10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 57,044 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving the vehicle was shaking and failed to accelerate above 3 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additional while, driving the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the bulb was touching a wire. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
- Suffolk, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the transmission would not operate in the reverse position. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the shaft lock cable assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired for the same failure in 2018. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000
- Weeki Wachee, FL, USA
While driving the vehicle suddenly deccelerated. Pressing the gas peddle did nothing. It acted as if it was in neutral. Transmission fault light illuminated. This blocked all traffic as there was no shoulder and no time or place to get off the road. It was an extremely dangerous situation on the curve of a road. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Dealer verified abundant metal particles in transmission and recommended replacement ($6,247.69). Regular maintenance was done and mileage is only 61,537 so only recently out of the 60,000 mile warranty. There was never a warning or symptoms. Light came on later during the incident.
- Williamsburg, VA, USA
Car suddenly would not shift and engine revved without moving in the middle of driving. This is an extreme hazard as my 2 year old son and I were pulling out into traffic. Had to turn the car off and back on and was able to get off the road. The transmission died without warning and the car is only at 55k miles.
- Spotsylvania , VA, USA
"transmission fault - repair now" light came on. Engine went to high RPM but very little forward movement. Was able to limp short distance back to home. Transmission then would not shift into reverse. Had car towed to dealer on 8/24/2021 for repair. Dealer indicated total transmission failure had occurred and would need to be completely replaced. Cost quoted at $5500. Transmission is a sealed unit with no way to check fluids and is recommended for service at 150000 miles. This car is at 90000 miles, way before the 150000 service call. There was no forewarning or symptoms of complete failure prior to incident.
- Merced, CA, USA
A few months ago, out of nowhere and with no warning my 2016 Ford Escape flashed a transmission failure and car immediately started having acceleration issues. I was on a 8 lane highway (4 lanes each direction), in the far left lane as I was approaching my left hand turn lane. I had to pull over on this 8 lane highway on the far left lane causing a major safety hazard, not only for myself, but for all the cars in the south bound direction. Once traffic had a break, I started my car back up and was able to make the next left hand turn (which was actually the turn lane I needed to take) to get off an extremely 8 lane highway. This left hand turn also could have caused a safety issue as I wasn't able to accelerate at a normal rate and had to coast across this highway going around 5mph. I immediately pulled over after that turn and got the car towed to the nearest Ford dealership. The tow truck driver wished I had pulled over a little further up since he would have to stop traffic to get the car on the tow bed, obviously something I couldn't do since I was unable to accelerate. When the car was turned back on no transmission warning was on. Ford did replace the battery and confirmed multiple internal transmission component failures with the diagnosis and the transmission would have to be replaced. I did get a second opinion and they also confirmed the failures that the Ford dealership told me. The car is only 5 years old, gave me no indication that there was anything wrong until it happened, there was zero warning, zero noise, zero reasoning given as how/why a car only 5 years old would have multiple internal failing transmission components! I was also told by the mechanic that this is not an uncommon occurrence for Fords to have early transmission failures and that my 2016 Ford Escape was the 6th Ford that month!!! In total, I have had to pay over $6,100 worth of work/service/equipment in a 2016 car I purchased on 2/25/19! Official explanation would be great!!!
- Claymont, DE, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle abruptly came to a sudden stop. The contact indicated that the incident occurred without warning and nearly caused a collision while driving on a busy freeway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
- Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
TRANSMISSION FAILURE warning came up on dash. I saw the RPMs go up to over 120. I had no previous problems with the car before this incident. CAR RAPIDLY LOST ACCELERATION while driving 60MPH on State Road 80 in Labelle FL. Since the car lost acceleration so fast the car behind me had to pass quickly as to not hit me. Other cars behind had to continually pass until I could move from the left lane to the right, and then to the shoulder to safely pull off the road. I had to wait there with the car for over an hour before AAA came to tow it. Mechanic at AAMCO Transmission Total Care in Bonita Springs, FL identified a burned drum. He showed me grooves in it that should not have been there, it should have been smooth. Computer scan gave codes P0219 Engine Overspeed Condition, P0729 Incorrect Gear Ratio 6th, P07AA Trans Friction Element E. I have the drum and other parts that had to be replaced. The repair took 6 weeks as the torque converter was on backorder from FORD. This repair was $4047
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
While traveling down the highway my vehicle abruptly switched into reverse at 75 mph I almost lost control. I let the car come to a complete stop but was able to get to the side of the road going on reverse car shifter would go into park but dash said it was in reverse and wanted to go in reverse, I cut off the ignition but could not start back due to it being in reverse and not able to go into park, Ford shows a recall on this model vehicle in 2014 for the same issue.
- Lindale, TX, USA
I was driving home from work and the car shuck and the transmission made a whinning sound and the car rolled to a stop because the transmission would;nt shift.I barely made it home..parked it in garage and now looking for answers to what happened. The transmission cost from $1500 to $4000
- Machesney Park, IL, USA
Transmission failed at 70,000 miles, will not go in drive or reverse, all of a sudden
- Louisville, KY, USA
Driving home from town and the transmission went out. No warning of any kind. Just driving through town and it quit moving and was like it was in neutral.
- Alma, WV, USA
When driving on highway, Escape lost ability to accelerate or stay above 1000 RPM. Pulled off road, turned vehicle off, and restarted vehicle, tried to drive it, heard a "clunk" noise and smelled something burning. Vehicle could move and change gears, but not accelerate to drive, turned vehicle off and had it towed to mechanic. Mechanic diagnosed it as a transmission issue. Vehicle is currently in the shop for a more thorough diagnosis and possible repair. Vehicle had 104,000 miles on it at the time of incident.
- Williamsburg, VA, USA
As I was driving down the road I noticed I wasn't accelerating; as I tried to press on the accelerator the rpms would increase, but the vehicle would not speed up. I pulled off the to a side road, stopped the car, put it in park and then back into drive and had no change in ability to accelerate. I tried turning it off and back on. As I then tried to get the car back home (thankfully I wasn't far) I had to put it in low gear and could only go 10-15 mph. The transmission failure light came up at this point. After trying to let the vehicle cool down, there was no change. I had the vehicle repaired at a transmission shop; costing $4,100; the transmission mechanic couldn't tell me exactly what went wrong other than it had overheated in the transmission and there was a lot of internal damage. I am still struggling with issues with accelerating when the vehicle is cold. The vehicle is sluggish and shifts very hard when it is cold. The mechanic is looking into it again.
- Waldron, IN, USA
The transmission went out while driving on a city street. Mileage at the time of failure was slightly over 86, 000 miles. That should not be a thing. We have also had constant issues with the radio/display including total failure and rear camera not showing.
- Ozark, MO, USA
I was driving down the highway at about 65 mph when all of a sudden out of nowhere I couldn't accelerate anymore it was almost like I was stuck in neutral but I was clearly in drive. I began having other drivers honk at me and trying to pass me, I had my daughter in the car with me, it was really scary. I could have easily been in a accident. I pulled over to the side of the highway, turned my hazards on, and called a tow truck. The mechanic said my transmission was done and I needed a new one, he also said this is a common problem with the Ford Escapes. I repaired it it cost 5600$. the part that bothered me most was when I contacted Ford they didn't care one bit. I feel this is a safety hazard and Ford needs to recall this part and make it right and stand behind their name, because I guarantee they are fully aware of this happening and yet fail to recall it and fix it.
- Kuna, ID, USA
My vehicle started making a faint whistling / winding sound when being driven. Then my car would not drive any more while it was in the drive position. The RPM needle kept jumping as if it was being driven. I was pulling into my driveway when all of a sudden my car would not go. I stopped, stuck in the middle of the driveway. I turned the car off, waited for a min or 2 then turned the car back on, after that the car finally shift into gear, and I was able to park my car. The light finally came on saying tranmissions failure service now or something to that affect. So I took the car to Ford seeing how I was still under factory warranty, finally after a month, got my car back. They didn't replace the transmission just parts of it from what I was told -mans a hose for my heater. Now a few weeks later, my car is making the same noise.
- San Bernardino, CA, USA
Transmission will not shift out of drive into neutral reverse or park. Yet I am able to remove the key. Car also will not start because of this
- Billings, MT, USA
I put my vehicle in park and then tried to put vehicle back in gear. Gearshift would not move when brake was depressed and vehicle was actually in neutral I had to put emergency brake on to prevent vehicle from rolling and have vehicle towed to have bushing joining transmission to shifter cable replaced. This is something that has been covered under previous recall for 2014 Escapes and very obviously is still a problem.
- Lawtons, NY, USA
- Caryville , TN, USA