6.0

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$150
Average Mileage:
23,000 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. reprogram and/or replace control module (2 reports)
  3. replace transmission (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.

problem #8

Apr 192016

Escape XLT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Got my Escape in 2015. Loved it until now. ! When I go to drive, it takes forever for the first gear to kick in. Once I get past that its fine. I'm afraid it's going to stop and not run again. With little children in it , it would be a safety hazard as far as I'm concerned.

- Michele T., Middle River, MD, US

problem #7

Jun 112012

Escape XLT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Trans shifts hard after taking off, getting on to highway or any other time when it needs to shift, the ford Dealer ship Siemans in MI sucks with customer service, they still have not fixed and don't seem to care, they said the reprogrammed and it worked for a week and now back to the same crap.

- zipanddude, Stevensville, MI, US

problem #6

May 272011

Escape XLT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,116 miles

do not know exactly what was the problem, dealer replaced transmission took two weeks for them to diagnosis problem, secure a new transmission, and install.

- gonzofam_97, Sierra Vista, AZ, US

problem #5

Dec 192009

Escape 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles

This auto has been at Tom Holzer Ford in Farmington Hills MI 4 times since purchased October '09. It does not shift into gear smoothly upon acceleration. The car was returned to the dealership early December for service and at that time the control module was changed, however the problem still exists. The fourth time the car was in for service (2 weeks ago) Ford had an engineer drive the vehicle to determine the problem and they said the problem is in the software and they'll have to come up with a fix.

Our dealership rep states that Ford acknowledges that they are having issues with the transmissions on the 4 cylinder model Escape and there is nothing more they can do.

Our next step is to contact the Michigan State Attorney General regarding the Lemon Law and Notify the National Highway Traffic and Safety Commission.

- 2twin457, Novi, I, US

problem #4

Mar 172010

Escape XLS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,000 miles

My car has been in the shop 3 times and getting ready to go in for the 4th time. The transmission seems like it is shifting really hard. I don't really get a reason for the problem from the service department. Each time they assure me that it is fixed, and it isn't. The sad part is that the dealership tried to get Ford to provide me with a rental car, and Ford won't do it which is sad because I was told this was originally a recall issue. I'm a single mother, who needs to have a car. The last two times they've had my car for 3 days each. The last time the dealership at least made arrangements for me to have a rental car at their expense. Not sure if they'll do that for this 4th time or not. I loved my car when I got it, but I'm beginning to think I got a lemon every day I drive it.

- Kim C., Bargersville, IN, US

problem #3

Apr 052010

Escape XLT 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

When I accelerate, the gear stuck or choked before it shifts, the engine rpm kicks high to 3500- 4000 rpm before it came back down to 2500rpm. It did not happen everytime when I accelerate, but often enough that I surf the web to see if anyone else had this issue. I called my dealer to schedule an appointment.

Same symptoms as described by other customers. It's an issue that need to be fixed. Will report what the fix after the service appointment.

- jmao, Ann Arbor, MI, US

problem #2

Mar 192010

Escape V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,427 miles

My transmission would not slip into gear smoothly, would either violently slam into gear or hesitate and then clunk into gear. Would happen less occasionally when gearing down also. Now that this has happened to my car, I am hearing alot of stories. The Service Manager said its a 'thing' that's happening alot with a defective valve. It's in the shop right now.

- Linda D., Barrie, Ontario, Canada

problem #1

Feb 242010

Escape 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,450 miles

When climbing at a speed between 25 and 40 miles an hour in my 2010 Ford Escape, the transmission sometimes slams into low gear. "Slips into low gear" is not forceful enough terminology here, Slams into low gear would be more accurate description. I let off the accellerator when it occurred and it switched back to a higher gear.

This has occurred 3 times, over the past 400 miles. I was climbing 3 different hills in all 3 occurrences. I lease this vehicle, and used to have a 4 cylinder, 2008 Ford Escape of similar features. I serviced the very same territory in my 2008 Ford Escape but never had the transmission slip or slam into low gear even one time.

Update from Mar 11, 2010: No more slipping. Transmission runs fine now. Dealer replaced "valve body" also knows as the "Controller assembly". The dealer replaced some clutches and gaskets too. They got burned when the Controller Assembly went out.

Update from May 6, 2010: Even after the dealer replaced the "Valve Body" a.k.a. "Controller Assy." the transmission is still having problems although not nearly as often or severe as the original problem. It Occasionally jerks into gear while at low RPM's.

On 4-26-2010, I received a notice stating Ford has issued a recall on my model, to reprogram the computer that controls the transmission... See below:

2010 Ford Service Advisory Alert 10B15

Ford Motor Company has issued a Field Service Advisory for certain 2010 Ford Fusion and Ford Escape models equipped with 6F35 transmission. Vehicles with this transmission will need to be taken to your local Ford Dealer for Control Module Reprogramming. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED, YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• Notification mailed from Ford to the driver’s home address, on or after April 30, 2010 AND/OR • Service Instructions via e-mail from GE

If you receive either notification that your vehicle is affected by this Field Service Action from either Ford by mail or GE by email, you need to contact your local dealership to schedule an appointment. Vehicles requiring regularly scheduled maintenance can make an appointment for both actions at the same time. Note: Ford will be providing a rental vehicle while your current vehicle is at the dealership for repairs. Failure to complete the required repairs could lead to transmission failure.

Update from Jun 15, 2010: I'm still having problems with the transmission. The problems are not nearly as severe or frequent as they used to be, but still... I've noticed the transmission slip (just briefly) twice since they replaced some parts 30 days ago. (It happened for the second time today.) 30 days ago they replaced the "Transmission Controller" and reprogrammed the computer that controls the shifting because Ford issued a recall to have the computers reprogrammed on all them. I'd say it's a lot better than it used to be... but certainly not what I think should be reasonable to expect.

I work as a Field Service Tech for a major corporation and we all drive 2010 Escapes. I've heard several others from my team mention they've had similar shifting problems with their transmissions too, but I don't know of anyone that has had as many or as severe of problems as I've had.

I owned a 2008 Escape and never had ANY problems with it. I drive all the same places I used to... same territory, nothing new. At this point, I would NOT recommend the 2010 Escape to anyone.

- tandrews, Tacoma, WA, US