2013 Ford Escape Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to shift to drive(D), the plastic handle on the lever melted. The contact stated that the two buttons located on the shift lever were very loose due to the handle melting. The contact stated that other plastic parts on the dashboard and interior trim panels were not melted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,859.

NHTSA ID

11602759

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

Mileage

153,859 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on separate occasions while his granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that while he was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact then stated that he was able to turn off and restart the vehicle. The service transmission light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the fluid was darker than normal and needed to be flushed and refilled. The transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The vehicle was then taken to another transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that vehicles were not being taken in until parts were available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID

11495142

Incident

Jun 28, 2022

Mileage

56,000 mi

The 6F35 transmission that are in the Ford Escapes are the worse transmission Ford has ever made and I have a 2013 Ford Escape and also work at a automobile repair shop and there are at least 3 or 4 Escapes that are brought us a day including mine that have to have the transmissions replaced. I have always been a Ford woman but I will never purchase another Ford after all the problems I have had with this Escape and the transmission which went out on me with no warning and pulled off from a stop sign and it would not accelerate and almost go hit by two cars because I couldn't move. I have had to replace my transmission and has only 12,000 miles on it and I think Ford needs to do something about all the Ford Escape owners and the 6F35 junk transmissions.

NHTSA ID

11492770

Incident

Sep 7, 2022

The transmission went out of gear and wouldn't stay in the correct gear. I had the vehicle towed to Fuller Ford on W 8th Street in Cincinnati Ohio. They said the entire transmission had to be replaced and that there wasn't a recall affecting my VIN number. I paid to have it repaired. Eight months later, there was an electrical fire under the hood and the vehicle was towed to Rocky Top Ford in Tennessee. I feel both of these issues should have been covered by recalls.

NHTSA ID

11473188

Incident

Aug 12, 2021

The bushing for the internal shifter does not stay in place and the car can then not change gears. It has been a recall on “vin specific” cars. How can a recall be vin specific when all 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicle are having the same issue. My vehicle did not have a protective cap on top of the bushing to prevent it from coming off which is what the recall is for.

NHTSA ID

11436681

Incident

Aug 15, 2021

Transmission linkage bushing crumbled apart and the vehicle rolled out into parking lot isle as I was in the store. The car showed it was in park but was actually stuck in gear. This part was recalled in 2018 but my vehicles Vin was not part of recall.

NHTSA ID

11435038

Incident

Sep 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after shifting to the park position with the engine running, the vehicle suddenly began to roll backward. The driver was able to stop the vehicle by using the parking brake. The vehicle was then unable to be restarted and was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission shifter cable bushing had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number 18V471000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

NHTSA ID

11432164

Incident

Aug 30, 2021

Mileage

186,000 mi

When parking, transmission failed to go into park. After engine was turned off and my foot removed from brake, the car unexpectedly rolled forward downhill into the curb. The shifter cable bushing had disconnected from the transmission, so the vehicle failed to go into Park even though the shifter in the cabin showed to be in Park. This has been confirmed by the Ford dealership that repaired it. There was no prior warning. Luckily, I parked facing a curb rather than another vehicle or roadway, so I didn’t hit anything other than a bush at the curb. However, the vehicle did have to be towed into the dealership for repair. Ford has recalled other 2013-2014 Escapes for this EXACT issue, but my 2013 Escape is not covered by the current recall.

NHTSA ID

11431070

Incident

Aug 19, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after shifting the vehicle to PARK, the vehicle continued to roll away as if the vehicle was in neutral. The day after the contact discovered that the battery power had drained because the gear shifter was not in the park position. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11429465

Incident

Aug 12, 2021

Mileage

115,000 mi

Put the vehicle in park and it stayed in neutral. Car is now stuck in neutral and unable to shift.

NHTSA ID

11427790

Incident

Aug 4, 2021

The vehicle will not shift gears. Luckily it is in my garage and I was not out driving when this happened. It appears to be in park, but it is actually in natural and I cannot shift it. In doing some research, I found that a the gear shift bushing is defective. In doing further research, I found that Ford does have a recall on this car for the EXACT reason (18S20) issues July 18, 2018 for 2013 Ford Escapes manufactured from May 15-Sept 15, 2013 in the Louisville plant. I contacted Ford and my car was manufactured on May 13, so it is not covered. This is extremely dangerous. Had I not done research online I was not aware that my car was not in park and all I had to do was simply push it forwards or backwards-with ease-to get it to roll. I have choked the tires to prevent this. But Ford refuses to fix it and I cannot locate a very simple replacement part that costs about $20 and 2 minutes to fix. Rather, I will have to spend $500+ towing to have an entire new cable installed. This is EXTREMELY dangerous and defective. Forth-eight hours or less for this not to be include in the recall is more than concerning and this recall must be updated to include more cars. I found several people online having the exact same issue...while driving and loosing control. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11427638

Incident

Jul 31, 2021

WAS BACKING UP AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION. AUTOMATIC SHIFT LOCKED. CAR LIGHTS CAME ON BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. GOT MANUAL AND LOOKED UP SHIFTER. IT SAID TO POP SHIFTER COVER AND MOVE WHITE TAB BACK TO FREE UP SHIFTER (IT WORKED) BUT CAR WOULD STILL NOT START. WAS ABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM S, D & N. SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO R OR P. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $180+ TO ACCESS DAMAGE. SAID IT WILL COST APPROX. $780+ FOR LABOR AND APPROX $75+ FOR PART. I SEARCHED FOR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THERE HAD BEEN PAST ISSUES WITH THE 2013, 2014 FORD ESCAPE. I AM ASKING THAT THIS ISSUE BE REVIEWED BY APPROPRIATE FORD REPRESENTATIVE. MY HOPE IS THAT THE COST OF THIS ISSUE BE COVERED BY FORD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE AS MY VEHICLE IS SETTING AT FORD DEALERSHIP (THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO OK FIX). THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID

11416203

Incident

May 10, 2021

Mileage

126,000 mi