2002 FORD ESCAPE Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

ON RT. 59, JUST SOUTH OF NORTHWEST HWY (RT. 14) IN BARRINGTON, MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT WAS INVOLVED IN A BIZARRE INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. WHILE SITTING STATIC ON LEVEL ROAD IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC WITH A TRAIN-CROSSING BARRIER ARM KEEPING TRAFFIC SAFELY WAITING FOR THE TRAIN TO PASS, MY VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD IN AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE RACED AT >= 4000 RPM. WITH CONTINUED BRAKING ACTION ON MY PART WITH NO VEHICLE RESPONSE, THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE HIT THE 1988 FORD F150 TRUCK IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. AS A SIDE NOTE, I HAD THE 2005 FORD RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WITH THE CABLE REPLACEMENT AT PACKEY WEBB FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN WHEATON, ILLINOIS. THERE IS A SAFETY-HAZARD RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

THIS COMPLAINT IS TO REGARDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST TRANSMISSION EVER BUILT. I HAVE A FORD ESCAPE AND A MAZDA 626 AND BOTH HAVE NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT THIS YEAR. THE FORD 4 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD WORK RIGHT. I WISH THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT LET AUTO MANUFACTURERS BUILT DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND PARTS AND MAKE THEM OWN UP TO IT IF THEY DO. I WONDER HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS CONSUMERS HAVE HAD TO LAY OUT TO FIX THESE HORRIBLE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE WAS USED AROUND TOWN FOR 4 DAYS ON THE FORTH DAY DROVE ON HWY WAY AT 65 MPH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING CAR FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. PULLED OFF ROAD TURNED OFF. FOUND CAR LEAKING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO GEAR ONCE IT HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. IS CURRENTLY AT TRANSMISSION SHOP THE ARE ATTEMPTING TO FIND WHAT THE ISSUE IS. VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 104,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPLACED. AT 74,000 MILES IT WAS BLOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND ASKED FOR HIS OPINION. IT WAS BLOWN. HE CALLED ABOUT A REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER KEPT MANY REPLACEMENTS FOR 2002 ESCAPES BECAUSE OF FAILURES. I BOUGHT FORD BECAUSE I ALWAYS LOVED AND BOUGHT FORDS. BUT 3,3300.00 LATER, FORD HAS A PROBLEM. THE CAR RUNS BETTER NOW AND EVEN GETS 5 MILES PER GALLON BETTER ON GAS. FORD HAS A PROBLEM AS COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT SATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF SLIPPING BEFORE IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT THE CORE OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

2002 FORD ESCAPE WAS RECALLED FOR SEVERAL REASONS. SOMETHING WITH THE POWER TRAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ABS SYSTEM..... FINALLY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS MELTED. FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY JUST SAID WE WILL RECORD YOUR CALL ON YOUR PROFILE. DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW LIVES AND PROPERTY HAVE BEEN LOST AND FORD DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

2002 FORD ESCAPE 4X4 55,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON RT 95 THE CAR SUDDENLY APPEARED TO HAVE GONE INTO NEUTRAL, ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 100 MILES FROM HOME. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR AND NOW REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND NO WARNINGS THAT ANYTHING MIGHT BE WRONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2002, IT BEGAN STALLING AND LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN APRIL OF 2004 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE). SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER AND RECEIVED HER FREE REPAIR. IN AUGUST OF 2008, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER; HOWEVER, IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. ON AUGUST 11, 2008, WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AND A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, NO FAILURES COULD BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THEY ALREADY REPAIRED HER VEHICLE, THEY WERE NOT...

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ALONG THE INSTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROLL SET AT 75 MPH. WE WERE GOING UP A SMALL HILL AND ABOUT TO GO INTO THE PASSING LANE. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED IN OVER DRIVE AND THE RPMS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR SERVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE. WE CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WERE HE THEN INFORMED US THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE STATED THE THE CATALYTIC CONVERETED HAD GONE OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CAR ALSO WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX THIS IS AROUND $8000.00. I...

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, APPARENTLY A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD 2001-2004 ESCAPE SUV. THIS ONE IS A 2002 AND DID NOT LEAVE ME STRANDED, I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. OTHERS (HUNDREDS++) ON THE WEB WERE STRANDED ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE COVER. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DAMAGED WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST. ON NOVEMBER 25, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO REVERSE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FLUSHED THE INJECTORS, AND CLEANED THE UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND SPARK PLUGS. THE FUEL FILTERS, COIL BOOTS, AND IGNITIONS WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, REPLACE FUEL FILTER, AND A/C IS NOT BLOWING COLD. UPDATED 03/31/08 *TR

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, NOT TO MENTION THAT FROM DAY ONE MY WHEELS HAVE BEEN COVERED IN BLACK DUST FROM THE BRAKES, AND IM TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. THE MAJOR PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO FORD WITH NO HELP AT ALL. SINCE DAY ONE (MY CAR WAS BRAND NEW) THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE NOISES AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK WHEN IT SHOULD BE SMOOTHLY SHIFTING GEARS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN NOONE HEARD ANYTHING...UNTIL MY WARRANTEE WAS UP THEN THINGS WERE HEARD. LETS SEE I'VE PAID FOR ENGINE FLUSHES, SPARK PLUG CHANGES, FLUID CHECKS, RESET CALIBRAITONS, I'VE NEVER MISSED AN OIL OR FILTER CHANGE AND IT PROGRESSIVELY IS GETTING WORSE. I'VE READ LOTS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM...

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER 4 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS AT 64,000 MILES. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE AND WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I PULLED OVER ,BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO REENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. CONTINUED THE COMMUTE HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY, AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT, ,,(BY THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEABLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THEY STATED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR FORD ESCAPES. THEY SAID THAT A VEHICLE AT 90000 MILEAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE EXTENSIVE KIND OF TRANSMISSION DAMAGE THAT THIS VEHICLE DID.*AK

O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. APPARENTLY, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 53000 MILES. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE COST OVER $3000. APPARENTLY, THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AS WELL. *NM

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN MAY OF 2005, THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION 3 DAYS LATER AT 80K BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS. NOW A YEAR AND HALF LATER, I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A SPECIALIST THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WILL COST ME $2500 - $4000! THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE SERVICE, BUT I'VE ONLY PUT 20K MILES ON IT! THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST EXPLAINED THAT THE 2002 ESCAPE HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS A MAZDA 626, WHICH IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING. HE SAID EVEN IF I PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED, IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

FORD 02 ESCAPE. VALUE BODY TRANSMISSION ISSUES, METAL SHAVINGS IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAR ONLY 4 YEARS, 80K HIGHWAY MILES. CAR MAINTENANCE KEPT UP. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS TELLING ME IT COULD COST 1 TO $2000 TO FIX. FORD COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. CAN PROVIDE CONTROL NUMBER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURE ISSUE. DTC CODES TESTED PO741 & P1744. CONTROL# 14998722626. PLEASE HELP. *NM

WIFE PARKED VEHICLE ON STEEP UPHILL DRIVEWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. EXITED DRIVERS SIDE AND WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUING TO MAILBOX. WHILE AT MAILBOX OBSERVED VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ROLL BACKWARD CROSSING THE PATH WHERE SHE HAD JUST WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ACROSS STREET AND OVER CURB HITTING TREE. NEIGHBOR IN THEIR FRONT YARD ALSO OBSERVED THIS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. CALLED FORD CORP OFFICES TO ASK FOR REVIEW OF THIS BY THEIR SAFETY ENGINEERS. A CURSORY REVIEW BY THE DEALER INDICATED NO OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION LINKAGE OR OTHER ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES ANY FURTHER REVIEW AND SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST IN FINDING ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS IN NUMBERS 10031648, 568244, 10073682 AND 10026175. THERE ARE ALSO MANY REPORTS OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN OTHER SCENARIOS SUCH AS 10073741, 10087902, 10091048, 10092635 AND 10108659. DID NOT REVIEW COMPLAINTS ON SIMILAR MODELS SUCH...

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HE TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

TRANS HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED REPLACED REBUILT OVER 14 TIMES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND THE CAR JERKS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS UP OR DOWN, EXCEPT THE TIME I COULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE AND HAD TO LET THE CAR ROLL INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF A BUSY STREET. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ROUGHLY 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY SURGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD OBVIOUSLY FAILED TO ENGAGE. PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO 2ND GEAR ALLOWED THE TRANSMISSION TO RE-ENGAGE AND THE VEHCILE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 7 OR 8 MILES AWAY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MILES. FINALLY, IT DISENGAGED ONE LAST TIME AND DID NOT ENGAGE AGAIN. SINCE IT WAS ON A MAIN STREET, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OF A SIDE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KREIGER FORD IN COLUMBUS OHIO. THIS TOOK PLACE A FRIDAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WAS MADE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN THUDDING INTO GEAR ON 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SHIFTS...

INTERMITTEN ENGINE IDLE/STALLING DURING ENGINE START AND DRIVING CONDITIONS EVEN AFTER PCM RECALL WORK. DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE AND BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD, VERDICT IS SAID TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED. VEHICLE HAS 48,000 MILES.

JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE EXPIRED, I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SPECIFICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE WITHOUT REVVING THE ENGINE AND HAVING THE GEARS JUMP INTO PLACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARDS. WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE SUV, I EXPRESSED TO THEM MY DISPLEASURE IN HAVING TRANSMISSION TROUBLE AT ONLY 35,000+ MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THAT ODOMETER READING, AND, INDEED, THEY HAD REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES. I CONTACTED MY REGIONAL FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. ON THURSDAY, MAY 12, WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WITH THE CAR SOUNDING LIKE I WAS REVVING THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL, AND I WAS LOSING POWER QUICKLY. I HAD TO GET OFF...

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE. FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE THEN THE VEHICLE DID FINALLY SHUT OFF AND IT WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. IT CONTINUED TO BURN, TIRES EXPLODED, ETC. IN THE END MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT LEFT A TRAIL OF FLUID BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL BRANDON FORD BODY SHOP IS AT FAULT AND DID NOT PRPPERLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER AN AUGUST 2004 COLLISION. I BELIEVE THERE ARE ALSO BAD PARTS ON THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME FIRE PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE AND FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED LITTLE TO THE SOLUTION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

3 YEARS OLD, 60,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY BLOWN. ITS IN THE SHOP CURRENTLY. THE OIL PAN IS LEAKING. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING FLUID. *JB

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CD4E. OWNER'S MANUAL AND INFORMATION FROM FORD STATES THAT ONLY MERCON TRANSMISSION FLUID IS TO BE USED, AND THAT USE OF MERCON V TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL DAMAGE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, COVER ON TRANSMISSION DIP STICK SAYS "USE MERCON V." DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AT 32000 MILES AND REPLACED WITH MERCON V FLUID. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 51000 MILES, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. FAILURE HAPPENED DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, BUT FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. HE DEALER SHOULD HAVE KNOW WHAT KIND OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TO USE, REGARDLESS OF INCORRECT STATEMENT ON DIP STICK CAP. HOWEVER, THE MISLEADING DIP STICK COULD CAUSE THE OWNER OR OTHERS TO USE INCORRECT TYPE OF FLUID, WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE COMPLETE TRANMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51,000 MILES. DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, O/D LOCKOUT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY ACTED AS IF IT WAS SHIFTING BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE, THEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. FORD DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT HAS NOT DIAGNOSED CAUSE OF FAILURE. FROM RESEARCHING USER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, I'VE LEARNED THAT FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (OASIS #16717) IN MARCH 2003 ADVISING THAT THE PCM BE REPROGRAMED TO CORRECT A TRANSMISSION SHUDDER PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PRECURSOR TO TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PCM REPROGRAMING IS ALSO REQUIRED BY SAFETY RECALL 04S13, ISSUED APRIL 2004. I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THIS RECALL WORK DONE BY THE DEALER, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BEFORE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. FROM READING USER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT TANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50-60,000 MILES IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR 2001-2003...

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING TWICE. ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE OTHER AT 10 MPH. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (COWLES FORD, WOODBRIDGE, VA) SINCE MY FIRST MAINTENANCE CHECK ABOUT MY ESCAPE HESITATING/SKIPPING. DOES NOT SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE PROPER GAS. FIRST COUPLE OF MAINTENANCE CHECK MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW, 2 1/2 YEARS LATER, THEY KEEP REPLACING SMALL PARTS THAT DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SHOW UP ON DIANOSTICS TEST NOR ON THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE THE FIRST ENGINE STALL (40 MPH) THAT MY ESCAPE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. AGAIN I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MY SUV IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE NO ADVANCED WARNING WHEN THE MOTOR WILL CUT OFF. I HAVE EMAILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO...

POWER TRAIN SLIPPING. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TRANSMITTION FOR THIS 3 YEAR OLD CAR. THE FIRST WENT OUT AT 30,000 AND NOW THE OTHER ONE IS GOING. THE VEHICLE IS HIGH MILEAGE, BUT IT IS ONE OWNER AND 90% OF THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES.*AK

DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT SOME OBJECTS HEAD ON INSIDE OF THE GARAGE BEFORE STOPPING. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK THE DRIVER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PLACING GEAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK WHEN VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. UPON IMPACT, THE SHIFTER IS BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE. *LA

TWO TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED @ 18,118 MILES AND THEN AGAIN @ 39,933 MILES.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE, THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW, AND THE LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE OR HAD TOUCHED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED AWAY WITH THE IGNITION LOCKED, KEYS REMOVED AND VEHICLE IN PARK. ALSO THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK ON FOUR OCCASIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOLD THE CONSUMER THE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY, WAS BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED. *PH *JB

2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS A TRANSMISSION SLIP PROBLEM THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THIS HAPPENS IF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, IF TURNING IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE ONCOMING AND IT STALLS YOU COULD GET HIT FROM THE SIDE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *JB *NLM

I HAVE NOW HAD MY ESCAPE FOR 9 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 01/10/03 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR (NO MATTER HOW FAST I WAS GOING). THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT EVEN THE NEW TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE NOT HAD MY VEHICLE FOREVER AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO CONTACT ME ABOUT MY VEHICLE OR RETURN MY CALLS.

POWER STEERING LEAKED IN OCT 2001, PROBLEM CAUSED BY FAILED RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED AFTER HAVING VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR A MONTH. IN NOV 2002, THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE CROSSING A MAJOR INTERSECTION. BARELY MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE NEAREST FORD DEALER HAPPENED TO BE ACROSS THE STREET. TOOK INTO SERVICE DEPT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WAS WELDED TOGETHER. THE ONLY SERVICE PERFORMED WAS RACK/PINION REPLACEMENT BY ORIGINAL DEALER IN OCT 2001. EXPERTS TELL US THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT WELDED. THEY ARE BOLTED. EITHER VEHICLE CAME FROM FACTORY WITH WELDED TRANSMISSION (POSS. OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM) OR ORIGINAL DEALER DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WHEN INSTALLING NEW RACK/PINION SYSTEM AND WELDED THE DAMAGE WITHOUT REPORTING IT TO THE CONSUMER. NOT HAPPY ABOUT 2 MAJOR PROBLEMS IN JUST OVER A YEAR. DT

ENGINED STALL WHILE COASTING DOWN A HILL AT 35 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING.*AK

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN DECELERATING, GOING DOWN A HILL TO ACCELERATE UP A HILL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ALSO, FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE OF WHAT SOLUTION COULD CURE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, ENGINE TURNED OVER BUT SOOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED. IT DOES THIS 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM, IT WILL FIX ITSELF. VEHICLES ENGINE SMOKED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. VEHICLE WILL SURGE ON ITS OWN, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, ALMOST AS IF I HAD FLOORED IT. I CANNOT DRIVE 20 MPH, IT SURGES FORWARD! LAST INCIDENT I HAD WITH THE VEHICLE, I LOST COMPLETE USE OF THE BRAKES, NO HYDRAULICS, NO NOTHING. PEDAL DEPRESSED RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ALMOST GOT INTO A HEAD ON COLLISION, USED E-BRAKE TO STOP. HAPPENED A SECOND TIME LATER THAT DAY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, NOTHING IS WRONG. CONTACTED FORD REP. AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. I DO...

I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 90 DAYS. 30 OF THOSE DAYS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVE WHEN GEAR ASSEMBLY STICKS.*AK