One problem related to manual transmission column shift has been reported for the 2002 Ford Escape. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the 2002 Escape.
On 2002 Ford Escape XLT, while driving car in reverse gear backing out of garage down hill and turning on road also with steep down hill, transmission shifter cable detached from transmission. Could not get car out of reverse gear. This caused a very dangerous situation as car rolled backwards down hill out of control when engine shut off. Used emergency brake to stop car and blocked wheels with rocks to diagnose. Bushing on shifter cable end closest to transmission disentegrated and shifter cable slipped off link to transmission such that the column shift was detached from transmission. Had no prior warnings to inspect this. Found through research that Ford had issued recall number 18s20 for Ford Escape model years 2013-2014 for exact same issue on July 18, 2018. Called Ford customer service. Ford refused to acknowledge this issue for model year 2002. Temporarily fixed issue to continue driving car. Very dangerous situation. I am no expert, but someone with less expertise than me could be in a lot of trouble as this can happen on a hill where the car can roll out of control. Recommend Ford add this model year to recall list or at least issue warning to owners to inspect shifter cable bushing. Difficult to get photo since transmission cable buried down in engine compartment, but could attempt upon request.