTED IN SEVERAL DEATHS FOR ESCAPE OWNERS IN THE PAST. *TR

AGAIN I OWN THREE OF THESE VEHICLES AND WHILE PUMPING GAS MY FUEL TANK STRAPS ROTTED OUT, SAME AS THE OTHER TWO. AGAIN DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T HELP ESPECIALLY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL THREE VEHICLES. *TR

FUEL TANK STRAP RUSTED AND BROKE FROM TANK SAGGED ONTO DRIVE SHAFT WHEN TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL THIS ONLY WAS NOTED WHEN TURNING A SHARP CORNER, WORE HOLE IN TANK METAL COVER.NOTE COVER IS RUSTED. *TR

WHILE FILLING GAS TANK HEARD A LOUD POP,AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION HAD SOMEONE LOOK UNDER CAR AND DISCOVERED TANK STRAPS RUSTED AND BROKE LEAVING NOTHING TO HOLD GAS TANK IN PLACE. NO OTHER RUSTY OR RUSTED PARTS UNDER CAR. HAD DEALER REPAIR AT A COST OF $725. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE FUEL STRAPS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH AND FALL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL STRAPS AND THE PLATE THAT HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

DRIVING TO DOVER DE. PULLED INTO GAS STATION OUTSIDE LANCASTER PA FOR FUEL. FILLED TANK AND WENT TO PULL AWAY FROM PUMP. HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING AND FOUND FUEL TANK STRAP HAD SNAPPED AND LEFT FUEL TANK DRAGGING ON DRIVESHAFT. *TR

MY WIFE'S 02 FORD ESCAPE (WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES) JUST HAD ONE OF THE GAS TANK STRAPS BREAK DUE TO CORROSION. MAJOR FIRE/SAFETY HAZARD IF THE GAS TANK HITS THE GROUND. VERY SIMILAR ISSUE KNOWN WITH F150. THE DEALER IS CHARGING US $1K TO FIX!!! THIS SAME CAR IS ALSO IN THE SHOP EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR A FAULTY AIRBAG SWITCH/RELAY THAT WE'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAKES ME SICK! WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THESE GUYS TO DO THE RIGHT THING? IT BLOWS MY MIND. *TR

GAS GAUGE READS BETWEEN 1/2 & 1/4, CAR RAN OUT OF GAS THIS MORNING. AAA BROUGHT GAS, I WENT TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED THE TANK. GAS GAUGE STILL READS ONLY 1/2 FULL. *TR

MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS APROX 40K ON IT THE STEEL COVER THAT GOES OVER THE PLASTIC GAS TANK IS ROTTING AWAY AND DROPPING OFF RUSTY PARTS I HOPE THAT EMISSIONS WOULD COVER THIS. THE STRAP HAS SOME RUST BUT I AM CONCERNED WE LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WITH SALT ON OUR ROADS. *TR

THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK WAS SCRAPING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK AND SHIELD IN PLACE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN IN HALF CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO FALL DOWN ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. LUCKILY I DID NOT DRIVE VERY FAR WITH THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD HAVE PUT A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK AND COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A FIRE. *TR

IN MID APRIL 2005, AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HOME (HAD@32,000 MILES), THE CAR JUST DIED WITHIN 2 SECONDS. NO WARNING AT ALL. I LOST ALL POWER, THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND THAT WAS IT. FORD TOWED THE CAR (AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP WENT AND THAT CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN STARTED FOR ME. THANK GOD MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THAT I WASN"T HIT FROM BEHIND. AFTER THEY "FIXED " THE CAR AND AFTER WE PAID $600 FOR A 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE, 6 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPPENS TO MY HUSBAND. HE'D JUST DRIVING ALONG, THE CAR LOSES POWER WITHIN SECONDS AND COMPLETELY DIES WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR EVEN ANY TIME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! (THE CAR NOW HAS 33,500 MILES). IT IS CURRENTL STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING "FIXED". EE FEEL LIKE WE'VE ESCAPED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TWICE NOW, AS WE COULD HAVE SO EASILY BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BOTH TIMES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.

FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 45,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED. *JB

STALLING AT LOW SPEED AND DECELERATING WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTORS CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS SERVICING THE R.V WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SOUND UNDER THE ENGINE COVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. (CHATEAU MOTORHOME ON A FORD CHASSIS) *JB

VEHICLE STALLS AT BOTTOM OF INCLINE/DECLINE. *AK

THE TRUCK WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN IN THE BACK SEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. PH SEE VOQ#10021715 FOR REPOSITORY LINK TO PAR. CW

AFTER 1ST INCIDENT, FORD REPLACED AIR IDLE CONTROL VALVE EEC RELAY; AFTER 2ND INCIDENT, FORD REPLACED FUEL PUMP RELAY AND EEC RELAY AGAIN. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN VEHICLE STALLS, IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AND IMMEDIATELY STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL.