The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The vehicle hesitates prior to accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the computer was reprogrammed. The repair did not remedy the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000. The current mileage is 10,000. Updated 1/4/10 when decreasing speed for turns or nearing a light, and then accelerate, the vehicle didn't respond quick, it took a few seconds. The consumer change the grade of gas he was using and the problem improved a little. The dealer reprogrammed the PCM. The consumer stated he and the dealer discussed the possibility of a new transmission because of the acceleration problem as well as the fluid being black. Updated 01/06/10.

- Orchard Lake , MI, USA

2009 Ford Escape 4WD automatic transmission. We experienced failure of transmission while towing the car per instructions in car information book. It was fixed by Ford with no problem (we were told it was a defective transmission) took 12 days. Reimbursed by extended warranty for out of pocket expenses. Then we towed it 1000 miles per instructions on stopping etc. No problems. We had the oil changed by a Ford dealer and they "topped" off the fluids. We towed the car 200 miles and the transmission "blew" it was towed again to a Ford dealer fixed in 6 days this time and a new dipstick was given with instruction to never let anyone "top" off the fluid and to keep it between hash mark and low line. We have since towed it >9000 miles with no further problem. However everytime we had oil change or tire reputation, the service department did not know about their own service bulletin telling them not to top off fluid. We were also given new towing instructions regarding stopping every 6 hours and running the car for 5 minutes and putting it through all gears before towing again. However, I can't find those instruction anywhere.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA