This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I was accelerating up a hill, when I noticed that it did not have any power. The car would rev up but not change gears. When I got it to the dealer they said an intermediate band broke on the transmission. Apparently the Escape is known for transmission problems. The 2nd and 4th gears go out on them. Ford would not pay for any of the repair which was $1358.41. This is the second Escape I had with transmission problems. Needless to say I will never buy a Ford SUV again.
Driving home, came to a stop (red light) when it was time to go I pressed on the gas pedal and my truck wouldn't moved, then I let go of pedal and did it again and my truck jolted and started moving. As I was driving and trying to increase speed my truck would shift..if I tried to pass 30 mph it felt like it was decreasing. Every time I came to a full stop it kept repeating the same situation, press gas pedal and no movement. It was pretty scary because here in California there are fast drivers and I was afraid that if my car wouldn't go any faster I would be hit, and I had my son and nephew in the car. This is very disappointing, never did I ever have issues with Ford til now and what makes it worse there are no warnings it just happens. Now its costing more then $300 dollars to fix this. But who is to say that after I spend all that money this wont happen again. I should be driving a vehicle that hasn't been recalled and the dealer should have contacted me about this and fixed it.
Addendum: Original NHTSA#10283836 (Sept 2009) bought certified used 2008 Ford Escape in 2009. Before the first payment, the transmission cooling assembly blew, dumping the transmission fluid onto my driveway (part #8L8Z-19712-J, tsb 09 09 04). Mileage: 21,775. Cost of $1000+ repair was covered under warranty. Fast forward, May 2013 (mileage: 59,391). As predicted back in 2009 by many here on this website: Complete transmission failure. It died in 2 lanes of traffic, as I blocked vehicles, no forward or reverse gears. My transmission fluid was flushed: 2009, 2011, 2012, and topped off otherwise; measures I took to protect against this exact failure. Yet it completely failed, <60,000 odometer miles. This $3000 repair was covered under the extended powertrain warranty. Current warranty: Now 12 months/12,000 miles. Minus tow truck, 2 missed work days, and loss of use of my vehicle for 3 weeks. It is entirely possible this dangerously flawed design (sharing an ac/transmission condenser) will fail yet again, even as soon as 6 months. There is no manufacturer recall. The condenser assembly allows the fluid to remain chronically low for long periods. I topped my fluids regularly & proactively flushed 3 times in 4 years, yet the transmission still burned up and failed. Note the repetition of the word "burnt" in the technician notes, even though the transmission fluid levels were listed as ok. The condenser assembly (w/ ac & transmission sharing a condenser w/ a flawed weld that bursts), and the chronic problem w/ the electronic power steering that completely freezes the steering column in place on failure are huge safety issues. Tragedy is predicted. Followed w/ class action lawsuit. Memos will reveal discussions all along regarding the epic fail of the 2008 Ford Escape. Our safety and major inconvenience are minor collateral damage.
- Lexington, KY, USA
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My 2008 Ford Escape's transmission started slipping while in overdrive. It then went out and revved up to 5,000 RPM's and would not move while in over drive or drive on the interstate causing me to almost get rear ended. I had to shift to second gear and limp it home.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle revved but failed to accelerate. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the second and fourth gears would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 66,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was having routine maintenance performed, the technician found that transmission fluid was leaking from the condenser at an alarming rate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,400.
On, or about the date listed above, and several incidents later, our 208 Ford Escape continues to stall unexpectedly at various speeds. The car was brought to the mechanic who was unable to reproduce the stalling. Computer diagnostics yielded no codes. After almost two weeks in the shop, we needed our car back, so I have decided to drive it and let my wife and daughter drive my Honda because of safety issues. I would like to say, and document on this official website, that the stalling problem is known by NHTSA and an investigation to this problem was started in February 2013 by your Agency. This problem, as noted by so many others, is a serious safety issue and people have been injured in mvas as a result. Not sure if anyone has been killed yet, but that is inevitable due to the nature of the stalling incidents. Someone needs to initiate legislature or a mandate, or whatever it is you do, so that Ford is forced to recall and repair this problem. I am personally holding Ford, and the NHTSA responsible if something is not done about this problem in an expeditious manner. God forbid that there should be anymore injuries, or anyone killed as a result of this defect that is already documented and being investigated. Remember: Once you start an investigation, you have acknowledged that there is significant evidence of a problem.
Driving along and the wrench icon comes on while the vehicle stalls and decelerates. This issue reoccurs consistently and appears to be that the vehicle is unable to smoothly transition automatically into 2nd/3rd gear. Vehicle diagnosed by authorized dealer who advised the transmission needs to be replaced. Vehicle has not yet been repaired since dealer claims it is not under recall and is no longer under warranty.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the wrench warning icon illuminated as the vehicle lost acceleration power. The vehicle was diagnosed by both an authorized dealer and an independent mechanic, who both advised that the transmission gear shifter failed and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 73,000. Updated 03/01/13 updated 03/07/13
After driving 10 miles with the vehicle functioning correctly and then coming to a complete stop at a red light, upon starting back up the automatic transmission would not switch gears until the engine got up to 5000rpm. When it did switch it seemed to change into 3rd gear instead of 2nd because I had almost no power and had to very slowly accelerate from there. Further, it remained in 3rd gear and would never switch to 4th. This created a very dangerous situation on an open highway at night where the cars behind me expected a continuous acceleration to 50mph. I came very close to being rear-ended. My mechanic has determined that 2nd gear and 4th gear are gone. This appears to be a very, very common problem amongst 2008 Ford Escapes and a $2500 repair. This is a manufacturer's defect should be the subject of a recall before this causes a serious accident or fatality.
My gas pedal sticks, especially when it's cold out. I've talked to Ford about it and 3 other mechanics and no one knows why. I have a heated garage so it's not frozen. Not sure what to do but is embarrassing and dangerous!
While driving gas pedal is sticking, electronic throttle body failures resulting in stall/surge while driving. This ia a very dangerous defect that can cause serious injury or death and needs to be addressed by Ford Motor Company. There currently is not a recall to this year model. Please help me.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the air conditioning condenser and the transmission cooling system failed, causing a loss of transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 44,000.
While driving at 65 mph on I-10, toward armstrong international airport, the vehicle, with no pre-warning began to decelerate (slow down). The vehicles speed did not respond to depressing throttle pedal; the vehicle would not maintain speed. Fortunately, there were no vehicle in the right lane and I was able to get to the shoulder of the road. There, by turning off the ignition and restarting the vehicle I was able to continue the trip until the second and third occurrence. This situation occurred three more time on the return trip home. All on the interstate highway. Needless to say, after the first occurrence I proceeded in the far right lane where I could get to the shoulder easily. After doing some investigation, I have found that this has been occurring on Ford escorts since 2004 at least. I find it difficult to believe that such a potentially dangerous design flaw in an automobile has persisted so long. Imagine what would be the consequences of having this occur while driving in the middle of a six lane interstate with 18 wheelers all around. At best there would be an accident, there is a very high probability of fatalities.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate and jerk abnormally when shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist where a diagnostic was performed. The failure was located at the transmission, which needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 71,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic light, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission cooler needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, she noticed that the transmission was leaking fluid. The contact also noticed that the transmission was slipping sporadically while driving. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the connector that linked the transmission to the air conditioning unit failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was called about the issue. The failure and current mileages were 71,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Red Lion, PA, USA