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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,161 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Ford Escape drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 11)

problem #218

Dec 122023

Escape

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the contact had to shift into 2nd gear prior to shifting into drive(D) to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel was sized and became difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #217

Jun 302023

Escape

  • miles
Car was parked on street with a slight downward slope behind it. It was turned off and placed in "Park". It rolled backwards down the street and hit a utility pole which caused it to stop. After seeing that it had "moved on its own" the shift handle was checked and still indicated the car was in "Park". Suspect some issue with the car actually being in park related to transmission, shift lever, or Ignition. The ignition has periodically displayed a reluctance to allow the car to start when the key is turned. The car will go to Ford dealer since I understand there was a large recall for this issue.

- Lindenhurst, IL, USA

problem #216

Jul 012023

Escape

  • miles
Vehicle rolled backwards due to defective trans shifter bushing on transaxle end. In the process of replacing bushing if available from Ford

- Walden, NY, USA

problem #215

Dec 202022

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The power steering torque sensor failed while driving today. As a result the vehicle lost all power steering and became difficult to steer and posed a serious risk to my safety while driving a distance over an hour from home on back country roads in Kentucky which were winding and made making curves and staying on the road very difficult to manage. There was no warning, no engine check light to come on. About 5 minutes before the power steering failed to function, the steering wheel began to have a very slight movement while at a stop light. This was not a sufficient warning to give me enough time to determine that my vehicle was about to become unsafe and there was no noise coming from the car or affected components. As a result of the malfunction/ equipment failure, I had to make wide turns that made the vehicle leave the roadway slightly at times with the tires going off the side of the road before the wide turn was completed. Steering became very difficult and the vehicle did not respond to my steering attempts. I could not make sharp turns and had a long distance to suffer through the hazard this caused. When I finally arrived home I had to drive through my yard to park because I could not get the vehicle to turn sharp enough to make it into the driveway. While driving there wasn't any shake or noticeable issue with the steering wheel itself other than the loss of power steering that felt as if the entire steering column was locked up. I have contacted the nearest Ford dealership to inquire about getting the recall repair completed tomorrow. I will have it inspected at that time. As of now, the failed component is available for inspection upon request. I am sure the problem will be reproduced as it has not regained steering function hours later and is in need of repair. I never received any notice prior to the equipment failure that there in fact was a safety recall on my vehicle. I would like to know how I was missed on being notified.

- Cecilia, KY, USA

problem #214

Jan 182018

Escape

  • 113,000 miles
Power steering went out while driving. Nearly impossible to drive the short distance home. Was leaving a grocery store onto the street

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #213

Oct 272020

Escape

  • 135,000 miles
Power steering just went out, was working just fine then just all of a sudden quit working. Driving went to turn and all of a sudden it was just extremely hard to turn almost wrecked. Prior to this I was driving and turned went to accelerate and the car wouldn't go I had to pull off the side of the road and call a tow truck, the shop said the transmission went out. But no issues before this, just went out all of a sudden like the power steering now.

- Ostrander, OH, USA

problem #212

Jul 162020

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Multiple service lights turn on, all gauges go to zero while driving, seemingly random. I have had the cluster replaced and had the same problem with a new cluster. Looks like the same issue as described in 10024328/ Ford tsb 08-3-6. information on the issue is not available.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #211

Aug 162019

Escape

  • 115,000 miles
My car has displayed the issues this model was recalled for numerous times and now will not start again. It stopped driving unexpectedly on several occasions when I have been driving on both freeways and residential streets. When it happens it becomes impossible to steer, gas and brake have no effect, and flashes a mesage that says to stop safely now (even though you have no control over it anyway). It sounds exactly like what happens in the one of the handful of recalls I've read about for this car, yet my VIN number says there are none associated with it and I think that needs to be reexamined.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #210

Jun 112020

Escape

  • 163,000 miles
Automatic transmission- after starting torque growls, when I put it in any gear it hesitates then lurches so much the tires squeal, & sounds, feels like something in the rear of SUV is going to fall apart. Also when this happens it's scaring other drivers and pedestrians. Shakes me so hard it hurts my neck and back. Has actually thrown my purse to the floor board with anything else on the seats. All these malfunctions happen when I put in gear when starting or at red lights & stop signs. Dangerous!!! plus transmission is leaking fluid. I've quit driving it 08/08/2020 after only driving it occasionally for 2 months. I purchased this vehicle on 06/11/2020. I did/do keep transmission fluid in the SUV

- Cambridge, OH, USA

problem #209

Jul 062020

Escape

  • 129,100 miles
The car broke down at a traffic light a few miles from the highway entrance and would not run. Battery light, wrench light and stop safely came on. The car was towed to a Ford dealer, diagnosed with P0A7A and P0A78 codes. The dealership said the car needed a new or rebuilt transmission, which would have cost more than the cars trade in value if if good running condition.

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

problem #208

Jan 222020

Escape

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a friend's home where upon inspection, the contact determined that the failure was linked to a transmission cable failure. The contact then linked the transmission failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15V606000 (power train). The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Ludowici, GA, USA

problem #207

Oct 052007

Escape

  • 65,000 miles
Transmission losing shift in all gears after warmup

- Bunker Hill, WV, USA

problem #206

Feb 102020

Escape

  • 180,000 miles
Driving to work I noticed a clicking noise if I let go of steering wheel which lasted about a week then on my way to work again it wouldnt go over 40 mph and wont come out of gear. On the way home it wouldnt go over 30mph and still wont come out of gear.

- New Iberia, LA, USA

problem #205

Feb 012020

Escape

  • 99,777 miles
I own a 2008 Ford Escape that has recently been diagnosed with a known recalled issue with the torque sensor. Error code B2278. It has caused the electric power steering assist to turn off. My vehicle currently has no power steering due to this issue that has already been recalled. My vehicle falls under the model and year that Ford recalled the part on, however the Ford Motor Company is claiming they have no responsibility in the repair or replacement of the part. Luckily I was at a slow speed when the power steering went out and did not cause an accident.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #204

Oct 162019

Escape

  • 147,550 miles
Suspension axle transmission front end while in motion loud clank metal sound. Took to shop and was told drive it until it dies. Too expensive to repair entirerepair of from axel suspension and transmission. I still have 15 months on my loan. No excessive driving and no hard use.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

problem #203

Oct 172019

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
I was driving home from work at night and my 2008 Ford Escape started to lose power. It then just stopped and wouldn't shift. The engine would rev really high, but the transmission wouldn't shift. I was stuck in the middle of highway traffic which made it unsafe. I turned my vehicle off for about five minutes and then turned it back on, it started to shift really slow which I believe was the limp mode. It was towed to a repair shop, the mechanic stated it was a vacuum link and replaced the part. I went back to amp repair shop in clinton township, mi to pick up my vehicle, as I was driving home, it did the same thing with the engine revving high and the transmission not shifting in the middle of gratiot ave, a main street in clinton township. I had it towed to usa transmission in maduson heights, mi. The mechanic diagnosed and told me it was in fact the cd4E transmission and stated they rebuilt a lot of these. He also said the internal parts were worn out because there were a lot of metal shavings in the tranny pan. He stated the cost to rebuild my transmission will be $3075. I dont understand why this transmission has not been recalled. My Ford Escape has only 120,000 miles on it. It should have lasted longer. I want Ford to admit that the cd4E transmission is defective and I would like for them to pay %100 of the repairs. The transmission went out without warning and made it unsafe, I could have been seriously injured as well as others..

- Mount Clemens, MI, USA

problem #202

Sep 122019

Escape

  • 113,000 miles
The engine motor mounts have failed three times on the vehicle causing exhaust parts to break. The Ford oem parts only last one year before needing to be replaced again. Recently, the bad motor mounts caused the engine to move so much it caused the front flex pipe to break which subsequently clogged one of the catalytic convertors to clog.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #201

Jun 062019

Escape

  • 180,000 miles
My vehicle will be in motion while driving and suddenly have a shifting problem. The vehicle will shake and stutter and looses power no matter how much you press your foot on the gas peddle. My engine light flashed on and off a couple times and then once my vehicle shifted, it would idle rough and act like it was going to die when I would stop at a light. This has been happening for several days now at different speeds on residential streets and the highway. The engine light has not come on since. I took it to have the error code read from the engine light coming on but it was only a generic code. One of the codes was for an airbag sensor. I do not know what is wrong with it.

- Princeton, TX, USA

problem #200

Mar 062019

Escape

  • miles
I bought this used Escape about 2 yrs ago, first yr over $400 into stabilizer bar sway bars front end repairs, ,ok, second yr, guess what? yes transmission 3rd gear out...after doing reviews on here I'm not the only one. When one lives on social security and you live on $100 a week doesn't leave much for repairs, , yes I know you are going to some maintance but holly cow this transmission problem is not cheap. I have only put 9,223 miles on this SUV since I had it. With as many problems as there is with the Escape transmission one would think Ford would get it right, with all the problems not even a recall. Every place I have taken my car to I't like here comes a ole lady we'll tell her anything and empty her wallet, can't believe all the crap I was told with diff $$ making my head spin, who do you belive when Ford let you down and don't stand behind their product. I have always been a Ford person but not anymore!! I can't make payments and replace tranys on a fixed income. I am doing my homework now and it looks like Chevy here I come. Ford get it together

- Big Rapids, MI, USA

problem #199

Dec 202018

Escape

  • 13,360 miles
The front wheel hub started giving me problems around 10 three 2018. Then on 12 20 2018 the hood came undone and smashed my windshield. Ever since I've had the vehicle since 2015 it had power assist problems in the steering.

- Nokomis, FL, USA

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