2002 Ford Escape Wheels Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,027 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,018miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the wheels of the 2002 Ford Escape, 1% of the 1,027 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,018 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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 miles“Gears is hard to shift to the right gear and lights went out early like a drain in electrical and my stearing is becoming hard to turn on streets and out my drive way”
NHTSA complaint #11365092, filed 2020-10, 14,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10730104, filed 2015-06, 190 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10735511, filed 2015-07, 127,000 milesWheels: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 | 20 | 1% |
| 2019 | 10 | 2% |
| 2018 | 22 | 1% |
| 2017 | 76 | 3% |
| 2016 | 32 | 3% |
| 2015 | 25 | 2% |
| 2014 | 46 | 2% |
| 2013 | 33 | 1% |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 10 | 1% |
| 2010 | 7 | 0% |
| 2009 | 11 | 1% |
| 2008 | 14 | 1% |
| 2007 | 6 | 2% |
| 2006 | 15 | 3% |
| 2005 | 98 | 7% |
| 2004 | 34 | 7% |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% |
| 2002 | 10 | 1% |
| 2001 | 7 | 1% |
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 complaintsSuspension
80 complaintsAir bags
79 complaintsSteering
70 complaintsFuel system
37 complaintsEngine
36 complaintsOther or unknown
36 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Escape
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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