My husband took my 2009 Ford Escape to the dealer for my 2nd oil change yesterday. I told him to mention that the car has always seemed to shift heavily; I attributed this to the fact that my other Escape was 7 years old and it would feel stiffer for awhile. The service manager told my husband that the transmission fuel was burned and that my transmission was virtually gone. He said it would have to be replaced and that he had seen this before. When my husband told me, I thought he was joking--apparently not. I googled "problems with 2009 Ford Escapes" and, lo and behold, there are others out there. I called the dealership to tell them that I was very dissatisfied and that I found a website, this one, where other people were talking about the same issue. He said he was unaware of these transmission problems but would call me back. He asked if I would be interested in a 2010 Escape. I replied that I might if the transmission was not an issue. I received a call from a saleswoman who said that there was a problem with a part in the transmission but they had solved the issue in the 2010 models. I asked, "If Ford was aware of this problem, why did I not get a notice that I needed to have the part replaced?" I did not receive a satisfactory answer. However, my husband and I took the car to the dealership to discuss trading it in for a 2010 model--after having been assured that payment, interest, etc. would be pretty much the same. Well--that meant a payment that was $40 more per month. We were not happy with this scenario and I said that I was going to call Ford to lodge a complaint.

I called Ford and talked to someone named Jessica and explained my problem and vented my frustration with the fact that I was never notifed that this was an issue. She told me that it wasn't a widespread problem, that we don't live in a perfect world and that nothing is 100% with any new car from any company and that it was a hit or miss situation! You can imagine my astonishment. I replied that I did not need a lecture on the state of the world and that I didn't feel that it was her job to do so. I said I wanted her to log my dissatisfaction with my experience and if I only had a "hit or miss" chance of getting a reliable, new vehicle from Ford Motor Company, then, going forward, I would take my chances on another car company for my future vehicle purchases. I also called back to log a complaint about my experience with Jessica.

Long story short--I will have the dealership fix the transmission, hopefully with success, and will not buy another Ford vehicle. I'll take my chances elsewhere.

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 absolutly obsurd. 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 brought my vehicle in for a 3000 mile Oil Change and let the service people at the dealership know that there was a grinding in the transmission while driving. Later that day they called me at home and told me when they checked the Transmission Fluid that it was burned and they needed to replace the transmission. They stated no other reports have been filed with such a new transmission on a Ford Escape. Ford replaced the transmission after about 8 days and I picked up my truck and brought it home. The next morning there was transmission fluid all over my driveway. The dealership had the vehicle towed back in and they found a pinched gasket on the drivers side axle. I bought the vehicle new and has already had a new tranny in it at about 3200 miles on the odometer. For customer satisfaction, I would like a different vehicle as this will never be the same one I bought.

Well, my husband and I traded in our Dodge Durango for better fuel and just to downsize and lower a vehicle payment. We thought the new Escape was the best fit for me so that's what we went with. While this is my only vehicle I drive it everyday.......I was picking up all my kids at school and started out going up a fairly steep hill (As we live in the sticks!) and the truck just didn't wanna go! Finally halfway up the hill, I thought the truck was gonna blow up! It lagged going into gear while going up that hill but then SLAMMED into gear!!!!!!! Needless to say it got worse from there. At every light I would stop at when I would begin to merge forward and step on the gas it started hesitating so badly then it would almost do this thing where it felt like it was triple skipping into gear!!!!!! OMG What a disaster this has become. It now sits with a Ford Dealership with completely black colored transmission fluid and it's a wait game on when they are gonna decide what the issue is and when I will get it back. They did put me in a rental vehicle another Escape and now the wait is on...........We will see what the outcome is. But give me a break. We owe way to much for a Rebuilt transmission. They better plan on a new one!!!

Traded in a perfectly good Cadillac Escalade for a 2010 Ford Escape. Did it for reliability and gas mileage as well as lower payment. Three days later no drive or reverse.

Dealer say's transmission may not be available because it is too new and would have to come from assembly line. I asked for a new vehicle but I'm waiting to hear back. Not happy.

Update from Oct 22, 2009: Dealer replaced transmission with one from factory. The problem with the transmission was a pin that makes the gear selector change gears was pressed in poorly and fell out. So no major failure of the transmission but still a 12 day headache. Car seems great otherwise. Happy again!