Two problems related to overdrive light on have 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.
I own a 2002 Ford Escape and was driving on the freeway when the overdrive off light started flashing. I pulled over ,but was not able to reengage the overdrive. Continued the commute home and the transmission started shifting roughly, and then the check engine light came on. I was able to drive it to the dealer, where they told me I would needed a new transmission. I took it, ,,(by this point the vehicle wasn't driveable and had to have it towed to a transmission shop near my home. They stated that I would need a new transmission, and that this seemed to be a common occurrence for Ford Escapes. They said that a vehicle at 90000 mileage should not have the extensive kind of transmission damage that this vehicle did.
Trans has had to be repaired replaced rebuilt over 14 times in less than 100,000 miles and less than 2 years. The overdrive light starts blinking and the car jerks when the car shifts up or down, except the time I could only go in reverse and had to let the car roll into a parking lot off of a busy street.