NHTSA Complaint #11617431 — 2016 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle rolled backwards while in drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle responded as needed and shifted to first gear after a while. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that an unknown transmission message was displayed. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic was contacted and informed the contact that the torque converter might have failed, causing the transmission filter to be clogged. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 101,700.