2002 Ford Escape Steering Problems

While driving, your lower control arm separated from the subframe because of rust and corrosion, causing you to lose steering control. You were able to skid safely to the shoulder. This is the same defect covered by recall 14S02, but your vehicle was not included in that recall.

The rubber and metal mounts that hold your engine in place have rusted away, allowing the engine to sag down and make contact with your steering system while driving. This can affect how your car steers and may cause additional damage if not repaired. The fix will likely involve replacing the engine mounts and inspecting the steering components for any damage.

Your car is having multiple problems: the gears are difficult to shift into the correct position, the lights are draining power and going out prematurely, and the steering wheel is becoming hard to turn during normal driving. These issues have been happening since at least the time of a crash involving your vehicle.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO STEER OR KEEP STRAIGHT

MY ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER TAKING STEPS TO FIX IT AS IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD ESCAPES, AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER STEERING AS FLUID AND ALL THAT IS FINE, WHICH I READ WAS A RECALL ALSO.

MY VEHICLE IDLES TO 4000RPM AND CONTROL THE SPEED BY ITSELF, THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BACK BREAK AREA THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHERE I CAN'T PUT IT IN ANY GEAR SOMETIMES AND GETTING WORSE. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME LAST NIGHT BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING IT IDLED HIGH AND AS I BRAKE IT BARELY STOPPED AND WHEN RELEASING BREAK IT SPEEDS UP TO 50 OR MORE MPH AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE BREAK..I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND WAITED A WHILE AND TURNED BACK ON AND IT IDLED TO 4000 RPM AGAIN. COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK AND BREAK PEDAL WAS HARD. WHEN ARRIVING HOME TO BACK CAR IN DRIVEWAY TOWE GUY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IDLE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING CRANKED AND WAS AT 1000RPM AT FIRST START. ALSO AC PRESSURE. CAR RUNS HOT BUT NO SMOKE WATER BUBBLES IN COOLANT RESERVOIR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GAVE WARNING OF ANY OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED.

CROSS MEMBER BAR RUSTED OUT. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (BLACKWELL FORD, 41001 PLYMOUTH RD, PLYMOUTH, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS FRAME, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND EXHAUST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALSO I HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSPENSION THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND NEVER WAS FIXED BY PREVIOUS OWNER NOW IM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS PAST RECALLED ISSUES. IF YOU OWN A CAR AND JUST PURCHASED IT BY PREVIOUS OWNER MAKE SURE THAT RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED ON VEHICLE. NOW I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE.

THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAD RECALL 14S02 DONE IN SEPT. 2016. AT THE TIME I REQUESTED THE SUB FRAME BE REPLACED. FORD INDICATED THE RUST WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH AND INSTALLED A BRACE. TODAY, THE SUB FRAME GAVE WAY RENDERING THE VEHICLE A PERIL TO DRIVE. THE STEERING IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT AVOIDED COLLISION.

FORD DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX UNCARRIAGE AND CONTROL ARM. THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. HOWEVER I FOUND THE RECALL 14S02. DESCRIBING THE ISSUE THE DEALERSHIP STATED IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY CASH INSTEAD OF THEM FIXING THE ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE AND CAUSED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MALFUNCTION. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE LEFT ALIGNMENT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

HAD RECALL 14S02 PERFORMED ON 12/30/15. INSTALLED FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE.THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT AND FAILED. THE CROSSBRACE KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY COMING APART BUT CAR IS NOW NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAYING THEY ALREADY PERFORMED THE RECALL. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SUBFRAME REPLACEMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UPON MAKING A TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT THE WHEELS REMAINED STRAIGHT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED TWO BRACKETS BUT NOT THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKETS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT PERFORMED ACCURATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000. *TR

I WAS MAKING A RIDE AN MAPLE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A SORT OF POPPING NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FLAT TIRE. THATS WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS SO I KEPT DRIVE TO WHERE I LIVE.ON THE WAY HOME ALL I HEARD WAS A SCREECHING. WHEN I GOT HOME HOME I CHECK AND THE SUSPENSION HAD SNAPPED BECAUSE OF RUSTING

ON JULY 18, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I WAS DRIVING UP BEAR CREEK MOUNTAIN AND HEARD A LOUD POP THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING BEFORE I FINALLY GOT IT TO STOP. I SLIDE ABOUT 50 FEET AND IF I'D SLIDE ABOUT 3 MORE FEET I WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE SUB FRAME HAD SNAPPED IN TWO AND IT PULLED THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE OUT. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT ON A ROLL BACK AND TAKEN AWAY.ALSO DAMAGED WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND ,MOLDING AROUND THE FENDER. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THIS VEHICLE MY FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE WRECK. IT IS LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T GO OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE SUB FRAME TO BREAK AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. I SPOKE WITH THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT UNDER THE 2002 ESCAPE RECALL AND THAT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO FIRE OR LARGE CRASH THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE SUB FRAME BREAKING. MY INSURANCE CARRIER HAS ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ASKED THE LADY AT FORD IF SOMEONE HAD DIED IN THE WRECK WOULD I STILL BE TOLD THE SAME THING AND SHE REPLIED YES. ACCORDING TO FORD THEY CAN'T GIVE OUT TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO LEGAL DEPARTMENT OR ADDRESSES OR EMAIL ADDRESSES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD NOT SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT TRANSFER CALLS. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE LADY I WAS SPEAKING TO BY ANOTHER LADY. GO FIGURE. I THINK THAT FORD IS LIABLE FOR THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND NEEDS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH HEAR A LOUD CLUNCK LOST CONTROLL OF VEHICLE BREAK PEDLE TO THE FLOOR TRUCK STILL MOVING HAD TO USE ER BRAKE TO STOP. GOT OUT PASSANGER FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETLY DIFF WAY, THE BALL BEARER WAS DETACHED, THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF I WAS ON FREEWAY! CALLED FORD THEY CONTINUED TO TELL ME THIS WASNT PART OF RECALL CALLED MEHCANIC SAID THE SUBFRAME SO RUSTED IT HAS COMPLETLY DETACHED FROM BALL BEARERS CAUSING TIRE TO BASICALLY FALL OFF. FORD WILL NOT FIX IT, GAVE ME EVERY OTHER ALTERNITIVE ON WHAT IT COULD BE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE, FORD WONT HAVE IT TOWED TO THE LOT TO LOOK AT IT AND ON TOP OF THAT WONT SEE IT FOR A WEEK IF I DO GET IT TOWED UP THERE! WHAT A MESS. ILL NEVER SHOP WITH THEM AGAIN. THEY WONT CARE UNTIL THIS KILLS SOMEONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE CENTERS AND MECHANICS TO TRY TO PINPOINT A BANGING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR POTHOLES AT LOWER SPEEDS. TO DATE I HAVE HAD TIE RODS, SWAY BARS, SWAY BAR LINKS, BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND ALL BODY MOUNTS, ENGINE MOUNTS, CONTROL ARMS, SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALL CHECKED AND ALL NUTS AND BOLTS TIGHTENED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A MECHANIC TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I KNOW MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE, HOWEVER I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE REPLACING PARTS IN HOPES THAT WE MIGHT FINALLY FIND THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND. I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS FAILING BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY, OUR ESCAPE HAD THE CONTROL ARM DETACH FROM THE SUB FRAME. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL BY FORD BECAUSE IT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. DESPITE THAT THE DAMAGED AREA OF THE CAR BEING WHAT IS RECALLED IN 14V165000. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP THIS ISSUE. LUCKY ENOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THE DAMAGED SUB FRAMES, NOT JUST FIX THOSE THAT HAVEN'T ALREADY BROKE AND CONSUMERS HAVE HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS TO GET FIXED. *TR

ON AUGUST 26, 2014, I WENT TO FAIR OAKS FORD LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SERVICE IN NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS FOR SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-165 REPAIRS, AND I ASKED THEM TO CHECK AN ISSUE WHERE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A SCRAPING/GRINDING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH CAN AFFECT RELIABLE STOPPING AND THE VEHICLE STEERING STABILITY. SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THEN IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE MECHANIC "PUSHED BACK" THE VACUUM PLATE COVER FOR THE ROTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO RESOLVE THE SCRAPING/GRINDING/KNOCKING ISSUE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING ACTION AND SUBSEQUENT NOISES AND RESPONSE OF VEHICLE EXHIBITED ITSELF AGAIN BY THE SECOND STOPLIGHT AWAY FROM THE FAIR OAKS FORD DEALER LOCATION. TWO DAYS LATER, ON AUGUST 28, 2014, I TOOK MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE TO GEARHEAD AUTO SALES & REPAIR IN GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS FOR AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR COST ESTIMATE. ON THE LIFT, THE ISSUE WAS APPARENT TO THE MECHANIC AT GEARHEAD TO BE THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE BEING FAULTY, AND HE REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, WITH BOOTS, CLAMPS AND GREASE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THE FORD DEALER MECHANIC INSPECTED AND REPAIRED MY VEHICLE FOR THE FORD SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-165 IN THE SAME PROXIMITY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT, BUT HE FAILED TO FIND AND REPORT THE EASILY SEEN FAULTY RIGHT FRONT AXLE PROBLEM THE GEARHEAD MECHANIC PROMPTLY REPORTED TO ME. INSTEAD, THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE FALSELY POINTED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR VACUUM PLATE BEING OUT OF PLACE AS BEING THE ISSUE CAUSING THE SCRAPING/GRINDING/KNOCKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. IS THERE ANY TIE TO THE "CORROSION-RELATED SEPARATION" SAFETY RECALL ISSUE THAT LED TO THE FAULTY RIGHT FRONT AXLE CONDITION? SINCE MY UNEMPLOYMENT OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, MY FORD ESCAPE HAS RARELY BEEN DRIVEN, AND ONLY IN MY LOCAL AREA. *TR

VEHICLE SUB-FRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STEERING CONTROL. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE COVERED BY FORD SAFETY RECALL 14S02 AND NHTSA RECALL 14V-166 THAT PROVIDED A REINFORCEMENT OF THE SUB-FRAME. UNFORTUNATELY THE REINFORCING PARTS NECESSARY FOR THE RECALL ACTION WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE BEFORE THE FRAME FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,812.

CORROSION-RELATED SEPARATION LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM SUBFRAME. CAR START PULLING INSTANTLY TO THE RIGHT. HAVE TO CALL TOWING TO GET TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, FORD COMPANY REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S02. DEALER QUOTE ME AROUND $2000 FOR REPAIR. *TR

CAR WAS MAKING CREAKING SOUNDS. GOING AROUND A CORNER THE CAR BASICALLY HAD NO STEERING OR CONTROL. GOT CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND BASED ON TAKING PHOTO OF THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT FORD DECIDED TO PUT A CROSS BRACE ON AS OPPOSED TO REPLACING SUB FRAME. I TOLD DEALERSHIP I DID NOT AGREE WITH DECISION THAT SUBFRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH CROSS BRACE INSTALLED.APROX 4 WEEKS LATER CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE. CONTACTED FORD TOLD ME TO TOW CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE WAS TOLD NOW THAT SUB- FRAME WAS BROKEN DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR REQUEST TO REPLACE SUB FRAME WAS DENIED. THE SUB FRAME HOLDS ENGINE,TRANS, ALL STEERING AND BRAKE COMPONENTS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WAS TOLD BY FORDSUPV THAT BECAUSE THEY PUT ON BRACE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE CORRECT REPAIR THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF SUB FRAME RECALL THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE SUB FRAME. THIS IS HOW FORD TREATS THEIR CUSTOMERS AND PUTS THEM IN HARMS WAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF FORD VEHICLES FORD WINDSTAR FORD ESCAPE ETC. YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE USING DEFECTIVE STEEL ON UNDER BODY COMPONENTS CAUSING EXCESSIVE RUST RESULTING IN CRITICAL COMPONENT FAILURES. IN MY 48 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN FRAME WHEN I ASKED FORD FOR PHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS TO [XXX]. FIELDS I WAS TOLD THAT IS NOT GIVEN OUT AND THAT THE FORD SUPERVISORS DENIAL WAS FINAL DECISION. I FEEL FORD IS 100% WRONG IN THIS ISSUE AND IS NOT MAKING SAFE CARS, AND WHEN THERE IS A RECALL WILL NOT EVEN FIX THE RECALLED PARTS. ONCE AGAIN THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH TO MY FAMILY IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE X-WAY SHAME SHAME ON YOU FORD MOTOR. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO FILING LAW SUIT OR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST YOU. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE UNLUCKY INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THESE CARS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL CITY STREET AT 30 MPH I DECELERATED TO PREPARE TO TURN RIGHT. WHEN I BEGAN TO MAKE MY RIGHT HAND TURN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO RATTLE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHIN 10 FEET OF THE POP. I APPLIED A SMALL AMOUNT OF POWER TO THE ENGINE TO TRY AND GET COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ROAD, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE IT WAS FACING 90 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE CAR, AND PUSHED TO THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE CV SHAFT HAD COME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT DID SUB-FRAME WORK. UPON INSPECTION AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD ALSO BECOME DETACHED DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST FROM THE ENGINE HEATING IT UP CONSTANTLY. ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT: RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT, FRONT ENGINE CRADLE, FRONT CONTROL ARM BOLTS, CONTROL ARM BUSHING, CV DRIVE AXLE, HEAVY DUTY EXHAUST CLAMPS. THE SHOP HAD TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ENGINE CRADLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT SUB-FRAME. IF I HAD BEEN ON A HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE, AND THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE PROBABLE FLIPPED, BECAUSE THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE, AND WAS PULLING TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE TOTAL COST TO GET THIS REPAIRED TO A SAFE DRIVING CONDITION WAS $1352.69. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HER 2002 FORD ESCAPE TO WORK MY DAUGHTER NOTICED THE STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT. IN ORDER FOR HER TO KEEP DRIVING STRAIGHT SHE HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WENT OVER A PAIR OF ROUGH RAILROAD TRACKS & LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HER FRONT PASSENGER TIRE CONTROL BAR HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH. LUCKILY SHE WAS DRIVING IN A 30MPH ZONE & THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND. THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT HURT BUT QUITE SHAKEN UP. WE WERE UNAWARE OF A VEHICLE RECALL ON THIS MODEL UNTIL A FRIEND OF HERS RECALLED SEEING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWS ABOUT CONTROL BARS RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. HER FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BALD AFTER THIS INCIDENT. (TREAD WAS GOOD BEFORE). I CALLED FORD AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE & REPORTED THE INCIDENT. THE REP TOLD ME THAT IN ORDER FOR A REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER & TO KEEP THE TOW BILL AS THEY WOULD COVER IT. RIGHT NOW THE SUV IS AT THE DEALER. IT HAS BEEN 2 DAYS SINCE THEY'VE HAD IT & I'VE HEARD NOTHING. I AM GETTING VERY IMPATIENT. BECAUSE IT'S A RECALL I HAVE A HUNCH THEY PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER. THIS VEHICLE IS HER ONLY WAY TO SCHOOL & WORK. I ASKED ABOUT A LOANER & THEY EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE OF THE HUGE VOLUME OF RECALLS, A LOANER WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO COME BY. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE? I AM EXPECTING NOT ONLY THE VEHICLE TO BE FIXED BUT I FEEL WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE 1 TIRE - MAYBE 2 DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER SIDE. I DON'T NEED A SET OF NEW ONES - JUST SOMETHING TO PASS INSPECTION. IF ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES PLEASE POST SOMETHING BACK. THANK YOU ! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CLICKING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER IN THE STRAIGHT UP POSITION WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. APPROXIMATELY TURNED 20-25 DEGREES CLOCKWISE. INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END REVEALED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED THROUGH AT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT MOUNT AREA. *TR

MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE UNKNOWN NOISES WHEN DRIVING, AND STEERING CONTROL BECAME VERY LOOSE. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY ROTTED THAT THE PASSENGER WHEEL CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AND CAN NOT BE REATTACHED WITHOUT REPLACING THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE AND COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. AFTER I STOPPED, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND ROLLED FORWARD A FEW FEET BEFORE RE-APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE SOUND REPEATED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. UPON INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HAD CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BECOME LOOSE THUS BENDING IT AND MAKING IT UNUSABLE. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND FEAR THAT IF OTHER FOLKS HAVE THIS HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD BE A VERY BAD OUTCOME ! THIS ALLOWED MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO PULL OUTWARD HENCE PULLING THE CONTROL ARM LOOSE. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND THE WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF BUYING THE VEHICLE WAS NO AVAIL. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE IS NO RECALL THEN THERE IS NO PROBLEM !! SORRY BUT IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THIS. HOW MANY INJURIES ARE REQUIRED BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES NOTICE ?? THE REPAIR BILL WAS $ 1160.96. I HAD ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AT THAT TIME. IT STILL HAS MANY PAYMENTS TO BE MADE BEFORE IT IS PAID OFF. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN RUNS DOWN THIS AREA CAUSING IT PERHAPS ? JUST AN OBSERVATION FROM A RUNNING VEHICLE IDENTICAL TO MINE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED ON THIS MATTER AND HOPEFULLY IT GETS RESOLVED BEFORE ANY FATALITIES HAPPEN IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY !! THANK YOU ! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE NOISE BECAME MORE PREVALENT DURING HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE THE RESULT OF A BEARING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. ..UPDATED 09-17-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE DID CEASE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 09/18/12

NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS... IT JUST STARTED ABOUT 2 YRS AGO SUMMER OF 08. CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF CAR. CAN BE FELT BY THE STEERING WHEEL (WHICH ALSO HAS THE SQUEAKING PROBLEM). OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS WARM. WENT TO THE FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING OF THIS... NEVER WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY HAD BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARM ASSEMBLY LINK, BOLT, HEX FOR FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED JUNE 09. ON SEPT 09 NOISE RETURNED AND HAD EVERYTHING TIGHTENED, LUBED. PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL AGAIN THE WEATHER WARMED UP THEN IS NOW BACK WORSE THAN EVER. NOT ONLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BUT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. *TR

FRONT KNOCKING NOISE. HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. MANY MECHANICS, INCLUDING THE FORD DEALER, COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, AND STRUTS WERE CHECKED OR REPLACED. THE KNOCKING PERSISTED. ON 8/15/08, THE BALL JOINT FAILED AS MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH AROUND A CORNER CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO FLOP AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE. LUCKILY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED SAFELY WITHOUT OUT ANY LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. FORD ESCAPE 2002 XLT. *TR

I PUT MY KEY IN, TURNED IT ON AND WENT TO SHIFT IN TO DRIVE AND THE SHIFTER CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN BETWEEN GEARS.*CN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT THEN REVERSED AND PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS TURNED THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AFTER THIS, THE AXLE FRACTURED AS WELL. THE TIE ROD AND AXLE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 7/14/2006 - THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. *NM

STEERING STARTED TO CLUNK AND BIND ON OCCASION. EFFORT WOULD GO UP BUT IT WOULD RESPOND WHEN TURNED. IT RAPIDLY GOT WORSE WHERE IT WOULD CLUNK AND BIND AND SKIP A SECTION WHILE TURNING. ONLY THREE DAYS FROM START TO SKIPPING WHILE TURNING. FINALLY IT WAS SKIPPING AND BINDING ON EVERY TURN. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. (THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR TAKEN OFF ROAD.) RACK WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED.*AK

MY STEERING HAS A VERY ANNOYING WHINNING NOISE AND I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT 2 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT.*AK

MY CASE IS EXACTLY SIMILAR TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINT ODI # 10100963 AS WELL AS THE RECALL OF THE 2001 ESCAPES (RECALL #00V223001). MY STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO LOOSEN SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALER (NEW BRIGHTON FORD) FIXED IT ONCE SAYING THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY A DEFECT IN THE COLUMN ITSELF AND IF IT LOOSENED AGAIN THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMENDED HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS NOW AGREED TO REPLACE IT BUT AT HALF THE COST. THIS SEEMS TOO COINCIDENTAL TO BE A RANDOM ISSUE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PAST RECALL OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO PAY AND HAVE IT EVENTUALLY BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THANKS TERRY OLSON. *JB

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

FRONT END TROUBLES WITH FORD ESCAPE 02 XLT. CONSTANT NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT. DEALER CHANGED STABILITY BAR, ENGINE MOUNTS AND NOW NEED TO CHANGE TIE RODS AND FIX STEERING WHEEL NOISE BUT THERE IS NO FIX AS OF YET PER THE DEALERSHIP. CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN ON SUBURBAN ROADS AND NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH ONLY 37000 MILES RECENTLY BECAME LOOSE WHILE I WAS DRIVING.THE VEHICLE'S 36000 MILE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP (COWLES PARKWAY FORD) TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN (A $400+ COST). BEFORE MAKING A DECISION I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 630120). THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2001 FORD ESCAPE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V223001 )BUT NOT THE 2002 MODEL. I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400+ TO GET IT FIXED. I ALSO HAVE CALLED FORD COSTUMER SERVICE AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY ARE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART.I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER FORD ESCAPE ON THE HIGHWAYS WITH THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE RECALLED. THANK YOU. MICHAEL ESTES . *AK

STEERING COLUMN. HIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE DASH. I AM UNAWARE IF THIS CAUSED FURTHER INJURY TO THE OPERATOR. I AM A LICENSED AUTO DAMAGE APPRAISER AND THOUGHT THIS TO BE VERY UNUSUAL AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, NOTICED THAT STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THIS IS THE 5TH REPAIR INCIDENT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. FORD DEALER AND FORD REP. CLAIM THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EACH TIME, BUT CONTINUES TO OCCUR EVERY 6-9 MONTHS. *JB

HAD BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING; CHECKED THE NHTSA SERVICE BULLETINS AND FOUND A BULLETIN FROM JUNE 1, 2003 NOTING THIS SAME PROBLEM; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON AGAIN; I MADE AN APPT AT DEALER TO CHECK OUT THESE ISSUES (4/7/04). TOOK VEHICLE IN ON 4/9/04. DEALER FOUND THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE WIRING FOR THE HORN WAS PULLED OUT AND RUBBING ON THE CONTACT PLATE; ADDITIONAL NOISE FOUND AT LOWER END OF STEERING COLUMN DEALER DEACTIVATED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTACT; ALSO FOUND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN BOOT, WHICH HAD TO BE ORDERED AT THE SAME TIME, A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE; DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FROM 4/9 - 4/14 AND DEALER HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR STEERING COLUMN BOOT WAS ORDERED AND I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DEALER ON 4/23/04 TO HAVE THEM INSTALL IT. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER ON THE 23RD, I REALIZED THAT MY HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND LEFT BRAKE LIGHT WERE ALL INOPERABLE, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DEALER ON 4/26/04. DEALER FOUND THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NOT MAKING CONTACT, SO THEY HAD TO DEACTIVATE THE AIRBAG AGAIN TO REMOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING; FOR THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB ELEMENT VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER FOR TWO DAYS AND THEY HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR ME AGAIN, *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER; FOUND A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER MONITOR SENSOR; ORDERED PART (10/02/03) TOOK VEHICLE IN AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK LATER TO HAVE NEW SENSOR INSTALLED, AND AN ENGINE OIL LEAK WAS FOUND; RACK AND PINION UNIT WAS LEAKING; UNIT WAS REPLACED, AND WAS STILL FOUND TO BE LEAKING SO A THIRD UNIT WAS INSTALLED (10/14/03). *AK

THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A SLOW LEAK THAT PROGRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE LEAK MAY BE DUE TO A BAD CYLINDER CAP. THE CAP WAS REPLACED. ALSO AT 100 MILES THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SEPARATE FROM IT'S LINKAGE. A SCREW IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED THE SCREW AND PUT A PUNCH MARK INTO THE SIDE OF THE SCREW TO MAKE IT STAY IN PLACE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM THE MASTER PARTS WERE NOT WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AFTER 50 MILES. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A SLOW LEAK, WHICH WORSENED OVER TIME AND TIGHTENING DID NOT FIX. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE BACK LIGHT BEHIND THE GEAR SELECTOR AND ODOMETER WENT OUT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO DID NOT START, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER' 4-5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN SHE TURNED ON HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONER THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL. EACH TIME THAT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IF THE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE FOUL SMELL. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING A WIND CAME INTO VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING NOISE. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE AGAIN. HOWEVER, CONSUME COMPLAINED VEHICLE WAS FALLING APART, AND THE DEALERS WILL NOT HELP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE ILLUMINATION OF AIR BAG LIGHT HAPPENED IN AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. CONSUMER WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HIS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL AND RATTLING NOISE IN EXHAUST. *LA

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. *AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, IT EFFECTED THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE.*AK DEALER WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY. IN THE TSB THAT WAS ISSUED, THE DIAGNOSTICS ITEMS WERE FINE. FORD THINK THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE ITEMS ON THE TSB. *PH

I HAVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. AT 15,000 MILES MY ENGINE BLEW. TWO WEEKS EARLIER MY SISTER WHO ALSO HAS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE LOST HER ENGINE AT 35,000 MILES. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK FOR THREE ROUNDS OF REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE, THE BALL BEARINGS, THE POWER STEERING, AND THE COOLANT. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS!*AK

CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL DURING A SIMPLE LANE CHANGE LEFT ON INTERSATE I-90, UNABLOE TO STEER, SWERVED AND SPUN AROUND AND HIT TALL CONCRETE MEDIUM, AIR BAGS WERE EMPLOYED. GOOD WEATHER 48 DEGREES, NO ICE OR OIL, WAS NOT UP TO FULL SPEED AS HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE INTERSTATE.

PURCHASED 2002 FORD ESCAPE FROM HINDER FORD OF ABERDEEN, MD IN JUNE 02 AND FROM THE START THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE PULLS (NOT DRIFTS) TO THE LEFT SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT FRONT TIRE WILL CROSS THE LINE IN 5 SECONDS IF STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED WHILE IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A TWO LANE AND WITHIN 3 SECONDS IF IN THE LEFT LANE. HINDER FORD GAVE ME THE FORD 800 NUMBER TO CALL BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN AFTER I PROVIDED THEM EXCERPTS FROM MARYLAND LAW THAT STATES A VEHICLE WITH A STEERING OR BRAKING PROBLEM THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED THE FIRST TIME IS TO BE REPLACED. THEY HAVE REFUSED. I COMPLAINED TO THE ON-LINE CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THEY FINALLY SENT THE AREA FORD TECH TO INVESTIGATE. HE REPLIED THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM (HE STATED HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE), ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HINDER RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SENT CERTIFIED/RETURN RECEIPT LETTERS TWICE TO FORD MOTOR CO. AND LATEST RESULT WAS A CALL LAST WEEK FROM MR. DUNCAN ALBERSON WHO AGREED THAT A CRACKED WHEEL AND THIS VEHICLE LEAVING THE ROAD WITHIN THREE SECONDS WAS NOT SAFE, BUT THAT HE WAS GOING WITH A REPORT THAT HE HAD FROM THE AREA FORD TECH WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND THAT I SHOULD DRIVE WITH MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL! I STATED I RELEASE THE WHEEL ONLY TO EMPHASIZE THE DRASTIC PULL OF THIS STEERING AND OF COURSE I DRIVE WITH MY HAND ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES! I TOLD MR. DUNCAN TO SIMPLY SEND ANOTHER TECH TO TEST DRIVE MY VEHICLE ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE AND HIS RESPONSE ... HE HUNG UP! POSSIBLY BECAUSE I ALSO TOLD HIM HINDER FORD HAS SOLD TWO OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU KNOW OF A GOOD LAW FIRM IN MY AREA PLEASE GIVE ME THEIR NUMBER. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE AT 30PMH THE STEERING WHELL BECOME INOPERABLE. BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

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 TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WAS WELDED TOGETHER. THE ONLY SERVICE PERFORMED WAS RACK/PINION REPLACEMENT BY ORIGINAL DEALER IN OCT 2001. EXPERTS TELL US THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT WELDED. THEY ARE BOLTED. EITHER VEHICLE CAME FROM FACTORY WITH WELDED TRANSMISSION (POSS. OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM) OR ORIGINAL DEALER DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WHEN INSTALLING NEW RACK/PINION SYSTEM AND WELDED THE DAMAGE WITHOUT REPORTING IT TO THE CONSUMER. NOT HAPPY ABOUT 2 MAJOR PROBLEMS IN JUST OVER A YEAR. DT

PROBLEMS WITH POWER ASSIST, ENGINE AND BRAKES. MR

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. EVERYTHING WILL GO OUT LIKE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR, ETC. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP AND ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING .DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON DEFECTS OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEMS OCCURING WERE THE RESULT OF ONE OF THOSE DEFECTS. *YH

AS I WAS DESCENDING DOWN A HILL, TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH, AND TURNING A BEND, I NOTICED THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AND THEN THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND THAT ONE OF MY INDICATOR LIGHTS WAS LIT ON MY DASHBOARD. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND TURNED THE KEY BACK ON AND IT STARTED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS AROUND BECAUSE MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER WHO DID NOT EVEN WRITE MY CONCERN DOWN. I HAVE SINCE SENT THEM A FORMAL LETTER. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE, BUT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING ON BUSY ROADS.*AK

2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, CLICKING NOSIE COMING FROM FRONT END WHEEL WELL AREA. CLICKING NOSIE SOUNDS LIKE ROTATINING PARTS ARE BINDING. FREQUENCY OF THE CLICKING SOUND IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED (THE SLOWER THE SPEED, THE LONGER THE TIME BETWEEN EACH SUCESSIVE CLICK). THE SOUND OCCURS WITH EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, BUT IS MUCH MORE NOTICABLE WHILE TURNING LEFT. THIS CLICKING IS NOT A HEALTHY SOUND AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PARTS.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. IT CURRENTLY HAS 10K MILES ON IT. WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, THE ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE POWER BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. LUCKLY I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME SITUATION OCCUR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. BOTH TIMES OCCURRED WHILE I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. I NOTICED THAT THE RPM READING WHEN THE ACCELLERATOR ISN'T DEPRESSED IS VERY LOW. IT SOMETIMES DIPS CLOSE TO ZERO. NORMAL RPM FOR SITTING IN IDLE IS AROUND 1. IT'S CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP.

THE FIRST INCIDENCE (MAY-2002), WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AND THE STEERING LOCK. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE PCM AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT 6-WEEKS LATER ALONG THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD, AND LUCKILY AGAIN NOBODY WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND GAVE IT BACK TO US WITHOUT A FIX. I AM AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS IT WILL BE IN TRAFFIC AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD.*AK

THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO RACK AND PINION FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *YH

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE THE ENGINE STALLS GO DOWN HILL 30-40MPH NO POWER STEERING--ENGINE LIGHT & OIL LIGHT COMES ON. ESCAPE TOWED BACK TO DEALER . DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, DEALER DID NOT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE 2002 ESCAPES, I TOLD HIM TO LOOK IT UP ON THE NHTSA CONSUMER COMPLAINTS DATABASE.LOTS OF THEM LIKE THIS ONE . CALLED FORD MOTOR ON THERE 1-800 LINE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT.

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. HOWEVER, HAS NOT FOUND A REMEDY.*AK

ALL FUNCTIONS SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I HAD NO FUNCTIONALITY IN STEERING, BRAKES, AND ACCELERATION. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAR SLOWLY DIED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS. BUT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT IF ENVIRONMENT, SPEED, ETC., WERE JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

ON FIRST OCCASION VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. NEEDED TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. ONLY HAD VEHICLE 1 MONTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, (NOT POINT OF SALE) AND HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED. WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OTHER KEYS ON PRIMARY KEY RING, TO REMOVE THE KEYS DUE TO THEY WERE INTERFERING WITH THE PATH AND SHUTTING DOWN VEHICLE. REMOVED THE KEYS AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. ON 4/9/02 WAS DRIVING IN EXACT LOCATION AS PREVIOUS INCIDENT, GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD PUT A FILE CABINET KEY ON KEY RING, THOUGHT WAS SAME ISSUE, DIDNT' REPORT AGAIN. ON 4/11/02 WHILE TRAVELING ON MUCH BUSIER AND MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ROAD, VEHICLE AGAIN STALLED. NO SAFE SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO AND UNABLE TO RESTART WHILE IN PROCESS. WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO COAST ONTO SIDE STREET, BREAKS AND STEERING WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, HAD TO ROLL TO STOP. ABLE TO RESTART AND GET TO WORK. WILL NOTIFY DEALERSHIP ASAP.*AK

I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKES. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BY PUTTING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO STEER WITH BOTH HANDS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND OFF THE ROAD. I CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LANCE CUNNINGHAM FORD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH A COMPUTER PART. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER . THEY WENT TO FORDS WEBSITE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY TOLD ME IF THERE WAS A CERTAIN NUMBER ON THE COMPUTER THEN IT COULD BE REPROGRAMMED. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN THAT NUMBER, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING IS STILL NOT RIGHT. I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT FEELS LIKE ON OCCASION THE STEERING WILL STEER OFF ON ITS OWN. IT DRIVES LIKE WHEN YOUR DRIVING IN HIGH WINDS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE RECHECKED AND THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR THAT I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE AND I'M WAITING ON A RESOLUTION. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I CANNOT BE GUARANTEED THE ENGINE WILL NOT STALL AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING OR HAVING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AT 30 MPH. POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, AND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE TRAVELING ON A STEEP CURVY ROAD AT 25 MPH, VEHICLE LOST POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, CONSUMER HAD TO USE BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO CONTROL SPEED, OIL AND EMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF STREET ONTO PARKING LOT AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO AVOID CRASHING, ENGINE WAS STILL ON WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, DEALER REFLASHED PCM AND REPLACED MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY AND IAC SOLENOID. *AK *TT

BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED ONCE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD, SPEED APPROX. 25 MPH, SECOND FAILURE AT APPROX 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL CITY ROAD. BOTH TIMES TWO FEET HAD TO BE USED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITH HEAVY STEERING AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST STOPPED BEFORE CRASHING INTO OBSTACLES. NO WARNING PRECEEDED THE INCIDENTS. THREE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER. THE DEALER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH TIMES AND THE FIRST TIME SAID PERHAPS WE HAD MORE THAN ONE KEY ON THE KEY RING IN THE IGNITION KEY HOLE. THIS WAS NOTED AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE IN EITHER INCIDENT, ONLY THE IGNITION KEY WAS ON THE RING. FIRST INCIDENT THEY SAID FORD NOTED THE HEAVY KEY POSIBILITY AND FORD ENGINEERING ALSO RECOMMENDED REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER AND A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS INSTALLED. THIS DID NOT HELP AS A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN, ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. CURRENTLY (FEB. 23, 2002) THE ESCAPE IS AT THE DEALER NOW AFTER THE SECOND NEAR CRASH INCIDENT AS WE WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. THEY SAY THEY ARE ASKING THEIR ENGINEERING STAFF AGAIN WHAT TO DO. THIS IS THE SAME SOURCE THAT ORIGINALLY SAID TO TELL US WE PROBABLY HAD TOO MANY KEYS HANGING FROM THE IGNITION KEY. NONE HAS ANY FIRM ANSWER AND SOURCES ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THIS PROBLEM AND FORD HAS NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. WE WOULD LIKE TO TERMINATE THE PURCHASE WHICH WAS DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAVE TO DRIVE. BOTH MY WIFE, FIRST INCIDENT, AND DAUGHTER, SECOND INCIDENT WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE THEY WERE SO FRIGHTENED AND BARELY WERE ABLE TO AVOID CRASHES. DATE FEB. 23, 2002 SIGNED EUGENE LALLY. *AK