The FIRST time the transmission went out it was thankfully under warranty. The SECOND time it went out 70,000 miles later it was not under warranty. The crap shop that fixed it the first time basically told us 1. that they have never fixed a tranny on an Escape until we showed them the paperwork on them doing it and then they 2. told us tough luck and that the trannys on the Escape are "rock solid" and we got the one bad one. Needless to say we'll never buy a Ford (Found On Road Dead/Fix Or Repair Daily) ever again!!!!!

I have had great luck with my 2002 Escape...until..started getting a brief rumble effect when the transmission would upshift with any load at all on the engine. It kept getting worse and worse. Took to the Ford Dealer who does our maintenance and they couldn't find anything. "It just shifts a little rough" Then it got worse, more frequent really. Took back to Ford. Had a complete flush of the transmission and was told to drive it 200 miles and see if it cleared up! No luck. It is in the shop now getting a new transmission @ $3057.00 min. Called Ford customer service to complain and was told it was my problem because it was out of warranty. I was fine until I discovered the 1000's of similar problems with 2001-2004 Escape transmissions on the web. Where is Ford in all this? No wonder they are losing market share to everyone else!!!!!

My husband, daughter and I were driving from San Diego to San Francisco taking my daughter to move into a new apartment. We were on our way to meet a moving truck. The car died on Interstate 5 about 100 miles south of San Fran in 99 degree heat, in the middle of nowhere with almost no shoulder on the side of the road to pull off on. We sat in the car with huge semi's roaring past shaking the car with no where to go, in the blazing heat, waiting for AAA to come tow us for 3 hours!!!! We had to go to the nearest town that had a Ford place. We got the last motel room, missed meeting the movers, had to rent a car from another town, taking a bus there.... etc, etc. It took a week to get the car fixed and my daughter had to go back down to the town via 3 bus changes, (a 7 hour trip) to pick up the car. The transmission cost $3600, the hotel room, dinner, rental and bus fares about $250.

Just about your worst nightmare short of freezing to death.... I heard there are a lot of tranny problems with the Escapes.

Will never buy another Ford. EVER.

I have a 2002 Ford Escape that at 43,000 miles should not be having a transmission problem. The car was just in the shop for a week due to a flashing "O/D off" signal. After an extensive review, I was told that it had a bad cylinoid. OK, had that replaced, took it home, and after approx. 50 miles of highway driving, the "O/D off" light is flashing AGAIN. Now the next step, as I was told, is to do a transmission overhaul. More big bucks!!! My question is: Immediately prior to this problem, I finally had a recall done for an acceleration cable or vehicle speed control malfunction. Could these be related in any way???

Since purchasing my 2002 Ford Escape it has been one (Big Pain In The Rear.) I will NEVER Purchase another Vehicle made by FORD, because FORD does NOT stand behind their products. I have had to have my passenger door fixed twice, replace the transmission, & now my A/C is not working. I have called Ford Motor Company many times about the problems I have had with my 2002 Escape & all they had to say is that there hasn't been a recall on any of the problems I am having with my vehicle & that I am responsible for the repairs. I have spent over $5000.00 on my 2002 Ford Escape with no help from the Ford Motor Company.