2002 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN OR AROUND THE ABS MODULE. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INITIAL SERIOUS INJURIES, THOUGH WE INCURRED SMOKE DAMAGE AND THE INCONVENIENCE OF A NON FUNCTIONING VEHICLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. ON FEBRUARY 9, 2007 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE AND BURNED TO THE FRAME. THE FIRE BEGAN ON THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE MARSHALL AND INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE PHOTOS. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE SWITCH OR SENSOR CAUSED THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE BURNED 20 DAYS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 86,000. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO HOURS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE CEASED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. ONCE THE DEALER INSERTED THE BATTERY BACK INTO THE VEHICLE,IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. THE DEALER DAIGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A BURNED OUT ABS MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA ALREADY HASDAN INVESTIGATION OPEN , ACTION # PE06048)FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.*AK

ON MARCH 13TH 2007 MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE ESCAPE AND THE HOOD. IT SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE- I INVESTIGATED WHERE THE SMELL WAS AND IT ALL LOOKED FINE- I TURNED ON THE ESCAPE AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM CATCHING ON FIRE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE THROTTLE KICKED OFF AND THE RPMS WENT UP TO 4 SHE THEN WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE RPMS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT HAS HAD 2 FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS REVVING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A LEASED VEHICLE THAT SHE WILL BE RETURNING IN 2 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A DEALERSHIP NOW FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A CASE # 1331070467. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64000.*AK UPDATED 03/07/07.*JB

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY IN MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE & HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER, AS IT HAD GONE BAD. I WAS ADVISED THAT IF THE LIGHT WERE ON, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A "WEAR-AND-TEAR" PART AND FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THE SITUATION TO MAKE SURE A RECALL IS NOT NEEDED.*JB

THIS IS TO REPORT ANOTHER SUSPECTED 2002 FORD ESCAPE ABS CONTROL MODULE FIRE. THE VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED JAN. 9, 2007 AT CLIENT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, AND IS CURRENTLY STORED AT INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS (IAA), 1710 STARITA ROAD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28206-1286, PHONE: 704-596-5854, FAX: 704-596-7492, STOCK NUMBER: 2799576. THE HOUSE AND CAR ARE INSURED BY STATE FARM, WHICH HAS RETAINED ME AS ITS SUBROGATION COUNSEL. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE IN THE "KEY OFF" POSITION. LARRY HELTON FOR FORD HAS ALREADY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND THE SCENE ON JANUARY 17, 2007. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THE PROPERTY DAMAGES COULD EXCEED $50,000.00. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/05/06 WHILE DRIVING HER 2002 FORD ESCAPE AT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SOMETHING LOOSE. THE CONTACT DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HER MECHANIC, BUT BEFORE REACHING THE MECHANIC HER ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THE RELUCTOR RING HAD FAILED AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE LEFT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

2002 FORD ESCAPE. PARKED> 3 HRS. CAUGHT FIRE. ENGINE AND FRONT OF CAR COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HAVE DETAILED PICTURES UNDERSTAND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2006 WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE BEFORE CAR IS TOWED TO JUNK YARD. *NM

VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHETHER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE OR DURING CITY DRIVING. STEERING WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT AND BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED OUR 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 42,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE FOURTH "STALL", WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY CONNECTED A "BLACK BOX" UNDERNEATH THE DASH AND HAD US DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WHICH IT DID A COUPLE DAYS LATER. THEY TOWED IT BACK TO THE GARAGE. APPARENTLY OUR PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH, I BELIEVE, OUR HARMONIC BALANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, WHATEVER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO NOT KNOW WHICH CYLINDERS ON THE ENGINE WAS FIRING AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND WE NOW HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO OTHER STALLING PROBLEMS. THE WORK ORDER READS AS FOLLOWS: DIAG, EEC TEST, NO CODES PRESENT, FOUND STICKY NG, R&R IAC, RETEST ALL OKAY AT THIS TIME; ALSO, WHILE THEY WERE PERFORMING THE MAINTENANCE THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT OUR POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, WHICH WAS COVERED BY OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF REPAIRS WAS 44,546. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS AT OUR DEALERSHIP IN OMAHA. THEY GAVE US A RENTAL CAR WHILE DIAGNOSING OUR PROBLEMS AND STUCK WITH IT UNTIL THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM(S). THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAD PURCHASED COVERED ALL REPAIR COSTS. *JB