2002 Ford Escape VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
VEHICLE IDLES FAST IN PARK AND ACCELERATES QUICKLY WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS IN HIGH CONSTANT ACCELERATION MODE. BUCKS FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING POTENTIAL VEHICLE IMPACT WHILE BEHIND STOPPED TRAFFIC, PARKING OR TRAILING OTHER VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RPM INDICATOR WENT ALL THE UP AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT TAPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPMS WENT DOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE FAILURE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TOWARDS A CROSSING AND THE LIGHT WAS RED. I TRIED TO STOP, BUT INSTEAD IT ACCELERATED ON APPLYING THE BRAKES AND T-BONED A CAR ON THE CROSSING. THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR WERE SERVICED A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST AND THE COMPLETE HISTORY IS AVAILABLE AT THE DEALER....UPDATED 04/02/15 *BF
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE GONE OUT. THE GAS PEDAL GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND THE ENGINE IS AT 6RPM'S. CALLED FORD AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD NEARLY 500K CARS RECALLED DURING THE EXACT YEAR MY CAR WAS BUILT THEY WILL NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IN THE MEANTIME MY TWO CHILDREN WERE HURT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T ACCELERATOR ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND THEN HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. FORDS SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP AND PAY THEM TO FIX MY VEHICLE, BUT TO KEEP THE RECEIPTS JUST IN CASE THEY ARE "FORCED" TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY COSTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG AND LEFT SIDE AFTER LEAPING FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE POLICE INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK CONTINUED TO REV AFTER THE CRASH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED, HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HI, BECAUSE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, THE CRASH WAS NOT AS VIOLENT AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN. TWO OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SHOULDER INJURIES. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. *JB
I WAS DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE 2002 OUT OF TOWN, I NOTICED MY CAR PULLING AWAY FROM ME. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE AND NOTICED THE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING. I KNEW A STOP SIGN AND A HIGHWAY WAS UP AHEAD, AFTER BLOWING THREW THE STOP SIGN ONLY BEING ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO 20 WITH THE BRAKES, I PULLED THE E-BRAKE AND STILL DID NOT STOP, AFRAID AND SCARED I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE CAR THEN SNAPPED AND WENT INTO REVERSE AND THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS AIM FOR A POLE AND HIT IT. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT WAS STILL GOING WITH THE ENGINE SMOKING, FEARING OF A FIRE I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY BECAME STUCK WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RELEASED. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUT INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR THROTTLED AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO HIS SHAD AND SIDE WIPED HIS NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH FORCE WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN AREA OF BUSHES. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN. THE CONTACT WAS THE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION,THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED 75 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEPRESSED THAT BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I WENT TO TAKE MY EXIT AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT THAT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AT ALL. IT KEPT ACCELERATING ALL THE WAY UP TO 90MPH. I TAPPED THE BRAKES BUT IT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES DUE TO HEATING THE BRAKES UP SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD CATCH MY CAR ON FIRE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE RPMS REVVED BETWEEN 5000-6000 SO I SWITCHED BACK IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I FINALLY HAD AN AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW IT DOWN AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY COULD BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO PARK. WHEN IT WAS IN PARK THE RPMS JUMPED ALL THE WAY UP TO 5000 AND SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN I OPENED THE HOOD AND REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIL NOW. MY CAR IS NO LEAKING OIL AND SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SEEMED AS THOUGH THIS WAS AN UNIMPORTANT ISSUE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR THEM SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO FIXED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THE LAST RECALL THEY HAD ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND BURNED OUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE INTAKE VALVES CRACKED AS WELL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO SPEEDS OF 88 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED IMMENSE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE THEN MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED SIX YEARS EARLIER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S HOME, A NEARBY FENCE AND FINALLY A TREE. THE FAILURE CEASED ONCE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND THE RIGHT FOOT. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR LACERATIONS TO THE FACE AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CABLE THROTTLE STICK. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLES) IN AUGUST 2012. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
MY DAUGHTER ( A TEACHER) WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON I94 TO WORK IN 2010 WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SET. THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED AND SHE HIT THE BRAKE, BUT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND SHE COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AS IT OVER-POWERED THE BRAKE. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD HER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF AFTER SHE GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. SHE WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO ONE WAS AHEAD OF HER ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ACCELERATOR REMAINED STUCK AFTER SHE HAD PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITH THE MOTOR OFF. I WENT TO GET HER AND THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR BY HITTING IT HARD WITH MY FOOT. I CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE ACCELERATOR STICKING ON THE EXPRESSWAY SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD (DEARBORN) AND TOLD THEM THEY HAD A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE, AND SUGGESTED I PAY A DEALER TO FIX IT. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT USING THE SPEED CONTROL AND BEING VERY CAREFUL TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY (AS MY DAUGHTER STILL HAS MY VEHICLE). BUT, NOW I WILL TAKE IT A DEALER AND FORD (THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VEHICLE SAFETY LAW) WILL PAY TO FIX IT! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY A POLE. THE VEHICLE THEN IGNITED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY TO 15 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED AGAINST THE FOUNDATION OF THE GARAGE IN THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THERE WERE NO FAILURES FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK SPORADICALLY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO ACCELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
ATTORNEY FOR DRIVER'S FAMILY AND MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE IN THE PHOENIX / MESA AREA ALONG ARIZONA STATE ROUTE 87 TOWARDS PAYSON. THE FINAL APPROACH TO PAYSON INVOLVES A PROLONGED UPWARD GRADE, WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED HEAVY ACCELERATOR USE BY THE DRIVER. ALONG THE WAY, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR OR OTHERWISE BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE STRUCK OTHER VEHICLES AS IT TRAVERSED AN INTERSECTION, AND ROLLED, EJECTING THE DRIVER, WHO SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DOCUMENTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CONNECTOR WAS LODGED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER AND THAT THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN TO 84%. THE VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE REPLACEMENT FOR RECALL 04V574 IN JANUARY OF 2005. (NOTE: THIS RECORD WAS RECEIVED VIA TELEPHONE INTERVIEW BETWEEN ODI INVESTIGATORS AND COUNSEL FOR THE DRIVER'S FAMILY IN LATE JUNE OF THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR COMPLAINT FILE TO DOCUMENT THE INCIDENT FOR AN INVESTIGATION OPENING. IT WILL BE UPDATED AS APPROPRIATE AS MORE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED)
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE RPMS DROPPING TO UNDER 300 WHEN IDLING AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DIE WITH NO WARNING. PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO REVVING UP TO OVER 4000 RPMS WHEN IN PARK EITHER AT FIRST START OR AFTER DRIVING AND SHIFTING INTO PARK. PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO SURGING AND REVVING FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEED OF 65 MPH AND 1500 RPMS TO 2500 RPMS FORCING ME TO BRAKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL OR AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. PROBLEM HAS ALSO PROGRESSED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO IDLE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, RPMS WILL REMAIN ELEVATED AT 1500 FORCING ME TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK THE RPMS WILL REV UP TO 4200 RPMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR PASSING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000. UPDATED 04/19/2012*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED AFTER THE 4TH OCCURRENCE.UPDATED 04/30/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 2 MPH. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT NORMAL RATES OF SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPUTER CHIP WITHIN THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,448.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE REMEDY PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE EXPECTED DATE WAS MID AUGUST 2012. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ARRIVAL DATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE THROTTLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED SPEED AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND THE RPMS MAINTAINED AN ABNORMALLY HIGH READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 11/23/11*BF
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Ford Escape has 56 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 18 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.