Ford ESCAPE transmission problems
3,025 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
27,254 owner complaints analyzed
95 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 17,370 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
3,025 of 27,254 complaints match this topic (11.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10007283 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
NAR 02/13/2003. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT TO DRIVE FROM OVER DRIVE, THE VENTS AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO FROST. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE RELAY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GAS MILEAGE WAS POOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007492 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)
I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN I HEARD A NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. HE CALLED AND SAID THE SNAP RING POPPED OUT OF THE SERVO CASE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THEY REPAIRED IT AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, STARTED HOME AND GOT 15 MILES WHEN IT BLEW AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED BACK AND THEY TRIED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT , NEEDED A NEW TRANNY. I QUESTIONED THEM THAT A 51,000 MILES, THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I TOOK IT SOME WHERE ELSE TO BE REPAIRED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011059 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
I PURCHASED 2001 USED VEHICLE FROM HERTZ CAR SALES WITH 27,000+ MILES. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED SECOND WEEK WE HAD VEHICLE. ALSO REALIZED THAT AC/HEATING SYSTEM HAD "WHISTLE" WHICH COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. MAJOR PROBLEM HAS VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, LOSING ALL POWER, BRAKES, ETC. FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. FORD DEALER HAS WORKED ON PROBLEM, REPLACING TRANSMISSION, FIXING AC/HEAT SYSTEM AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE "STALLING" PROBLEM. THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED, HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. CAR AT FORD D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013671 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
2001 FORD ESCAPE HAS REPEATEDLY STALLED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 33,000 MILES; HOWEVER, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS EARLY ON. CAR HAS STRANDED ME SEVERAL TIMES. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN SEVERAL TIMES AND DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG IT. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, FUEL HOSES, SENSOR, COMPUTER, ETC. AND CAR STILL STALLS. THIS WEEK IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. DEALERSHIP AGAIN COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013923 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A TOWN STREET, WE HEARD A POP ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, A STRONG VIBRATION AND LOUD REVING SOUND PERSISTED. THINKING WE HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT SAT FOR THREE DAYS. THEY INSISTED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND INSISTED THEY LOOK HARDER AND THEY FOUND THE MOTOR MOUNT HAD BROKEN. WHILE IT IS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS OUR THIRD DEFECT IN A VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED FOR A SHORT TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013923 at NHTSA ↗