2002 Ford Escape Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 80about this part
- Share
- 8%of 1,027 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 125,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 80 complaints about the suspension of the 2002 Ford Escape, 8% of the 1,027 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 125,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car jerks, and swerves because of the lower control arm on the drivers side. It and the subralframe are messed up. It will cost me too much money to fix and no one wants to touch it. I dont want to sell it to anyone be cause of the safety of the vehicle. It jerks at low speeds and gets worse at high speeds.”
NHTSA complaint #11307960, filed 2020-02, 160,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11023506, filed 2017-09, 150,500 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10547293, filed 2013-10, 119,000 miles“While traveling out my drievway the subframe broke on the passenger side on the front. This let the wheel go 90 degrees th the car and pulled out my front axle making the car inoperable.Ford says my car is not included in the subframe recall.can you get my car added to the recall so they will pay for the repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #10583016, filed 2014-04, 113,000 miles“Lower control arm ripped off under cradle & ripped passenger side drive shaft off the transmission - the wheel fell off the car. It appears under cradle rusted from inside. I shudder at the thought of that happening when my wife was on the freeway, instead of coming to a stop. This vehicle was always kept in the garage.”
NHTSA complaint #10512534, filed 2013-05, 86,036 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10205036Apr 21, 2016Safety recall 14S02 - Corrosion at forward attachment of lower control arm - requests for recall service action
- 10183772Apr 21, 20162001-2004 Escape vehicles Safety Recall 14S02 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a corrosion-related separation…
- 10056443Aug 11, 2014Ford: the lower control arm (lca) forward attachment will separate from subframe, causing diminishing directional control, due to operating in high corrosion areas for extended…
Suspension: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 7 | 2% |
| 2020 | 9 | 1% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 11 | 1% |
| 2017 | 8 | 0% |
| 2016 | 7 | 1% |
| 2015 | 13 | 1% |
| 2014 | 18 | 1% |
| 2013 | 27 | 1% |
| 2012 | 12 | 2% |
| 2011 | 32 | 2% |
| 2010 | 34 | 2% |
| 2009 | 19 | 1% |
| 2008 | 31 | 2% |
| 2007 | 19 | 7% |
| 2006 | 65 | 14% |
| 2005 | 459 | 33% |
| 2004 | 154 | 31% |
| 2003 | 90 | 16% |
| 2002 | 80 | 8% |
| 2001 | 42 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2002 Ford Escape
294 complaintsBrakes
195 complaintsElectrical system
123 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
105 complaintsVehicle speed control
100 complaintsBody and structure
87 complaintsAir bags
79 complaintsSteering
70 complaintsFuel system
37 complaintsEngine
36 complaintsOther or unknown
36 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Escape
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology