NHTSA Complaint #11526732 — 2018 FORD ESCAPE

While driving at night at a speed of approximately 45 mph, the car started grinding and there was a smell of metallic material burning and it was difficult to accelerate. Within seconds the automobile came to a complete stop in the middle of a moderately traveled road in the left hand turning lane. There were no messages or warning lamps that would indicate that there was a problem prior to this complete stoppage. The safety of the driver as well as others is put at risk due to the fact that there were no prior indications or symptoms to this malfunction. Had this happened on a high traffic area while traveling at higher speed, there would have indeed been numerous accidents given the sudden stoppage without any safety lamps or alerts being exhibited on the dashboard that would alert the driver to get to a safer location or pull over. Waiting for a tow at night is dangerous and the safety of a lone driver is at stake. After three days at the dealer, we were advised that the vehicle has complete Transmission Failure. There is a safety recall (22S43) NHTSA 22V413 that deals with a transmission issue. The vehicle now needs a whole new transmission and is only 5 years old. Perhaps this initial recall may eventually lead to complete transmission failure. It was not described as what exactly the failure of the transmission.