NHTSA Complaint #11098512 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

OURS IS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT'S HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SIX YEAR OLD CAR AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION.UPON STARTING THE CAR IN THE DRIVE MODE, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED "CLUNK" SOUND FROM BELOW THE CABIN SECTION OF THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD BEGIN MOVING FORWARD AND THEN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS SITUATION CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1/10 OF A MILE. WHILE TURNING AROUND TO RETURN HOME, THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE REVERSE MODE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER AS IT APPEARED TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR $4,300.00. SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BASIC DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT HAVING READ SO MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. ADDITIONALLY AND IN RETROSPECT, THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN RACING TO A HIGH RPM IN THE PARK MODE WITHOUT A FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS WAS A DISTURBING PHENOMENON.