2009 Ford Escape Complaint Log

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 FORD ESCAPE IN DECEMBER 2008. IT HAS ABOUT 25000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH BRAKE. WHEN I BACKUP VEHICLE, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE IS STUCK, AND CANNOT BE PRESSED DOWN ANYMORE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE IS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE MOVE AS BRAKE IS LOCKED. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY AS 05/10/2010. ONE WAS IN THE MORNING AND ANOTHER WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE VEHICLE HIT THE STREET CURB AS IT CANNOT BE STOPPED. I WAS LUCKY AS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC OR PEOPLE BEHIND OF ME. *TR

VISIBLE PARTICULATE MATTER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN COMING FROM INTERIOR HEATING/COOLING DUCTS OF 2009 FORD ESCAPE. DEALER KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS TO "BLOW OUT" THE SYSTEM AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL PERSISTS, CAUSING ME TO COUGH AND SNEEZE. DEALER STATES THE WHITE RESIDUE IS NOT HARMFUL BUT I DO NOT AGREE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SAMPLES TESTED FOR TOXICITY AND HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM CONTINUOUS INHALATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, 45MPH ZONE, I NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR WAS HAVING NO EFFECT, HOWEVER THE TACH WAS STILL SHOWING THE ENGINE RUNNING. I COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. AS I DO WITH MY COMPUTER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR WAITED A SHORT WHILE AND TURNED IT BACK ON......EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT OF COURSE I TOOK IT TO FORD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLE MALFUNCTION AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN, THE LAST ONE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND COSTING ME 1000 DOLLARS. THREE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLES IN A CAR NOT 4 YRS OLD WITH STILL LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ACTIVATED, WHITE FLAKES BEGAN TO BLOW FROM THE VENTILATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS OPERATED. THE FLAKES WERE BLOWN INTO THE CONTACT'S EYES, OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,450.

CONTINUOUS EMISSION OF VISIBLE PARTICULATE MATTER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN FROM THE INTERIOR HEATING/COOLING AIR DUCTS OF 2009 FORD ESCAPE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. PARTICULATE CAUSES COUGHING AND SNEEZING. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS JUST INSULATION THAT IS NON-TOXIC AND NOT HARMFUL. I DO NOT AGREE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SAMPLES TESTED FOR TOXICITY AND POTENTIAL HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS INHALATION. *TR

The passenger rear panel paint is bubbling and has rust under the bubbled paint. This is a defect noticed on all the Ford Escapes that I see in parking lots and pre owned vehicle lots. This is a factory defect that I and a lot of other Escape owners feel the manufacturer should take responsibility for and recall the issue so we can get our vehicles fixed. The cost to do it is not covered under my insurance. The safety of others is if you have small kids that are near the vehicle can get rust in their mouth if they touch the area that the bubbled paint has fallen off. The child could touch the bubble, the paint comes off the vehicle and they put it in their mouth. The chips of paint if they try to swallow them could cut their throat trying to swallow the paint chip. The bubble was noticed after owning the vehicle for a year. When I asked at a dealership they mentioned that this is a flaw with the Escapes and nothing can be done about it other than taking it to a body shop and have them remove the rust and paint the quarter panel. That is very expensive.

WHILE TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, TRANSMISSION SLIPS TO NEUTRAL (OR LOW GEAR) AND RPMS SHOOT UP TO NEAR 6000. FORWARD MOMENTUM SLOWS DRAMATICALLY WHICH IS QUITE HAZARDOUS ON HIGHWAY. GOT TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND WITHIN DAY THEY "FIXED" IT BY REPLACING A SEAL (DIAGNOSIS WAS LOW FLUID). EXPRESSED CONCERNS FOR SAFETY AND WAS TOLD IT IS FIXED AND IT IS SAFE. NEXT DAY THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURS! IN ADDITION TO THAT SAME PROBLEM OCCURING, ALSO NOW SHIFTING IS OCCASSIONALLY VERY HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATION IS HARDER LIKE MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY OR PASSING ANOTHER CAR. BRINGING VEHICLE BACK IN BUT DON'T HAVE MY HOPES UP RIGHT NOW.

2009 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED WITH 4WD AND 4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO SPEW FLACKY WHITE MATERIAL FROM THE HEATING/AC DUCTS WHEN THE SYSTEM'S FAN IS OPERATING. UPON RETURN TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN EXISTED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUFACTURER'S BULLETIN.THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THE MATERIAL WAS INSULATION AND NON TOXIC AND NOT A CARCINOGEN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST WITH SMALLER PARTICLES BEING SPEWED FORTH WHENEVER THE SYSTEM IS TURNED ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT CONTINUOUS INHALATION OF THIS MATERIAL WILL HAVE BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. SINCE THERE IS ALREADY A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT, MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I PLAN TO RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR RESOLUTION BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS MORE AT RISK. HOW DO I DETERMINE THAT INHALATION OF THIS MATERIAL IS NOT TOXIC AND DOES NOT IMPOSE A HEALTH RISK?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR

AT THE SHIFT LEVEL OF 40 TO 45 MPH THE GAS PEDAL VIBRATES. IT IS MOST PRONOUNCED DURING THE FIRST SHIFT OF THE DAY. *TR

LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT BROKE AND SEAL TO TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID CAR HAD 14,516 MILEAGE REPLACED SHAFT AND SEAL AND BUSHING. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR UNDER ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVS UP TO 5,000 TO 6,000 RPMS WITH NO ERROR LIGHTS COMING ON. DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT WAS LOW ON TRANNY FLUID. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED TWO DAYS LATER AND IS NOT FIXED YET. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS QUITE POSSIBLE.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHETHER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED REPEATEDLY BUT THEY NEVER RETURNED THE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

ON OCTOBER 24, 2009, THE RPM NEEDLE WOULD STICK AT THE 2000 LEVEL. HESITATION OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING MARCH 2, 2010, THE THROTTLE BINDED ON ACCELERATION. ON JULY19, 2011, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED DUE TO RECALL.ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011, ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING, RESTARTED ENGINE, AND WOULD DRIVE, AND PROBLEM WOULD REPEAT. THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY REPLACED.ON DECEMBER 3 ,2012, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR AND DTC CODES WERE CLEARED, WIGGLE TEST AND WIRING DIAGNOSIS PERFORMED. ON MARCH 16TH,2013, CAR POWERED DOWN TO SLOW CRAWL AND ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TRANSMISSION AXLE LEAK REPAIRED. ON APRIL 5TH, THROTTLE /POWERTRAIN LIGHT APPEARED AND CAR SLOWED DOWN TO A SLOW CRAWL. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS AND THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED UP TO 6000. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED BACK IN GEAR, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A VALVE BODY WHICH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON MARCH 30, 2010, ALL OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ON APRIL 19, 2010, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR NINE DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO ADAPT TO THE CONTACTS STYLE OF DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER WANTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,184. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,835.

PURCHASED 2009 FORD ESCAPE FWD V6 AUTO TRANS AS A VEHICLE TO BE TOWED BEHIND OUR MOTOR HOME. WE WERE ASSURED IT WAS TOWABLE (FORD OWNERS MANUAL & DINGHY TOWING GUIDES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY WITH AUTO MFR'S INPUT). WE HAVE BLOWN 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN PAST 4 MONTHS, AND HAVE MORE THAN FOLLOWED FORD'S GUIDELINES. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL OTHER RVERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED UP TO 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES - SOME REPORTED BEING FLAGGED DOWN BY OTHER MOTORISTS BECAUSE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR WHILE BEING TOWED. THE WIRING HARNESS ON OURS HAS BEEN MELTED BOTH TIMES TRANS FAILURE OCCURRED. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR MISTAKE RELATIVE TOWABILITY. FORD HAS ABUSED US (STRANDED FOR 2+WEEKS NOW WITH NO IDEA WHEN REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED) BY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES. ON THE FIRST TRANS FAILURE THEY JUST TOLD THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION - TOOK 10 DAYS. THIS TIME THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON ORDERING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, AND OFFERING US NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR INCONVENIENCE AND OUT OF POCKET COSTS (RENTAL CAR, ETC). *TR

WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD FLASHES OFF AND ON. ONLY HAPPENS MAYBE 20% OF THE TIME. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE CODES THAT COME UP THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SO CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DO TAKE IT IN MOST OF THE TIMES THE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON SO THEY ASK WHETS THE PROBLEM? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT. *TR

AT THE SHIFT LEVEL OF 40 TO 45 MPH THE GAS PEDAL VIBRATES. IT IS MOST PRONOUNCED DURING THE FIRST SHIFT OF THE DAY. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT V6. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. SPEEDOMETER READ 60MPH YET NO RPMS. COULD HAVE PROVEN FATAL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR 1 RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION FAILED ANYHOW. ALOT OF OTHER 2009 ESCAPES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

CAR SLOWED THEN ACCELERATED TO OVER 100MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND STOPPED WITH A BUMP TO MY GARAGE DOOR. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NOW I FIND OUT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LINKAGE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE HAS A RECALL. DEALER WANTS $100 TO LOOK AT IT. IF THE PART BEING RECALLED IS FINE, THEY KEEP THE $100, IF NOT THEY DEDUCT IT FROM MY BILL OR REFUND IT TO ME. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY NOTHING COULD BE DONE, ACCORDING TO THEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING THE SLOWING UP OF THE VEHICLE. YOU PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND YOU LOSE POWER, THEN SUDDENLY IT KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING AT HIGH SPEEDS, WITH THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I'VE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP AND THROWN IT INTO NEUTRAL AND WATCHED THE ENGINE TACH VERY HIGH BEFORE TURNING IT OFF (INTO ACCESSORIES SO I STILL HAVE BRAKES AND STEERING) TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED ME THE DEALER HAS THE RIGHT TO CHARGE ME THE FEE BUT URGED ME TO GO TO DEALER AND PAY. IF THE LINKAGE IS ON RECALL THEN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE UP FRONT? THEY CLAIM I SHOULD GET A REFUND IF IT IS THE LINKAGE, BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK ENGINE OR ANYTHING CAME ON. I NOW HAVE THE CAR UP FOR SALE AND I AM PASSING THIS PROBLEM ONTO THE NEXT BUYER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN URGING ME TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUSHES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY HE NOTICED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS IF METAL HITTING AGAINST METAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS BLACK AND IT IS WARM, THAT IS WHY HE WAS HEARING THAT NOISE. HOWEVER THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS. HE DOESN'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER ORDERED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER'S INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER .THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS AN INDEPENDENT DEALER THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,356 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,200.

STALLING WHEN GOING ON GAS TO PASS ANOTHER CAR OR UP A STEEP HILL. AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL QUICKLY, CAR WANTS TO STILL ACCELERATES FOR A GOOD THREE TO FOUR SECONDS. ALSO ENGINE STALLS OUT AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN, LIKE INTO A PARKING SPACE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THE FIRST TWO ARE NORMAL AND THE THIRD ITEM THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, LESS THAN 10 MPH. SIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. NOTING HIT THE CAR AND WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING FELL ON THE CAR. WE WERE ON AN EVEN SMOOTH PAVEMENT. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE (RENTAL CAR) I RECEIVED THIS NEW RENTAL CAR FROM A MAJOR RENTAL CAR COMPANY AT THE SEATTLE/TACOMA AIRPORT WITH ONLY WITH 83 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I RENTED THE CAR ON APPROXIMATELY 7-7-09. ON 7-13-09, WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,100 MILES ON IT, THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT IT IS CALLED). I DO KNOW IT CAME OFF THE SPINDLE. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE ON VACATION WITH ME WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAD EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND NEAR THE END OF THE EXIT LANE, I WAS DRIVING AROUND A SHARP, LEFT HAND, BANKED, HAIRPIN CORNER THAT CROSSES OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE EXIT LANE WAS EXTREMELY LONG AND I BELIEVE I WAS GOING ABOUT 20-25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE WHEEL SEPARATED HALFWAY THROUGH THE HAIRPIN TURN. I HEARD A CLUNK CLUNK AND THE TIRE SKIDDING. IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THE FORD ESCAPE FROM LEAVING THE ROADWAY ON THE RIGHT, BUT BECAUSE OF MY LOW SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER UNDER CONTROL. I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL THE WHEEL DID NOT SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE FENDER OR FENDER WELL AND FROM WHAT I COULD SEE NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL. IT LOOKED LIKE A BOLT WAS MISSING FROM THE COLLAR (I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT) THAT SURROUNDS THE SPINDLE. DON'T THESE BOLTS HAVE COTTER PINS? THE TIRE WENT FLAT AFTER THREE HOURS. THE POLICEMAN ASKED ME IF I HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. I DIDN'T THINK SO, BUT WE WALKED THE ROADWAY BEFORE THE SKIDMARKS ANYWAY. NEITHER THE POLICEMAN NOR I FOUND ANYTHING. I NEVER ABUSED THE RENTAL CAR. I HAVE PICTURES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,419. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

TL* 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 *CN 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. *JB

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. *TR

ON JUNE 2ND 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD ESCAPE ON HIGHWAY 101 HEADING WEST WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS INSTANTLY DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEATBELT LOCKED ME INTO THE SEAT, I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS TOPANGA CANYON. I DROVE AROUND THE CORNER TO VISTA FORD AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN SHIPPED THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO ANALYZE. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS UNTIL THEY DETERMINE IT WAS A DEFECT. IN THE MEAN TIME MY INSURANCE IS HAVING VISTA FORD REPLACE THE MODULE AND AIRBAGS. I WILL GET THE VEHICLE BACK AND HAVE TO DRIVE IT. I CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE AND DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. UNFORTUNATELY MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE 2500 MILE A MONTH ALL AROUND SOUTHERN CA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 3 MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY INCURRED $650.00 OF RENTAL CAR EXPENSES SINCE JUNE 2ND SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE WORKING. I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR BY FORD. *TR

MY FIRST INCIDENT WITH MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT. AFTER JUST STARTING MY TRUCK AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT THE RPM'S WERE ROARING TO OVER 6000 AND MY TRUCK FINALLY SHOT OUT INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY ON A VERY BUSY STREET, NO ONE WAS COMING AT THE TIME. AFTER THAT THE TRUCK HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF NOT ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC AND A ROARING AND RAPID RISE IN RPM'S. I LEARNED TO IMMEDIATELY TURN MY CAR OFF (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD) AND THEN RESTART AND IT WOULD USUALLY WORK PROPERLY. IT CAN BE VERY SCARY. IT WOULD OFTEN SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHICH I KNOW WAS NOT GOOD FOR MY TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SO I KNEW IT MIGHT BE HARD FOR A TECHNICIAN TO REPLICATE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR 3 YEARS THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHEN MY WARRANTY WAS UP I WENT IN AND INSISTED THAT THEY FIX MY TRUCK. THEY REPLACED A TIE ROD, FIXED THE SWAY BAR LINKAGE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT STARTED MAKING REALLY LOUD NOISES A MONTH LATER AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO AGAIN FIXED THE LINKAGE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY KEPT THE TRUCK FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND DID EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION WORK. IT HAS HAD 2 PROBLEM SINCE BUT NOT AS BAD. I STILL WORRY ABOUT FRONT END ISSUES AFTER 3 YEARS OF SLAMMING INTO GEAR WITH THE ENGINE REVVING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE(USUALLY I LEASED MY TRUCK) BECAUSE I WAS RETIRING AND NOW I FEEL I MUST GET RID OF IT BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED MECHANICAL TROUBLE. *TR

09 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSION LOST THIRD GEAR [6 SPEED AUTO] THEN GOES INTO DEFAULT MODE [5TH GEAR ONLY] THIS IS A VERY HARSH EVENT [IT CAUSES THE TIRE TO SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT] FORD REPLACED A PCM NOW THE TRANSMISSION SPEWS OIL OUT THE DIPSTICK TUBE AND COVERS THE BACK END GATE AND UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE [THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AS EXHAUST TEMPS ARE HIGH] THUS FAR THE SELLING DEALERS SERVICE AND WARRANTY IS A JOKE PROBLEMS STARTED AT 2000 MILES HAVE 3000 NOW THE TRUCK SPENDS MORE TIME AT DEALERSHIP THAN AT OUR HOME WE DO NOT FEEL WE CAN BE SAFE WITH THESE ISSUES GOING ON. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE PURCHASED APRIL 2009. NOTICED TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVING. THOUGHT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN MY ERROR FOR NOT STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY. MARCH 2010, MILEAGE ABOUT 20,000 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN I ACCELERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL OR STARTS JERKING AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE REVS UP WITH NO ERROR LIGHTS COMING ON. CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, SOONEST THEY COULD GET ME IN IS MARCH 22, 2010. WHEN I WAS MAKING THE APPOINTMENT THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY LOW ON TRANNY FLUID. CHECKED THE TRANNY FLUID WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED ON MARCH 13, 2010 AND IT WAS LOW, SERVICE TECH ADDED MORE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED THE SAME AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS QUITE POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN ENTERING THE ON RAMP AND A SEMI TRUCK IS IN THE SAME LANE. I'VE NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS ADDRESSING THE SAME ISSUE. DEFINITELY THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSIONS. I'LL SEE WHAT THE DEALER SAYS AND IF THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT SHE HAS BEEN HAVING ALOT OF ESCAPES COMING IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WILL UPDATE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER MY VEHICLE IS LOOKED AT AND DIAGNOSED. I'LL ALSO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

59 YR. WOMAN NO DRUGS NEVER. NON SMOKER. ATTENDING TRAFFIC VERY CONCENTRATED. 17 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. IT IS TRUE I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE WITHOUT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS TRUE I DIDN'T TRY TO STOPPED SUDDENLY AT ANY TIME BEFORE. USUALLY I DRIVE VERY SAFE TAKING A RATIONAL DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS. IT HAPPENED INTO A TIED TRAFFIC AT 125 NE STREET, NORTH MIAMI, SOUTH FL AT APPROX 6 PM LAST FRIDAY 3/13/09 NO MORE THAT 25 MILES PER HOUR BECAUSE TRAFFIC IS USUALLY DENSE AT THAT TIME ON THAT STREET. UNDER A GREEN LIGHT THE 1ST CAR IN ROW SUDDENLY STOPPED TO MAKE AN UNAUTHORIZED LEFT. ALL THE CARS BEHIND IN THE LINE STOPPED TO HIT THE ONE IN FRONT, ONE BY ONE. I WAS THE LAST IN THE ROW. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR VERY HARD WITH ENOUGH DISTANCE IT DIDN'T STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY SOUL TO AVOID THE IMPACT BUT I IT DIDN'T WORK AS I EXPECTED. I WAS DRIVING A RENTED SUV-FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2009. THE CAR KEPT RUNNING UNTIL HIT THE LAST CAR IN THE ROW. ACCIDENT WAS NOT MY FAULT, I DIDN'T GET THE TICKET. IT WAS A RENTED CAR. NOW THE INSURANCE WILL TRY TO COLLECT FROM ME THE $1000 DEDUCTIBLE OF MY POLICY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE. AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS, LARGER RECALLS AND ARE GENERALLY LESS RELIABLE DAY BY DAY, AND WE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THEM. *TR

THE GAS PEDAL OF THE ESCAPE (2009 MODEL) VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATES TO ABOUT 45 MPH. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. *TR

SUDDEN SURGE AND SLOW DECLINE IN SPEED. PULLED OVER TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND IT WAS OK. 4 MONTHS LATER SAME THING. I HAVE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. LAST TIME DEC.2011 THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO NOT FLUCTUATE IN SPEED SINCE MOST OCCURRENCES HAPPENED ON EXPRESSWAY. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND IT IS SCARY BUT PULLING OVER AND TURNING OFF CAR THEN RESTARTING PUTS IT BACK TO NORMAL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO ANY MORE USELESS REPAIRS NOR ANOTHER CAR. THERE IS NO SPEED OR WEATHER CONDITION THAT APPEARS TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE PARKED AND SHIFTING INTO PARK OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2009 ESCAPE HYBRID MODEL ONLY. WHILE CHANGING OIL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE OIL FILLER TUBE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE ENGINE BAY). I SPILLED A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL WHILE REFILLING (2 TABLESPOONS) AND NOTICED IT DROPPED ONTO THE MANIFOLD, WHICH HAS SOME CREASES AND FOLDS IN IT THAT CAN CATCH THE OIL AND POOL IT. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT WAS STILL HOT ENOUGH TO START SMOKING SLIGHTLY. AFTER WIPING UP WHAT OIL I COULD WITH A RAG, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT BEGAN SMOKING AGAIN WITHIN 20 SECONDS. NO DOUBT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY WITHIN MINUTES HAD I NOT WIPED UP THE POOLED OIL FROM THE MANIFOLD. *TR