2004 Ford Escape Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UP A STEEP INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED ABNORMALLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A NEARBY AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 01/15/13*LJ UPDATED 12/23/2013*JS

NHTSA ID

10484603

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

81,000 mi

FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 2004 PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DON'T WORK VIN:[XXX]. I BOUGHT IN MARCH 2011. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ID

10423017

Incident

Jul 25, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT W/ 60000 MILES. IT REQUIRED A TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THIS LISTED AS A RECALL ITEM/ ONLINE IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. ALL VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE HAVE BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THIS VEHICLE AND THOSE IN ONLINE REPORTS INDICATE VERY SIMILAR FAILURES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFICIT/ FAULT. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL/REPLACEMENT ITEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10275963

Incident

Jun 22, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AT 60 MPH. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANES AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON IT'S BRAKES AND SWERVE TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268362

Incident

May 10, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65K MILES. TRANS FLUID FLUSHED BY FORD @ 30K MILES. CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND ALMOST EVERY MILE IS ON A FLAT EASY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE, FORD TOLD ME TO GO FLY A KITE. I ALSO INFORMED FORD THAT THEY LOST AN ENTIRE FAMILY'S FUTURE PURCHASES OF ANY FORD PRODUCT / SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221645

Incident

Sep 8, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS USING EXCESSIVE FUEL AND WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR PROPERLY. AT ONE TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, EVEN WITH UP TO DATE SERVICE RECORDS, AND NOTED THAT PROBLEM FIRST STARTED AT 49,000 MILES, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ASSIST IN REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200506

Incident

Aug 13, 2007

Mileage

71,000 mi

2004 FORD ESCAPE, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *KB FRONT AND REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS PLUGGED. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH. THE EGR VALVE HAD A HOLE IN IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163674

Incident

Jun 2, 2006

Mileage

66,852 mi

CAME OUT OF PARK WHILE I WAS PUMPING GAS AND ROLLED INTO THE STORE . ( ABOUT 35 FEET ). *NM

NHTSA ID

10140136

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

Mileage

7,346 mi

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE HAD ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BREAK AT 40,00 MILES. IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED 3 MORE TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR,THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING THE RECALL FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A SEAM WELD BROKEN IN CLUTCH DRUM IN 2ND REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093803

Incident

Mar 27, 2004

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT FREEWAY SPEED. NO ACCIDENT, INJURIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE A '04, FORD, ESCAPE, 2WD, AUTO, HAD 5,104 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 90 DAYS OLD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHICH PROMPTLY REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE. TOTAL TIME REQUIRED WAS (6) WORKING DAYS. MOST OF THE REQUIRED TIME WAS WAITING FOR THE DELIVERY OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE "PLANETARY BEARING". THE "NEEDLE BEARINGS" IN THE "PLANETARY BEARING" HAD FAILED. THEY DISINTEGRATED. SMALL METAL FRAGMENTS WORKED THROUGH OUT THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ALL COSTS FOR TOWING, REPAIR, AND LOANER WERE PAID BY FORD MOTOR CO. REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED BY DICK MASHETER - FORD AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB. I DID REQUEST A 3YR, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS DENIED. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY OF 3 YR, 36,00 MILES; BUT I WANTED THE CLOCK RESET FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION TO 41,104 MILES. A SINGLE FAILURE MAY HAPPEN, SINCE WE DON'T LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD. I'M FILING A COMPLAINT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, SO THE NHTSA MAY TRACK THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND PERHAPS DETERMINE IF IT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND/OR A RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10063763

Incident

Mar 21, 2004

Mileage

5,104 mi

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN IN DRIVE ON AN INCLINE (MODERATE TO STEEP). THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062347

Incident

Feb 16, 2004

CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS USING EXCESSIVE FUEL AND WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR PROPERLY. AT ONE TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10057197

Incident

Jan 24, 2004

Mileage

7,100 mi