NHTSA Complaint #10297801 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE, ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IT BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH WITH BANGING, CLANKING AND GRINDING NOISES, BUCKING, AND JUMPING, WITH AN APPARENT ODOR OF GEAR FLUID ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE., AND THE ON DASH BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM DIDN'T REPORT ANY PROBLEMS, WHEN CHECKED. WE DROVE IT HOME AND THEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE, WHERE THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART . THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FILLED WITH METAL SHAVINGS AND THE GEARS WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS BAD AND ALSO HAS TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE ESCAPE TO BE DRIVEN ANY LONGER IN THIS CONDITION, AND PARTS WERE ACTUALLY BANGING INTO ONE ANOTHER AND COULD HAVE FALLEN ONTO THE GROUND. WE ARE HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, AND A USED TRANSFER CASE IN GOOD CONDITION IS BEING INSTALLED IN IT. THIS VEHICLE IS CALLED AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, BUT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS NEVER BEEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW ANYTHING, AND HAS JUST 51,287 MILES ON IT. *TR