8.9
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $3,400
- Average Mileage:
- 90,650 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 48 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (40 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
- now on 3rd transmission (2 reports)
- replace (1 reports)
- replace band (1 reports)
- replace leaking seal (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
My 2008 Ford Escape which was checked out every 6 months gave no indication of a problem with transmission. Then on the highway coming home from work my daughter noticed car losing power when she got off the highway and was stopped at stop sign, the car was running but would not move. She called tow truck and brought it to a shop and after diagnosis it needed new transmission. I fixed it at a cost of 3965.66 all out of pocket. There was no codes or any other warning that there was a problem. There is a lot of other complaints with this vehicle with such low miles Ford should fix this problem.
- debrakennedy, Rochester, US
I bought this 08 Ford Escape 1-07- 2011. I had problems with the Feduke Ford Dealership from the beginning with only 9,816 miles. After returning numerous times their techs couldn't fix a rt front shock, so I had to find another Dealer to fix it.
Now at 81K the same complaint as ALL the other Ford consumers with the transmission. Ford owes us all refunds for COR!!! I will be included in their class action lawsuit!
- Wendy G., Brackney, US
Why does this happen when I got it checked the last time and the oil levels were fine and it worked for a bit, then started to lurch. Then I simply stopped at a red light and the vehicle did not want to go anymore. I basically had park and 4 neutral gears and no drive at all. Had to get it towed.
- Pawlo A., Mississauga, ON, Canada
I had the transmission replaced 3 years 21 days ago. My car started to squeal and slip. I had it towed to the shop. Told me it was the transmission again. Ford would not cover the warranty even tho it was only 21 days pass warranty. Mileage of the transmission was on 25,000. The actual cost to replace my transmission in California was $5200.00
- gbrooks, Lemon Grove, CA, US
A 3 year old car should not have to replace transmission. It had just passed the warranty period. In addition the three thousand spent on rust proofing was a complete was of money. The car began rusting 2012 and Ford did nothing.
- kjpear, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Transmission was working good. But suddenly the 2nd gear didn't. I had to push down the accelerator and 3rd gear worked, and the same for the 4th gear. It was very hard to find what was wrong with the transmission. Take it to the workshop and change the oil, all transmission disc gear, transmission belt and all related to the transmission gears. Gears worked fine. But I think that the gear are not working again.
- Joseph J., San Pedro Sula, Honduras
This vehicle was excellently maintained and not abused. With the exception of a small rust spot under the passenger side, rear wheel well, the exterior and interior are in exceptional shape. While driving the car last week, the car would rev at a high rpm, but not shift into gear. I brought the vehicle to my local Ford dealer and they diagnosed the vehicle with a slipping transmission and cost to repair is $4,000. I have owned two Explorers and two Escapes over the last twenty years and my family has been dedicated Ford people for multiple more years.
I will connect with Ford directly, but based on other comments, it appears they are not willing to take accountability for this type of failure although very common. More to come, but if Ford doesn't make this right, I will never again purchase a Ford vehicle.
Very, very disgusted.
- Lisa M., Romeoville, IL, US
I understand that there are many problems with the Ford Escape 2008 . The primary problem is transmission failure. I have spoken to many mechanics who say that the Ford Escape 2008 has transmission problems & routinely have to be replaced. They see many of them. Also rust at the top of the wheel well on passenger side is another problem. I had to get that repaired 2 years ago at my own cost as well . I take good care of my car & I feel that I got a lemon. I will never buy a Ford product again.
I want compensation for the transmission I had to replace for $3,000.00 . This should have been a recall for a faulty transmission by Ford, instead it was not & we the consumer have to pay out of pocket.
Again, I am requesting some form of compensation.
I am very disappointed in the Ford product & I shall consider another car company in future unless I receive some compensation for this loss.
- Sherry G., Tecumseh, ON, Canada
First Automatic Transmission replacement completed 12/23/2015; brought Escape back less than 1 year later on 11/30/2015 for Automatic Transmission failure. First Automatic Transmission failure caused by transmission fluid coolant leak as a result of Power Steering failure that caused the Escape to run off the road and into thick wooden branches and large stones.
When the Power Steering failed, I could not control the vehicle as I have a Service Connected Disability on my lower spine as a result combat injury I sustained in Afghanistan during my combat tour in 2006.
Triple J Motors in Guam replaced the first Automatic Transmission and Condenser (aka,Transmission Cooling Unit), and also inspected the Power Steering Sensor. Triple J Motors has now refused to do Warranty Repair on the 2nd Automatic Transmission. The Condenser may also be un-serviceable again.
- joaquin.pangelinan, Yigo, Pacific Islands (US)
I bought this from a private owner, they owed $10,000 for the lien release. Claimed the wife no longer wanted to drive at all. I took a hit on my 401K, costing me $17000. Bought in June, no longer shifted in second and fourth in November. Did I have idiot stamped on my forehead or what. I have been a fan of Fords my whole life. I will NEVER buy a Ford again. Never. I have read so many people having the same problem, well shame on me for not doing my homework before buying this piece of junk. And shame on Ford and Shame on the couple who dumped this on me. All I can say to them is Karma. For me, this to will pass. Was nice not having a way to go to work or see my parents or go to the store or doctors. Thank you Ford.
- Ruby H., Tonawanda, US
Really find it hard to believe a transmission bearing can go out with this little of miles and the vehicle is not driven a lot, burns my butt!!!!
- Kim H., Kingman, KS, US
I can tell you this, we have 4 Fords in our family. Our 2008 Escapes transmission failed at 180000 km, it was always serviced, never abused. Ford is one of the worst dealers out there for warranty help. I think we are done with Ford in this family. They're going to loose a lot of money down the road. We are a big family with lots of life left. We are going to purchase many cars in the future, and i will promise you none will be Ford again.They have had a lot of complaints about this model and its transmission.They should step up and warranty their junk.
- pmichael, drumheller, AB, Canada
Catastrophic failure - loss of all transmission fluid while on the road. Got car towed to dealer who found that the transmission housing had "rotted out" (their words). The housing was so badly corroded that the tranny had to be replaced, to the tune of $6000 (CDN). Dealer gave me a bit of a break on a Ford rebuilt tranny, but 20+ hours labour still consumed a good chunk of cash.
Ford Canada basically told me to get stuffed as it was beyond the warranty period. Apparently it's 'normal wear and tear' to expect a Ford transmission to disintegrate after 6 years and 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles).
I have owned Fords for the past 40 years - most of them high mileage - and until now have been a happy customer, but their response to this issue has me considering other makes.
- David B., White Lake, ON, Canada
I think it's lousy that Ford doesn't stand by their vehicles. My 2004 Escape had a sensor go bad (which was a recall on the trucks, but not the Escapes) and after paying almost a thousand to have it replaced, there was still an issue. As my daughter who had just gotten her license was going to be using the vehicle, I didn't feel it was safe, so I traded it in for my 2008 Escape. (I thought it was just a fluke) Well, first the cooler went and they wouldn't cover...said it wasn't powertrain, though it is....so that cost some money. Now, it's not even 100, 000 miles and the transmission is no good?? Really?? Has no second gear. The transmission place wants 3500 to replace. I haven't even called Ford because of what happened with the cooler. Well, since 2004, between my son and I, we have purchased two Escapes, a used 98 Explorer, a 2008 F-150, and a 2014 Focus.
I think from here out we will go with a different make.
- Rachael G., Rossville, GA, US
Car almost left me stranded. When I turned a corner and it would not shift. After moving my automatic to drive 2, it took off. It did it to me twice before I could get it to the dealer. Of course it wasn't under warranty, even though I only had 62,000 miles on it. Certainly not hard miles.
If I could afford a different vehicle I would get rid of it.
- carolaz, Phoenix, AZ, US
This vehicle is not that old. Since I bought it I been having nothing but trouble with. I am totally not satisfied with this vehicle. I will never buy a Ford Vehicle again.
- Cindy D., London, ON, canada
Ford Escape XLT 4X4 Transmission Failure!!! - 210,000 km or 126,000 miles
My daughter left the house to go to the mall. She was driving in 50kml or 30mph traffic and car started shaking as it was moving/missing gears. She turned around and came home. Had vehicle towed to the Ford dealership. Informed me it needed a new transmission. Very unfortunate as I baby all of my vehicle's and just had a transmission service on it at 200,000 km or 120,000 miles and prior to this at 100,000km or 60,000 miles by the Ford dealership. All recalls were performed as well.
- Mark R., Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
It's just very stupid that with only 164k on it, two gears don't work and the band is garbage. I'm not hard on my SUV and enjoy it very much, now I have to spend over $3000 to fix it and it costs more at the dealership for a re-manufactured one instead of new.
- Marco D., Thunder Bay, Ontario, canada
Now I'm part of the many with this Ford model to have a transmission problem. It doesn't take 2nd or 4th. How many more until Ford does a recall? I'm planning to file suit.
- Richard S., San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
After 260k miles on my 2008 Ford escape it was pretty heartbreaking to have been told the news that my beloved Lucy Blue has a broken transmission that's going to cost as much as a newer used car to replace it. I experienced the failure while driving to work when the RPMs would start to go high without any power delivery to the vehicle when I pressed on the accelerator. I had to get it towed to the shop where they were able to figure out that the transmission was busted.
- Troy B., Lincoln, NE, US