2007 Ford Escape Powertrain (other) Problems

My 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid (mileage currently 180,000 but the issue started around 150,000 miles) will occasionally (varies from once a week to once every 3 months) not respond properly when I'm accelerating from a stop. When this happens, I can push the accelerator all the way to the floor, but the car will accelerate very slowly for the first 5 seconds or so, and then start accelerating normally again. When this issue first began, it nearly resulted in multiple crashes when I was pulling out into traffic, but now I leave lots of extra space when pulling into traffic in case this happens. I've taken the car to an independent mechanic to try to diagnose the issue and they were unable to observe it since it doesn't happen frequently or predictably enough. There were not any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the issue starting.

NHTSA ID

11645558

Incident

Feb 28, 2025

While driving, a red triangle to safely stop came up and the vehicle engine shut down. I could not accelerate since the engine was shut down, I could only coast and brake. After the vehicle has been cooling down for 20 min, I’m able to restart the vehicle and drive again until the same issue occurs again. No light on dashboard. Very dangerous issue as it often happens when driving on the freeway for a while. You have no way to accelerate the vehicle and need to slowly pull over on a busy freeway, endangering others and yourself. The issue has not been reproduced by a dealer or independent service center. No, the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. Please note that this is a known recall for this vehicle but my VIN is NOT included in the recall. Please see the details of the recall below: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 14V526000 Report Date: SEP 03, 2014 Vehicles Affected: 70,209 Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash. What You Should Do: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

NHTSA ID

11629431

Incident

Dec 6, 2024

When accelerating on the vehicle it would run fine till about a couple minutes driving then it would jerk and the rpm gauge would go to 0 and then back up the the right rpm

NHTSA ID

11543504

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11521118

Incident

Mar 1, 2023

Mileage

152,000 mi

The torque converter was failing in my 07 escape. When I switched gears from park to drive or reverse the car would shake and sometimes stall out. Or if I had to stop at a stop sign or traffic signal while in drive the same issues would happen. The old torque converter is not available for inspection unfortunately because I gave it back to autozone to get the core charge money back. But when we installed the new torque converter it completely solved the issues and the transmission is running great again. It put myself and my passengers at risk since my car would completely turn off at traffic lights sometimes. This problem has been reproduced by others and I actually found out the torque converter was the issue by finding a technical service bulletin (TSB 07-5-6) so I know other shops have discovered this issue. There were no warning lights or anything and no parts were inspected by others. I completed the whole replacement.

NHTSA ID

11505703

Incident

Jan 22, 2023

The contact's mother owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his brother was driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted and decelerated to 40-45 MPH. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's brother depressed the accelerator pedal however, the pedal felt soft and remained on the floorboard. The contact's brother veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, he was able to continue to drive; however, the failure reoccurred while exiting the highway. The contact stated that the vehicle would fail to go into gear while attempting to shift into drive and depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle would start but would not move. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

NHTSA ID

11454522

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

Mileage

195,000 mi

This Escape is an AWD Hybrid. When driving in slippery snow, sand, ice, etc., the front wheels spin, but there is no power transmitted to the rear wheels, causing serious control and traction problems. An "all-wheel-drive-locked" signal appears on the info display, followed instantly by "AWD disabled". After a while (a couple minutes), the system then comes back and says "Automatic AWD restored". Which is simply not true—AWD never engages, but a driver going into a snowstorm or other difficult situation has no way of knowing this until it's too late. Problem was diagnosed by a good mechanic as a faulty transfer case—a very common problem in 2002—2011 AWD Ford Escapes. There is a serious design problem—the transfer case is too close to the exhaust, which cooks the internal lubricant, causes it to leak out completely, and kills the bearings inside the case. There are many cases on forums of this problem causing locked wheels at speed, sudden lack of drive on highways, etc. Not to mention the problem (as in my case) of drivers entering dangerous driving situations where they are counting on AWD for safe driving, but having just front wheel drive, with absolutely no warning from the car. I have no idea why this has not resulted in a. recall so far, but it is an serious, obvious (and worsening) safety issue. Parts and labor cost will be over $1000. Dissection of fragged transfer cases destroyed by this problem is easily available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yLkr609bfI

NHTSA ID

11451963

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

WHILE DRIVING ESCAPE AT APPROX 70MPH THE OVERDRIVE SENSOR SES LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. STOPPED AND BORROWED A SCAN TOOL FROM A LOCAL GARAGE WE KNOW. CODES P0741 AND P1744 FOR TCC WERE FOUND. DROVE HOME APPROX 40 MILES. ESCAPE WAS SHIFTING POORLY AFTER EXITING EXPRESSWAY. LIMPED VEHICLE HOME. NEXT DAY 11/14/2020 ATTEMPTED TO TAKE ESCAPE TO MECHANIC. ESCAPE HAD TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ODOMETER READS APPROX 110,500 MILES ESCAPE WAS TOWED TO ACCURATE TRANSMISSION IN BELLEVUE, MI FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR. DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TOTAL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2900. HEARD THAT SOME FORD ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND WONDERED ABOUT 2007 FORD ESCAPE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11376846

Incident

Nov 13, 2020

Mileage

110,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,700.

NHTSA ID

11299380

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

60,700 mi

WHEN I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE & MAKING LEFT TURNS IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION JUST FELL OUT. I'M ENCLOSING SOME DOCUMENTS OF RECALLS THAT I'VE FOUND. MY TRUCK IS ALSO RUSTING OUT SO BAD THAT WHEN I PUT MY GRANDSON IN HIS CAR SEAT, THE LEGS OF MY PANTS GET CAUGHT ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11291899

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT ALSO DETECTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11203068

Incident

Mar 31, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

2007 FORD ESCAPE - AT 42,644 MILES THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND NOT PICK UP SPEED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE REGULATOR VALVE..... AT 47,819 MILES THE CAR DID THE SAME THING , THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER , SEAL & PUMP , THEY CALL ME TO PICK UP THE CAR, WHEN I GOT THERE IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.... AT 52,338 MILES THE CAR AGAIN DID THE SAME THING WITH THE FORWARD GEARS AND AGAIN THE OD LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AGAIN TOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER - STICKING G VALE WHICH THEY REPLACED..... AT 53,175 MILES I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A BANG AND WHEN MOVING WOULD SHAKE,, THEY TOLD ME THAT AWD FORDS DO THAT AND THAT I JUST NEVER NOTICED BEFORE.... AT 91,678 MILE REVERSE WENT OUT AND AGAIN THE FORWARD GEARS SHIFTS WHEN EVER.... THEY NOW TELL ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

NHTSA ID

11156893

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

42,644 mi

POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION: WHEN I CRANK MY VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK WILL REMAIN RUNNING. WHEN I SHIFT GEARS INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSISTENT HESITATION WHEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP OR AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BEGINS' TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, ONLY IF I SHIFT GEARS QUICKLY INTO 2ND GEAR OR PARK AND KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND ONE ON THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY. THESE VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL ON MY FORD ESCAPE 2007 AT FORDMOTOR.COM WHERE THEIR IS WEB PAGE TO SUBMIT MY VIN NUMBER - SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VIN NUMBER. ADAMSON FORD BIRMINGHAM, AL., HAVE CONCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE HAS GONE OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORMS ATTACHED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11127788

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

Mileage

171,485 mi

THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORUMS DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WE'RE HAVING WITH OUR ESCAPE STALLING AND NOT RUNNING. WE WENT TO A MECHANIC WHO EXPLAINED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON ESCAPE TRANSMISSIONS AND WE SHOULD REPORT THIS ONE AS WELL AS IT DOESN'T HAVE MANY MILES FOR ITS AGE.

NHTSA ID

11076264

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS OFTEN, AND FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS UNDER THE PEDAL, STOPPING IT FROM BEING DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN REDUCTION OF SPEED AND THEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PRESSING HARD TO GET THE PEDAL TO GO DOWN. FORD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THROTTLE BODY'S IN ESCAPES FROM 2009-2012. I BELIEVE THE 2007 FORD ESCAPE MODEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THAT RECALL! THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY PROBLEM! MINE HAS BEING DOING THIS FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND HAS GOTTEN WAY WORSE SO IT WILL NEED TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11045124

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID

11030838

Incident

Sep 22, 2017

Mileage

171,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT AND DRIVER HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ODOR. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND NERVE DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM RIB PAIN AND SMOKE INHALATION. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10865873

Incident

May 19, 2013

Mileage

129,000 mi

WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT WAS GREEN MY CAR DID NOT GO. WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED AND FOUND OUT THE THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. DOES FORD KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS?

NHTSA ID

10854949

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10854777

Incident

Apr 6, 2016

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES AS I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE AND STATIONARY AT RED LIGHT VEHICLE BEGAIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE MAKING A GRINDING NOSE AND VEHICLE STALLED. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND IN MOTION WAS FINE AS I BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP TO MAKE LEFT TURN ON TO MY ROAD VEHICLE AGAIN BEGAIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AND ALMOST STALLED AGAIN. PROBLEM AS BEEN BE DIAGNOSED AS BAD TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10851319

Incident

Mar 14, 2016

Mileage

87,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO EXCEED 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THAT IT WAS PURCHASED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN OVERDRIVE AND NOT THE REGULAR DRIVE GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10724753

Incident

Mar 20, 2015

Mileage

132,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP AND CLEAN THE WINDOWS AND WHEN HE PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR IT WOULD NOT GO, ENGINE JUST REVVED. MY EX DROVE IT BACK TO MY HOUSE IN 1ST GEAR AND MY SON TRIED TAKING IT TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY. NO POWER. STALLED TWICE ON HIM IN A MILE. EX TOWED IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ AND HEARD, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE FORD ESCAPES. I HAD TO BORROW $3400 FROM MY BOSS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED SO MY KIDS HAVE A CAR TO GET TO SCHOOL. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAIN FORD. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS, YET THEY DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713153

Incident

Apr 12, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE GEAR LEVER WAS SLIGHTLY TOUCHED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10667076

Incident

Nov 13, 2014

Mileage

74,000 mi

I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AT FIRST I HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND AS IF A BELT WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. THEN I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. I STARTED TO MAKE A TURN AND AS I WAS DOING THIS THE FORD ESCAPE ON ITS OWN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED TO BRAKE, HOWEVER, THE CAR JUST CONTINUED TO LUNGE FORWARD. BY THAT TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AT THAT POINT IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I THEN CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND THEY TOWED IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THEY HAVE ALSO SAID IT WILL BE THERE FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629831

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

78,805 mi

O/D LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY. WAS DRIVING AT 40MPH. I COULD FEEL IT DROPPING OUT OF GEAR, BEING SLOW TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD REV PERIODICALLY. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE, THEY TOOK DOWN THE COMPLAINT BUT OTHER THAN THAT; NOTHING. WE DID A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH 'FORD ESCAPE 2007 O/D LIGHT' AND IMMEDIATELY SAW AT LEAST SIXTY COMMENTS THAT ALL DETAILED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (WHICH IS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE REP FROM FORD HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE, WHICH IS ODD CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE FORD ESCAPE'S & ALL ARE 07. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG & A RECALL SHOULD'VE ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611089

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

71,200 mi