Ford Escape Complaints (2002)
1,027 consumer complaints on file.
- #10142100October 26, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2002 FORD ESCAPE EXCITER RING CRACKED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS THERE WAS A SLIGHT METALLIC SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE COMPLETE FRONT AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THE DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BE REPLACED. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10139029October 7, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
TRANS HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED REPLACED REBUILT OVER 14 TIMES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND THE CAR JERKS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS UP OR DOWN, EXCEPT THE TIME I COULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE AND HAD TO LET THE CAR ROLL INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF A BUSY STREET. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138434October 4, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVE 2002 FORD ESCAPE AND 3 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS LATER THE ODOMETER LCD LIGHTS GOES OUT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138266September 30, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I BROUGHT MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN FOR ITS 45K MILE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I SAID THE PADS HAVE NOT YET WORN OUT THOUGH. THEY SAID I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT THIS FAR. MOST ESCAPES HAVE THEM WEAR OUT AT 30K OR LESS DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND TOO THIN ROTORS. DEALER SAID COST TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS WILL BE $338.00 INCLUDING LABOR TO REPLACE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10137520September 25, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WILL LOCK THROTTLE IN FULL OPEN POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED. POLYMER SLEEVE ON CRUISE ACTUATOR CABLE HAS BROKEN AT THE THROTTLE CONNECTOR. THIS ALLOWS THE CONNECTOR TO ROTATE TO A VERTICAL POSITION AND CATCH ON THE ENGINE COVER WHEN THE FOOT PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136310September 13, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 4-4-05 IN FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT IT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DAY BEFORE ON SUNDAY SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. HER BROTHER HAD TO JUMP IT TO GET IT STARTED; HE THEN DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK. WHEN HE TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. SHE PUT THE KEY BACK IN, PUT IT IN GEAR, AND PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION AND TOOK THE KEY OUT. SHE DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF WHEN SHE LEFT. THE NEXT DAY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED HER AND TOLD HER THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID TELL THE CONTACT THEY THOUGHT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134188August 25, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 52000 MILES ON IT WAS GREAT UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER LATE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ACID (HUH?) AND THAT THEY WOULD KINDLY PUT IN THE TWO RECALL PARTS ONE OF WHICH MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM (PCM I BELIEVE). THE STRANGE THING WAS ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER I HAD STALLED I COULD START THE CAR AGAIN FINE BUT I FIGURED THEY WOULD STILL WANT TO SEE IT SINCE IT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THEN LAST NIGHT MY CAR WOULDN'T START...SOUNDS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE TIME BEFORE ONLY THIS TIME I WASN'T DRIVING I WAS IN A PARKING GARAGE. SO I GAVE UP AND CALLED A FRIEND AND DECIDED TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TH EMORNING WHEN THE DEALER WAS OPEN. ONLY IN THE MORNING MY CAR STARTED FINE AGAIN. I DROVE TO THE DEALER ANYWAY THOUGH BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT VERY SAFE AND FIGURED THEY WOULD WANT TO LOOK IT OVER. PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY OCCURING SO I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH ME SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND DID A SEARCH AND IT SEEMS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER. I AM NERVOUS BECAUSE I SOMETIME DRIVE ON BUSY HIGHWAYS AND IF IT STALLS I MIGHT END UP IN A CRASH BUT FORD DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS SCENARIO. I AM AT A LOSS AND WANT A BETTER ANSWER THEN WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS ABOUT FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE TO A FORD ESCAPE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130557August 23, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: FORD 2002 ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE WALLS IN THE GARAGE HAD HEAVY SMOKE DAMAGE. THEY HAD TO CUT THE GARAGE DOOR TO GET IN. THE CONSUMER CAN'T SLEEP IN THE HOUSE DUE TO THE SMOKE DAMAGE. *AK *JB *SC PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (NOVEMBER 7, 2005): DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE TOWN HOUSE GARAGE FOR AN HOUR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE HEAVIEST DAMAGE WAS AT THE DRIVE SIDE FIREWALL AREA. THE YELLOW ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON THREE WEEKS AGO; THE DEALER SAID BRING THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE NEXT OIL CHANGE IS DUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133192August 17, 2005STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING STARTED TO CLUNK AND BIND ON OCCASION. EFFORT WOULD GO UP BUT IT WOULD RESPOND WHEN TURNED. IT RAPIDLY GOT WORSE WHERE IT WOULD CLUNK AND BIND AND SKIP A SECTION WHILE TURNING. ONLY THREE DAYS FROM START TO SKIPPING WHILE TURNING. FINALLY IT WAS SKIPPING AND BINDING ON EVERY TURN. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. (THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR TAKEN OFF ROAD.) RACK WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132831August 15, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE UNLOCKING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THE TAILGATE LOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. BUT THE TAILGATE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE HIM FOR REPAIRS. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131225August 3, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS. PUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND BETTER GAS BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. THE MECHANIC SAID THE THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR WAS*AK BAD. THE MECHANIC DID REPLACE IT AND HAVE THE PART. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS AROUND JUNE 1, 2005. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129495July 20, 2005POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I PURCHASED THE VEHCILE USED IN MARCH OF 2005 WITH 23K MILES. IT NOW HAS 30K. PLEASE NOTE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER I FEEL THE VEHCILE IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS TO DATE: THE CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 4500 MIULES BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER(PERFORMED BY FORD) ALONG WITH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND RETAINER RINGS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE: 1. THE VEHCILE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ALONG. THE PCM WAS RE-FLASHED BY FORD, HOWEVER IT STILL FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL AT CERTAIN TIMES. 2. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAKED ANTIFREEZE AND TOOK THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. 3. THE ACCERLERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. 4. THE REAR GLASS RATTLES AS THE LATCH LOOKS WORNS OUT ALREADY. 5. THE ENGINE HAD VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND THE CAMSHAFT RETAINERS WERE REPLACED 6. THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL DUE TO THE DEALERS FAULTY REPAIR 7. THE FAN ASSEMBLY/BLOWER MOTOR BEARINGS HAVE FAILED AND A NEW PART IS ON ORDER. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND I QUESTION IT AS I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IT IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128545July 13, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7/5/2005. I WAS IN BALTIMORE, MD IN MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE. TRAFIC WAS MODERATELY HEAVY. I STARTED TO CHANGE LANES AND NOTICED A CAR IN THE LANE SO I PULLED BACK INTO MY LANE AT WHICH POINT, THE THROTTLE ON MY VEHICLE STUCK OPEN. THE ENGINE WAS RACING AND ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE WERE USELESS. I THREW THE MOVING VEHICLE INTO PARK WHERE IT CONTINUED TO MOVE. I THEN TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL IN HOIPES OF REGAINING BRAKING, BUT I HIT REVERSE FIRST, AT WHICH POINT MY CAR RAPIDLY REVERSED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES WAS LIMITED AS I HIT A 3500 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK, HOWEVER, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNNERVING EXPERIENCES I HAVE EVER HAD. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AS THE OTHER VEHICLE BELONGS TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. NO TRAFFIC REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY THE POLICE OFFICER, HOWEVER, THE BALTIMORE CITY EMPLOYEE (DARELL POWERS) DID FILL OUT AN ACCIDENT REPORT FOR THE CITY. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAX IN WHITE MARSH MD, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD FRAYED, CAUSING IT TO BUTTERFLY AND HOLD OPEN THE THROTTLE. THE ESCAPE HAS 53,002 MILES ON IT, AND CRUISE CONTROL IS RARELY USED. I DO HAVE THE REPLACED PART AND THE BILL I PAID FOR $291. ONE OTHER NOTE, IHAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED ON THIS SAME CAR 45 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED IT LAST JULY. CARMAX PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST, CLOSE TO $4,000 AND THE MECHANIC WHO SERVICED IT THIS TIME INSISTS THIS IS NOT RELATED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128362July 11, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. HE STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. HE HAS CONTACT THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THIS MATTER UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 04V165000. THE RECALL WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE RAPIDLY. THE DEALERSHIP THAT HE IS HAVING THE PROBLEMS WITH DUBLIN FORD DUBLIN, CA. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128377July 11, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2002 FORD ESCAPE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 66,000 MILES ON IT. COMING HOME FROM A WEEKEND TRIP THE CLUTCH STUCK AND WOULD HAVE TO BE PULLED UP WITH YOUR FOOT WHEN HAVING TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AND TOWING TO A GARAGE WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD WENT OUT.THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN TO A CAR THIS NEW. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THIS?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125934June 20, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, ON THE FREEWAY, AND AT MANY INOPPORTUNE TIMES!!!!! I HAVE BEEN QUITE SCARED TO DRIVE MY SUV ANY MORE. IT STARTS TO CHUG LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THE SUV WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. I LOSE MY POWER STEERING, MY BRAKES, MY EVERYTHING! AND ALMOST GET HIT. I HAVE TAKEN MY ESCAPE IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS JUST A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER, AND RESET IT. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NEVER GET IT DO WHAT I WAS SAYING, SO I HAD TO COME IN RIGHT WHEN IT WAS DOING IT, OR THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HELP. IN THE MEAN TIME, I HAVE STALLED OUT SEVERAL MORE TIMES, GONE IN, AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MANY FORD ESCAPES, AND I AM SCARED THAT THE SITUATION WILL ESCALATE TO ME BEING IN AN ACCIDENT, OR MY SUV STARTING ON FIRE WHEN IT GETS SO WARM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10119296June 20, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DRIVER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY DUE TO SMOKE COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER GOT OUT AND WATCHED THE VEHICLE BURN WITHIN 7 MINUTES. *AK THE WHITE SMOKE SEEMED TO INDICATE A FUEL LINE. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125186June 13, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ROUGHLY 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY SURGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD OBVIOUSLY FAILED TO ENGAGE. PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO 2ND GEAR ALLOWED THE TRANSMISSION TO RE-ENGAGE AND THE VEHCILE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 7 OR 8 MILES AWAY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MILES. FINALLY, IT DISENGAGED ONE LAST TIME AND DID NOT ENGAGE AGAIN. SINCE IT WAS ON A MAIN STREET, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OF A SIDE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KREIGER FORD IN COLUMBUS OHIO. THIS TOOK PLACE A FRIDAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WAS MADE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN THUDDING INTO GEAR ON 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SHIFTS ON A SERVICE CALL PRIOR TO THE EXPERATION OF THE WARRANTY. AT THAT TIME THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED THE OWNER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ON THIS INCIDENT, NOT ONLY DID THE CAR HAVE TO BE TOWED IN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR ON THE REAR WINDOW WIPER HAD FAILED AND THE CD PLAYER WOULD NO LONGER EJECT THE CDS. ON MONDAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO INFORM THE OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TOTALLY FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500. WITHIN AN HOUR THE DEALERSHIP CALLED BACK AND SAID THE FORD WAS WILLING TO PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INTO THE VEHICLE, REPAIR THE WIPER MOTOR, DO THE 60,000 MILE MAINTNENACE, EXTEND THE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES, AND REPAIR THE CD PLAYER FOR $1500. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL AT 61,000 MILES. AND AFTER READING THE INCIDENTS REPORTED HERE, IT IS BECOMING APPARENT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THE ESCAPE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10123726June 1, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INTERMITTEN ENGINE IDLE/STALLING DURING ENGINE START AND DRIVING CONDITIONS EVEN AFTER PCM RECALL WORK. DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE AND BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD, VERDICT IS SAID TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED. VEHICLE HAS 48,000 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10123750June 1, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE EXPIRED, I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SPECIFICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE WITHOUT REVVING THE ENGINE AND HAVING THE GEARS JUMP INTO PLACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARDS. WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE SUV, I EXPRESSED TO THEM MY DISPLEASURE IN HAVING TRANSMISSION TROUBLE AT ONLY 35,000+ MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THAT ODOMETER READING, AND, INDEED, THEY HAD REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES. I CONTACTED MY REGIONAL FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. ON THURSDAY, MAY 12, WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WITH THE CAR SOUNDING LIKE I WAS REVVING THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL, AND I WAS LOSING POWER QUICKLY. I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY AND WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION IN ANY GEAR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION FACILITY IN INDIANAPOLIS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT WAS THE RESULT OF A GROUND CIRCUIT PROBLEM. FORD CONSTRUCTED THE CAR WITH THE GROUND RUNNING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH MEANS THAT EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED THE HIGH VOLTAGE RUNNING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION MELTS THE GEARS TOGETHER. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING ONTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MEANT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION COMPANY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, AND ADDED AN ADDITIONAL GROUND SO THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL COST OF $3655.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0