Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Ford Escape brakes problems

207 complaints about brakes have been filed for the 2002 Ford Escape, which is 15% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
207 15% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
104,000 miles 139 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
13 and 55
Injuries and deaths
11 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When brakes problems show up

Brakes complaints by mileage, 2002 Ford Escape Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 104,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 5 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 14 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 12 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 12 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 21 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 22 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 20 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 14 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 10 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 4 complaints 200k+ miles: 5 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 104,000 miles
Based on 139 complaints that include mileage. 22% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles5
20k to 40k miles14
40k to 60k miles12
60k to 80k miles12
80k to 100k miles21
100k to 120k miles22
120k to 140k miles20
140k to 160k miles14
160k to 180k miles10
180k to 200k miles4
200k+ miles5

What the data shows

Of the 139 brakes complaints that report mileage, the median is about 104,000 miles, and 22% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 13 crashes, 55 fires, 11 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

[xxx] was driving her 2002 ford escape when, while accelerating up a hill, the speed control throttle guide rotated up into the appearance cover and became latched in a rib. This resulted in a wide open throttle, and [xxx] was unable to slow or stop the car. The brakes then overheated and failed, and she sped through town until she swerved to avoid another car and crashed. Her car rolled several times, and [xxx]was killed.

Reported at 119,483 miles, January 2012 CrashDeath

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. While the vehicle was parked he smelled an electrical burning odor. While driving he saw smoke coming from the ABS unit in the engine. After exiting the vehicle it caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer confirmed that ABS module caused the failure. The current and failure mileages were 115,000.

Reported at 115,000 miles, October 2009 Fire

Other problems reported for the 2002 Ford Escape

Brakes problems in other years

Brakes problems across all Ford models