8.5
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $2,720
- Average Mileage:
- 92,450 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 33 complaints
Most common solutions:
- rebuild tranmission and replace torque converter (18 reports)
- change the transmission (11 reports)
- not sure (4 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While driving, I noticed the O/D light flashing and then it started acting really funny. I had no clue what this was, but I researched online and found that others had this same problem. I just got an estimate to fix my truck and it came to around $2800. There is no 2nd gear and it has a really hard time getting to 4th gear. It is terrible. They told me that they would have to rebuild my engine. I do not want another Ford SUV. With so many complaints, they should cover the cost.
- S R., Wilson, NC, US
My truck has never been off road or has it ever been driven rough. I went home from work one day, then decided to go back to the marina and the OD light started to flash and I lost power. I had the truck towed to the Ford garage and they said there was major damage inside the transmission and it would cost me $3,695. What gets me is there was no prior indication at all, no noises and fluid was clean and full. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN IN MY LIFE. Ford messed up on this one.
- Mark K., Frankenmuth, MI, US
Well misery enjoys company! Having read the other complaints regarding the O/D light blinking and transmission failure at or around the 60 to 70,000 mile range, I feel right at home! I have no 2nd and 4th gear, just a gas hogging 1st and 3rd. Nothing like covering-up a poor design and engineering into a less than adequate power train warranty - the estimated repair is C$3,300 for a reconditioned transmission including installation. This is the first Ford I have ever owned and I love my Escape (or at least until now). Having surfed the net to see if I was alone in my displeasure, I can't believe how rampant this problem is - and not just on the '07 model. Ford Escapes are everywhere in this city, so beware newer Escape owners - before your O/D light comes on, do one of two things: off load your Escape before the TDM (Transmission Death Mileage) is reached, and/or buy shares in your local transmission dealer. This situation is completely unacceptable. It seems that Ford knew of the problem from the start.
- hectorontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
My Escape was hit while sitting at the stop sign coming off an interstate. A Ford F150 or Ford F250 truck hit me an knocked me across two lane of the highway. I could have been hit again but no traffic was coming.
The person that hit me had State Farm Insurance and I had them also. The damage to my bumper and under the bumper came to almost $1300.00 they paid that with no problem. The Ford dealership where I bought my Escape new told me they did not do body work so I had to take it to the body shop once my Escape was hit my OD light start flashing and all my gauges on my dash board no longer work.
Once the body shop completed all of their work it was taken/drove back to body shop at about 35 mph. The dealership said it was my dash cluster and you bands broke on my transmission and my gas gauge need to be replace. My car just went through State inspection in March 2012 and all of these problem is a results from me being hit in the rear. State Farm stated my damages were all from normal wear and tear on my Escape and refused to fix it at a cost of $2,200.00....I can not believe they would chest consumer with such garbage...Everything on my Escape was working until it was hit.. I am so upset that a Insurance company would get out of paying for my cost simply because the person hit me have State Farm and I have State Farm....The dealership did not help me out at all, They stated it could have cause it by being hit in the rear...I screamed at them stating how can a person do $1,300.00 damages to my rear and it's not affect my mechanical parts...I tried to hire a lawyer he said that by taking them to court it was nothing in it for him!!! I could not believe that either...I said I can pay you at least $400.00 or $500.00 it would be better than paying $2,200.00. He did nothing so I am fighting it on my own... I have filed a complaint with state Insurance commissioner and the BBB and have wrote to our TV station action 9... When my policy expire I plan to get my cars insured anywhere but State Farm!!!
- Cendia C., Charlotte, NC, US
One day I'm driving home...and my car didn't feel like it was shifting properly. I could feel it during take off..and when I sped up. Next thing you know the o/d light is flashing. Took it to ford the next day and they said it was the band that snapped. 1700 to fix that..plus additional cost if anything else was wrong. Took it to a trans specialist in the area and he said the band snapped also...and that it wasn't shifting into 2nd gear and the o/d wasn't working. After taking it apart the band got caught up in the drum clutch (I think that's what its called) and that it was metal in the torque convertor. Overall..it cost about 2 thousand dollars to fix my car. I bought it right off the showroom floor in 07..and take very good care of Maintenance and things.. 5 years is too soon for a trans to go.
- tatianna, Philadelphia, PA, US
The o/d light started coming on this morning. I called Ford and found out that the warranty ran out on March 19. Problem stared on March 21.. Its like Ford had it all planned out.
- Stacy M., Knightdale, NC, US
I thought I was covered when I bought an extended warranty for three thousand dollars and 100,000 miles.Boy was I wrong.As soon as the warranty was up my trany went out.
I have spent a lot of money for the maintenance and upkeep and thought I was all covered for almost anything.Talk about being Kicked in the ---.Well not that I can not afford the 4,000 dollar repair bill that the Ford Repair shop wanted me to spend I have took a step back in time and started walking and taking the bus to work and to my Doctors Appt.and other places I have to go.Lucky I am a Veteran that have been through a lot or I would have gone crazy by now.
- richierich2320, Santee, CA, US
I loved my 2007 Ford Escape. I took excellent care of it. Never had a problem except for the natural repairs and services. Brakes, Oil Change, Tires, and servicing fluids that's it. On March 13th, 2012, my car was having a problem going into to 2nd gear, all it did was get stuck, the 0/D light would flash and then it would go into 3rd gear. This problem happened out of the blue sky, no warning the days before. I took it to a transmission place, since the warranty expired at 60,000 and they said it was internal problem. Sure enough it was the band for 2nd and 4th gear. I could do a quick fix for 1,200 and no guarantee other parts in the transmission would go out or a rebuild for 2,400. Chose the rebuild. But come on Ford. You should not be making cars, suv's with these kinds of transmissions................My Escape transmission should not have went this soon. Why weren't these recalled? I will never buy another Ford again.
- ldimaggio, Modesto, CA, US
The O/D Off light started flashing last night and it stopped shifting into 2nd. Took it to local mechanic, and guess what, it is an internal transmission issue. Next stop, transmission shop and $3,000 later, new transmission. I am the orginal owner, $67,000 kms and these are not hard kms. I treated the cehicle good and had all the servicing done. Long story short, Ford put a piece of crap transmission in my vehicle and put a 3 year 60,000 km warranty on it. Thanks a lot Ford.
- b-ford, Surrey, BC, canada
How can Ford sell a car with a transmission that won't even last 49000 miles.I heard of cutting corners, I will not and will tell all not to buy ford products, this would be the 2nd one. The first was a 2003 tarus with 68000 miles while a 1000miles away on vacation
- Gary W., Florissant, MO, US
Well in closing they took about the same amount of time as Phillipe J's issue to be addressed. I also now to seem to have a reoccurance of the issue. Very disappointing
and this seems to be happening to other Escape owners, as a co-worker had slippage
issues with his 2008 Escape as well seems like it might be a pattern for the lucky few.
- JIm O., Sydney, N.S, Canada
It took a month for Ford to change my transmission. After they did, it started to leak, so they change the gasket. Back home, it was leaking again, this time they change a a small part that was connected to the transmission. I've call Ford directly, they didn't do anything about my problem. Don't buy any ford, whatever you go, there is no service.
- Philippe J., Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
The o/d light started flashing. I checked the manual, said have the transmission serviced immediately. The warranty expired 5 months ago. The car has not even reached 100,000 km. This was my first Ford and will definitely be the last. I really liked my Escape but will not tolerate the crap. I had a 2001 Chevy Impala that didn't require transmission work until 250,000km. Seems like a wide spread problem. Lots of discussion on this same topic all over the internet. Ford should be ashamed of themselves. If this is built Ford tuff I don't want any part of Ford.
- Brad B., Windsor, Ontario, canada