2002 Cadillac Escalade vs 2002 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Cadillac Escalade | 2002 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 115 | 3,294 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 601 | 258 |
| Investigations | 3 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 144 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 57 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–14 | 14–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 79,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac Escalade | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 10 | 1,502 |
| Structure | 7 | 486 |
| Suspension | 8 | 421 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 163 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 162 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 148 |
| Steering | 7 | 155 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 152 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 9 | 138 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 47 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 98 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 111 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 77 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 74 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 66 |
2002 Cadillac Escalade
2002 Ford Explorer
Compare all Cadillac Escalade vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.