NHTSA Complaint #10379340 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE V6 XLT SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. I EXITED AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME IN SECOND GEAR. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG WITH IT. AT PRESENT, SECOND GEAR IS THE ONLY GEAR THAT STILL WORKS IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT NOW SITS INOPERABLE IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE $3000-$4000 REQUIRED TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THIS VEHICLE AND LATER YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL ARE QUITE COMMON, WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. A COMMON CONSENSUS, IS THAT THE FAILURES ARE DUE TO A FOUR CYLINDER TRANSMISSION BEING INSTALLED IN A HIGHER TORQUE AND HORSEPOWER V6 MODEL. FORD MUST BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT'S REALLY UNFAIR THAT THE CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO PAY HUGE SUMS OF MONEY TO REPAIR SHOPS TO GET PROBLEMS FIXED THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'VE WRITTEN TO FORD, AND VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE AND BOTH ARE UNSYMPATHETIC. *TR