NHTSA Complaint #10118686 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITIONS. VEHICLE DEVELOPED INTERMITTENT SHUDDER DURING ACCELERATIONS ALONG WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS AND SLIPPING OF FORWARD GEARS. HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC OR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS SINCE CONDITION WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER'S INPUT. APPEARED TO HAPPEN MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. FAILURE ALSO RESULTED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS REGULATIONS SINCE SHIFT LEVER DID NOT CORRESPOND ACCURATELY TO OPERATOR'S INTENDED VEHICLE DRIVING MODE (I.E NO FORWARD MOTION WHEN SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE POSITION). MULTIPLE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS EXIST FOR THIS CD4E AUTO TRANSAXLE RELATING TO THIS FAILURE MODE IN FORD SYSTEM AND ALSO ON NHTSA WEBSITE, SO CONDITION IS KNOWN AND IS WIDESPREAD ON MANY VEHICLES. CREATED VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS BEFORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE VEHICLE.*AK