I bought a 2009 Ford Escape with 7 miles on it. At 6000 miles it started jerking. Took it back to the dealer they told me nothing was wrong, jerking was normal for a new car. At 12000 miles it got so bad I took it to a different dealership. They said at first it was a computer issue and they fixed it. Two days later it was back in the shop.They replaced a part on the transmission, no luck. They hooked a diagnostic machine up to it for me to push a button when it jerked (it shocked me). They finally decided to replace the transmission. They kept the car almost 2 weeks. about 2 weeks after I got it back it started jerking again. During all of this I was in contact with someone from Ford Corporate, we will just call her "nasty". Once the jerking started again I took it back to the service department once more and they said they could not duplicate the problem. They have had an engineer come look at it twice and they tell me nothing is wrong with it. This has been going on since last June. i took it to a 3rd dealer who was FINALLY able to duplicate the problem but has no idea how to fix it and Ford won't send an engineer to this new dealer...only to the one who couldn't fix it in the first place! They refuse to buy it back, replace it or even give me an extended warranty on it. FORD sells you a piece of crap, then says " haha I have your money, now the car is your problem."

Trans problems on 2009 Escape. Slipping going up hill, hard shift when passing, hard shift when slowing down for curves then speed up. Had fixed under warranty but dealer had car for almost 4 weeks and didn't call for 2 weeks to let me know what was up until I went there to talk to Service Manager and service rep and salesperson. Almost another 2 weeks before car was fixed. Delay was told to be the part was hard to get from Ford, As far as I know they replaced some parts but didn't put new trans in. Remember asking parts dept the delay was and it was told valve body. 2 weeks and 1600 miles later and the vehicle has the hard shift again, twice going slow and once to pass car in city.

Bought the Escape (1st US brand auto ever) last year and almost immediately (around 10K mi) I started experiencing problems with the transmission; taking inordinate amounts of time to shift into gear (forward or reverse) especially when it's cold out, slamming into gear & slipping under acceleration. Finally took the car to a dealer and they told me they were aware of the problems. The tech stated the tranny fluid was burnt and the transmission needed to be replaced only to call back later to recant his statement saying the color/smell/texture of the trans fluid is "normal" and only needed to be topped off. Hmmmm, interesting…. Also stated the slipping was due to my driving habits - "not coming to a full stop each time so the computer can 'learn' how/when to shift to match my driving habits. Really?????

I followed the tech's instructions implicitly and the problem has yet to "fix itself". Many times, when it finally shift into gear, it shifts so violently, the car slams into gear with such force, I fully expect to see pieces of the car laying on the ground when I drive away. Clearly, this design of transmission if faulty and needs to be addressed!!!! Are you "Bailed out" Auto execs listening???!!!!! How many ways can you spell "next car"??? Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen.... enough said!?

First time I brought the problem to the dealer the car had 8,000 miles. Dealer test drove but did not confirm problem. The second time the car had 13,000 and dealer confirmed the problem with a test drive. Doesn't Ford have other diagnostic tools besides test driving the car? The dealer has had the car for two days and is still trying to decide whether to fix the transmission or replace it.

Update from Mar 11, 2010: Another 24 hours have gone by and the dealer says they are still waiting on Ford to approve a repair or replacement of the transmisson. Does any one know why Ford would take so long to authorize the dealer to fix the car?

Traded in my 04 Explorer for an brand new 09 Escape. Should have kept the Explorer!

Now have 8200 miles on the little darlin' and the transmission is getting a little funky. When I had the oil changed thye told me to get the thing to the dealership because the transmission was leaking. On the way up the next day it jerked into gear going up hill so bad I almost got whiplash. Dealer checks tranny, yep it's low on fluid but not burned. He fills it up, says he just got a service notice about the problem a few days ago and he has to order the parts, keep on driving around, the refill should make it all better til the parts get here. Meanwhile I the car is getting about 18mpg where it had been getting 23-26 mpg. Why do I think it is hurt more than he thinks it is?

Is there anyone out there with a perfectly fine 2009 Escape? My 09 Escape is still sitting in the shop waiting on the new transmission to be put in. I bought it a year ago and have 23000 miles on it. It started the same doing the same things simplypugs stated around 20000 miles or so. This is absolutely absurd. I really hope someone from Ford (one of the higher ups) is reading these posts. All of us who have bought brand new 09 Escapes should be compensated. I think we should all get brand new Ford vehicles of our choosing....at no cost! I've always drivin a Ford and I've never had problems like this. At this point I'd even be happy if they put Sync in the Edge they loaned me and let me keep it. My luck, I'd have the same problems with it.

I purchased a 2009 Ford Escape. It had to be ordered as the dealer did not have one in stock. Apparently the 5 speed manual is new for the 2009 year (2.5 L engine). I waited for 6 weeks for delivery, only to find out that the shifting was horrible. Zero to 1st is very rough - The only way to get a smooth shift is to ride the clutch.

1st to 2nd is also very bad. unless you shift very slowly it grinds in 2nd every time. Forget trying to get a smooth shift at all if it is cold outside. There is also tapping behind the gas pedal with acceleration from 2nd.

Very disappointed, I have had the SUV 2 months now and have been back and forth from the dealer only to hear that they have no history on this SUV 5 speed as it is to new to tell. This must be an engineering fault as I have since driven another, it does the same thing

Update from Sep 8, 2009: Just to follow up on my orginal complaint. Nothing has been corrected to date it has been 1 year and everytime I take my lemon back to the dealership they say there is nothing wrong with the Escape 2009 5 speed manual 2.5L - Someone by the name of Lori send me a message with the same problem related to the tapping. Lori do you have a 5 speed?? as well I was not sure how to get a hold of you - perhaps if two people with the same complaint went to the dealership together we might get double the response. How is you shift to second is it smooth??

Update from Oct 10, 2009: My escape is the worst vechicle I ever purchased. Never purchase a manual 5 speed::;:: when you shift into 2nd there is a tapping in the gas pedal - shifting 1st to 2nd it grinds often. I have taken my suv back 12 times, each time the dealer tells me there is nothing wrong with the suv. I for one am not impressed with FORD it is my first, it will be my last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One's expectation when purchasing a new vechile is that you tend to be excited. WEll I CAN TELL YOU I WAS NOT EXCITED. Since the day I picked up my Escape has been nothing but problems.

If anyone is purchasing a Found On Road Dead "FORD" leave it at the dealership.