NHTSA Complaint #10276489 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE IDLING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. SHE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE OVERRIDE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE FOR A BLOCK, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, IT ENDED UP BEING AFFECTED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. SHE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/09