2017 Ford Escape Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shake and vibrate and decelerate. The vehicle was taken to a nearby mechanic who diagnosed that the alternator and alternator belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The alternator and alternator belt were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated, and the steering wheel was difficult to control. After stopping the vehicle and shifting to park(P), the vehicle rolled backwards causing the driver to activate the parking brake. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11695263

Incident

Jul 23, 2025

Mileage

107,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a handheld diagnostic machine was used to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes related to the transmission, and torque converter. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,453.

NHTSA ID

11672226

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

Mileage

112,453 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with faulty spark plugs and failed ignition coils. The contact was informed that the four spark plugs and the four ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to coolant intrusion and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that transmission fluid needed to be refilled, and the transmission filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact related the failure to Ford Technical Service Bulletin Number: 22-2229; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the TSB. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 91,250.

NHTSA ID

11623605

Incident

Oct 4, 2024

Mileage

91,250 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on three occasions, where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, who determined that the failure was due to the torque converter. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11616613

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Mileage

80,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11609807

Incident

Jun 15, 2024

Mileage

100,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with an unstated message displayed on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to inspect the vehicle; the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was then provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11576248

Incident

Feb 27, 2024

Mileage

117,000 mi

The engine has had coolant leaking into it. Clouds of white smoke, stalling and regular low coolant level. Once the recall work was performed, I was still having these issues and told the ford service dept. They said there is nothing they could do. Now my transmission has completely gone out at less than 100k miles even though all ford suggested maintenance work has been completed at suggested intervals. It’s hard to justify replacing the transmission when I don’t know when the engine will quit working due to the coolant intrusion.

NHTSA ID

11570170

Incident

Jan 30, 2024

Transmission code fault I did not have power

NHTSA ID

11558680

Incident

Nov 11, 2023

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413. THE DEALER STATED THE FORD ESCAPE WAS NO LONGER MOTORABLE AND NEEDED EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. FORD IS ASSISTING WITH 40% OF THE RECALL REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11513958

Incident

Mar 27, 2023

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER THE SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED THEY BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

11506192

Incident

Feb 8, 2023

While driving at highway speed, the engine revved and it felt the car was no longer in gear and rapidly lost speed with traffic closing from behind. Shifting into neutral and back to drive caused the vehicle to jerk forward unexpectedly. Managed to steer to the side of the road and drive to a safer area on the highway. Forward movement was difficult and it appeared that the car would not stay in gear. No warning light or console messages. We had been notified in July 2020 of recall 22V413 from Ford, but parts were not available. We had just a few days (In November) before received the second recall notice that said parts were now available. I feel as if the recall was not competed timely (5 Months). I believe that the car was not going into gear because of the recall part potential failure affecting the transmission as the recall notice stated that the vehicle could "move in an unexpected direction". We had the vehicle towed home and to the dealer (Gosch Ford, Temecula, CA). We informed them of the issue and asked that the recall repair be done. The service writer told us they would do the recall service, but there was no way any transmission damage could have been caused by the recall. I disagreed and stated that the notice states that the vehicle may move unexpectedly, what if the part failed while driving? How would the vehicle behave? The were evasive and did not answer me directly. They told me that they had been instructed by Ford to not forward any claims for transmission damage related to the recall. We called after 2 days of service and they said the service was complete, the recall part had indeed broken and that the car was shifting normally. Upon picking up the car, my wife drove off the lot and immediately upon leaving the driveway, the drive gear again failed. She had to pull to the right to a bike lane to avoid traffic closing from behind. Service writer stated that car was not road tested before being returned. Car still at dealer waiting diagnosis.

NHTSA ID

11495988

Incident

Nov 26, 2022

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413.

NHTSA ID

11491094

Incident

Oct 27, 2022

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAEFTY RECALL 22V-413.

NHTSA ID

11486374

Incident

Sep 26, 2022

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL 22V-413. CONSUMER IS ALSO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL VEHICLE. WHILE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE.

NHTSA ID

11479910

Incident

Aug 18, 2022

2017 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE TO PEFORM SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11478181

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

While idling in park vehicle transmission moved to reverse and backed away from me only to be restrained by a large bush. Rear bumper and exhaust damaged.

NHTSA ID

11471886

Incident

Jun 28, 2022

Torque converter failed at about 70,000. Ford denies a known issue and will only pay for 2/3 of the repair bill. Uploading two phots with the first photo of the torque converter with a blue high heat burn mark in the top left and the second photo is the grinding teeth or gears on the torque convertor pump.

NHTSA ID

11460823

Incident

Feb 23, 2022

For several weeks experienced shudder/judder and hesitation. Most noticeable at around 40 mph. Vehicle serviced and inspected by both dealership and independent auto repair shop. Hesitation unsafe. Issue Not uncommon as found on FMC Escape forum. Dealer recommended transmission replacement after finding transmission fluid burned and contaminated with metallic debris. Verified Torque converter clutch shudder. Independent auto repair shop confirmed hesitation, engagement in higher gears is abnormal. No warning lights or other symptoms aside from shudder/judder/hesitation. Vehicle currently available for inspection. Vehicle had less than 76,000 miles when issue first started.

NHTSA ID

11438032

Incident

Oct 11, 2021

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the service transmission message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a dealer where he was informed that the clutch had failed and that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11430646

Incident

Aug 14, 2021

Mileage

98,000 mi