2001 Ford Escape Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I'VE RECENTLY GOT A NEW BATTERY, O2 SENSOR AND ALTERNATOR AND MY CAR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF IN DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, STALLED, AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V175000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED TO REVERSE AND DROVE BACKWARDS. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND CONTINUE NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BUBBLES AND APPEARED AS THOUGH IT WOULD EXPLODE. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE WHEN THE GEAR STICK WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DETECTED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 267,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE APPROACHED 50 MILES AN HOUR WHEN IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER TALKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND DOING RESEARCH, THEY CALL THIS SHUDDER. IT FILLS LIKE WHEN YOU DRIVE OFF THE EDGE OF THE INTERSTATE WHITE LINE AND HIT THE ROUGH PAVEMENT. IT WOULD STOP IF I LET UP OFF THE GAS. I HAVE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR TRANSMISSION LIGHT SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD. NO ERROR CODES WHEN THE CODE READER WAS HOOKED UP ON THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME WE HAD ALL OF THE GASKETS AND VACUUM HOSES REPLACED COST WAS OVER 1400 DOLLARS. THE SECOND TIME WE HAD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP OVER 700 DOLLARS ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A TECH BULLETIN THAT CAME OUT A WHILE BACK ON THE CD4E SHUDDER PROBLEM AND APPEARS THAT NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO DO A RECALL ON FORD ESCAPES FOR THE SHUDDER PROBLEM THEY HAVE SINCE THE TECH BULLETIN HAS COME OUT AND NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN DONE. ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE SEEMS TO POINT TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH IS NOT AN EASY FIX AND IS COSTLY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVE WAY. THE GEAR FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,050.

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED AT EITHER A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR TRAFFIC, THE CAR JERKS TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED AN ABS RING THAT WAS CRACKED. THEY SAID, THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THE ABS IS TRYING TO ENGAGE. *TR

MY PCM HAS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ESCAPE FOR OVER 5 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY ADJUSTMENT OR RECALL FOR THIS AS I KNOW OF MANY FAILURES. I ENTER MY COMPLAINT TO SEE IF IT WILL HELP OTHERS, AND PERHAPS INITIAL A RECALL AND A CREDIT FOR THIS VERY EXPENSE REPAIR. *TR

FIFTH TIME VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. DAUGHTER TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THEY THOUGHT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS ON HER WAY BACK TO COLLEGE...4 MILES FROM THE HOUSE AT A RED LIGHT. SHE CALLED AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DOING WHAT IT WAS DOING BEFORE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED THE RECALL REPAIR AND DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON WHY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ UPDATED 09/14/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,319.

MY "STICK SHIFT" 2001 FORD ESCAPE TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN, CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED EVERYWHERE. EVEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH OR HIGHER, ONCE YOU PUSH IN THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE TO THE LAST GEAR, IT WILL STILL STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CUTS OFF, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, IT WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. IT WILL RESTART FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS, (NOT THE BATTERY OR STARTER) THEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN, REPEATEDLY. IT WOULD GET TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH NO LUCK. THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". ONCE, THE CAR COOLS OFF, THEN THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. THERE IS A VALVE THE HEATS UP AND GETS STUCK OPEN. IF THE VALVE COOLS DOWN, IT CAN CLOSE AND THEN IT IS FINE. NOW, IF I MAKE ALOT OF SHORT STOPS (ERRANDS) WHERE THE CAR DOESN'T GET A CHANCE TO COOL OFF, SAY TEN MINUTES OR LESS, THEN IT WON'T STAY STARTED. IF YOU TURN OVER THE IGNITION, IT WILL START, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIES. HOWEVER, IF I LET THE CAR SIT FOR SAY A COUPLE OF HOURS, SAY 4-6 HOURS. IT WILL START BACK UP JUST FINE AND STAY RUNNING LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THE KEY TIP IS: DON'T PUT ETHANOL IN THE GAS TANK. IF I BUY THE MOST EXPENSIVE GAS, THE PROBLEM TENDS TO CLEAR UP ON IT'S OWN. IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN THIS SUMMER. ONCE I CHANGED TO THE PRIMO (MOST EXPENSIVE) GAS, IT HAS NOW STOPPED WITHOUT TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP. PERSONALLY, I THINK GAS CONTAINING ETHANOL HAS TOO MUCH MOISTURE IN IT CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS FORD ESCAPE CAR IS NOT DESIGNED TO RUN ON "ETHANOL" PRODUCTS. THIS ALL MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS VERY HOT AND HUMID OUTSIDE. WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IF IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR OTHERS AS A RECALL ITEM? *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE V6 XLT SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. I EXITED AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME IN SECOND GEAR. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG WITH IT. AT PRESENT, SECOND GEAR IS THE ONLY GEAR THAT STILL WORKS IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT NOW SITS INOPERABLE IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE $3000-$4000 REQUIRED TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THIS VEHICLE AND LATER YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL ARE QUITE COMMON, WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. A COMMON CONSENSUS, IS THAT THE FAILURES ARE DUE TO A FOUR CYLINDER TRANSMISSION BEING INSTALLED IN A HIGHER TORQUE AND HORSEPOWER V6 MODEL. FORD MUST BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT'S REALLY UNFAIR THAT THE CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO PAY HUGE SUMS OF MONEY TO REPAIR SHOPS TO GET PROBLEMS FIXED THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'VE WRITTEN TO FORD, AND VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE AND BOTH ARE UNSYMPATHETIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 2 MPH IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,248. UPDATED 07/14/2010.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

GEARSHIFT CABLE BROKE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AT 8 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE SHAKING CONTINUED FOR FIVE MILES UNTIL THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,308. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR