2002 Ford Escape Power Train

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, NOT TO MENTION THAT FROM DAY ONE MY WHEELS HAVE BEEN COVERED IN BLACK DUST FROM THE BRAKES, AND IM TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. THE MAJOR PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO FORD WITH NO HELP AT ALL. SINCE DAY ONE (MY CAR WAS BRAND NEW) THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE NOISES AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK WHEN IT SHOULD BE SMOOTHLY SHIFTING GEARS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN NOONE HEARD ANYTHING...UNTIL MY WARRANTEE WAS UP THEN THINGS WERE HEARD. LETS SEE I'VE PAID FOR ENGINE FLUSHES, SPARK PLUG CHANGES, FLUID CHECKS, RESET CALIBRAITONS, I'VE NEVER MISSED AN OIL OR FILTER CHANGE AND IT PROGRESSIVELY IS GETTING WORSE. I'VE READ LOTS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM FORD OWNERS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. SO IF WE ALL ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, WHY ISN'T FORD HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX THIS??????? *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN MAY OF 2005, THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION 3 DAYS LATER AT 80K BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS. NOW A YEAR AND HALF LATER, I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A SPECIALIST THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WILL COST ME $2500 - $4000! THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE SERVICE, BUT I'VE ONLY PUT 20K MILES ON IT! THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST EXPLAINED THAT THE 2002 ESCAPE HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS A MAZDA 626, WHICH IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAILING. HE SAID EVEN IF I PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED, IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON 08/24/06, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #04V165000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

FORD 02 ESCAPE. VALUE BODY TRANSMISSION ISSUES, METAL SHAVINGS IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAR ONLY 4 YEARS, 80K HIGHWAY MILES. CAR MAINTENANCE KEPT UP. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS TELLING ME IT COULD COST 1 TO $2000 TO FIX. FORD COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. CAN PROVIDE CONTROL NUMBER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURE ISSUE. DTC CODES TESTED PO741 & P1744. CONTROL# 14998722626. PLEASE HELP. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY, HOWEVER WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. THE WORK FOR NHTSA RECALL #04V165000, PERTAINING TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED, BUT SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

MY LOW MILES - 2002 FORD ESCAPE ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE ON SATURDAY. THE DIFFERENTIAL WENT ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE PREMIUM EDITION (NOT WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY) AND ALMOST THROUGH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY KEPT CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. FERRARIO FORD OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS NY CLAIMS THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT IS GOING TO COST $4000 TO FIX AND NO ONE IS ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALMOST KILLING MY WIFE WITH THEIR NEGLIGENCE OR PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE IT HAS THE LOWEST WARRANTY IN THE BIZ. IF YOU HAVE A SIMILAR STORY I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT: [email protected] OR 315-491-9629. HENRY WILLCOX. *NM

O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. APPARENTLY, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 53000 MILES. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE COST OVER $3000. APPARENTLY, THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AS WELL. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HE TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

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

(OCT. 2003)TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AROUND 21,850 MI. UNDER WARRANTY AND REPLACED BY DEALER. (MAR 2005) TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AROUND 38,000 MI. REPLACED BY DEALER AT A DISCOUNT TO ME.*AK FORD ONLY GUARANTEES TORQUE CONVERTER FOR 12 MO. OR 12,000 MI. SHOULD IT FAIL AGAIN, ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR WILL BE AROUND $1,000.

WIFE PARKED VEHICLE ON STEEP UPHILL DRIVEWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. EXITED DRIVERS SIDE AND WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUING TO MAILBOX. WHILE AT MAILBOX OBSERVED VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ROLL BACKWARD CROSSING THE PATH WHERE SHE HAD JUST WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ACROSS STREET AND OVER CURB HITTING TREE. NEIGHBOR IN THEIR FRONT YARD ALSO OBSERVED THIS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. CALLED FORD CORP OFFICES TO ASK FOR REVIEW OF THIS BY THEIR SAFETY ENGINEERS. A CURSORY REVIEW BY THE DEALER INDICATED NO OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION LINKAGE OR OTHER ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES ANY FURTHER REVIEW AND SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST IN FINDING ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS IN NUMBERS 10031648, 568244, 10073682 AND 10026175. THERE ARE ALSO MANY REPORTS OF LOSS OF CONTROL IN OTHER SCENARIOS SUCH AS 10073741, 10087902, 10091048, 10092635 AND 10108659. DID NOT REVIEW COMPLAINTS ON SIMILAR MODELS SUCH AS MAZDA TRIBUTE NOR OTHER YEAR ESCAPES WHICH MAY HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD ENGINEERED THE CAR TO BACK DOWN A HILL, WHILE UNOCCUPIED, IN PARK, WITH THE IGNITION OFF. BUT APPARENTLY THEY CONSIDER THIS NORMAL AND OF NO CONSEQUENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE HURT AND THE ECONOMICS TURN AGAINST FORD BEFORE THEY WILL GET INVOLVED. REMINDS ME OF THEIR SAFETY ISSUES WITH FORD CROWN VICTORIA'S THAT CONTINUE TO EXPLODE IN FLAMES WHEN HIT FROM THE REAR. *JB

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.

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.

2002 FORD ESCAPE. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN REVERSE IS SELECTED INTERMITTENTLY. REVERSE IS SELECTED AND IF LEFT IN THE SELECTION, IT WILL TAKE 3-5 MINUTES TO ENGAGE. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T ENGAGE AT ALL, AND IF YOU CAN PULL FORWARD ,THEN IT MIGHT GO INTO REVERSE. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. FORD CAN NOT DUPLICATE IT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BACK AWAY FROM A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR TO BACK OUT FROM A PULL IN PARKING SPOT.*AK

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE. FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE THEN THE VEHICLE DID FINALLY SHUT OFF AND IT WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. IT CONTINUED TO BURN, TIRES EXPLODED, ETC. IN THE END MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT LEFT A TRAIL OF FLUID BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL BRANDON FORD BODY SHOP IS AT FAULT AND DID NOT PRPPERLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER AN AUGUST 2004 COLLISION. I BELIEVE THERE ARE ALSO BAD PARTS ON THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME FIRE PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE AND FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED LITTLE TO THE SOLUTION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

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.

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.

OUT OF WARRANTY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49K MILES. *PH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SHUDDER SINCE 37K MILES WHICH ONLY OCCURRED A COUPLE TIMES PER MONTH. FORD FAILED TO ALERT THE CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. SERVICE BULLETIN#16056636254 *SC

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CD4E. OWNER'S MANUAL AND INFORMATION FROM FORD STATES THAT ONLY MERCON TRANSMISSION FLUID IS TO BE USED, AND THAT USE OF MERCON V TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL DAMAGE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, COVER ON TRANSMISSION DIP STICK SAYS "USE MERCON V." DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AT 32000 MILES AND REPLACED WITH MERCON V FLUID. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 51000 MILES, REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. FAILURE HAPPENED DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, BUT FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. HE DEALER SHOULD HAVE KNOW WHAT KIND OF TRANSMISSION FLUID TO USE, REGARDLESS OF INCORRECT STATEMENT ON DIP STICK CAP. HOWEVER, THE MISLEADING DIP STICK COULD CAUSE THE OWNER OR OTHERS TO USE INCORRECT TYPE OF FLUID, WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE COMPLETE TRANMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 51,000 MILES. DURING FREEWAY DRIVING, O/D LOCKOUT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY ACTED AS IF IT WAS SHIFTING BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE, THEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. FORD DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT HAS NOT DIAGNOSED CAUSE OF FAILURE. FROM RESEARCHING USER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, I'VE LEARNED THAT FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (OASIS #16717) IN MARCH 2003 ADVISING THAT THE PCM BE REPROGRAMED TO CORRECT A TRANSMISSION SHUDDER PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PRECURSOR TO TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PCM REPROGRAMING IS ALSO REQUIRED BY SAFETY RECALL 04S13, ISSUED APRIL 2004. I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THIS RECALL WORK DONE BY THE DEALER, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BEFORE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. FROM READING USER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT TANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50-60,000 MILES IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR 2001-2003 ESCAPES WITH A CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AT LEAST FOR ONES WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PCM REPROGRAMED AS CALLED FOR IN THE 2003 SERVICE BULLETIN OR THE 2004 SAFETY RECALL.*AK

2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING TWICE. ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE OTHER AT 10 MPH. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (COWLES FORD, WOODBRIDGE, VA) SINCE MY FIRST MAINTENANCE CHECK ABOUT MY ESCAPE HESITATING/SKIPPING. DOES NOT SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE PROPER GAS. FIRST COUPLE OF MAINTENANCE CHECK MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW, 2 1/2 YEARS LATER, THEY KEEP REPLACING SMALL PARTS THAT DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SHOW UP ON DIANOSTICS TEST NOR ON THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE THE FIRST ENGINE STALL (40 MPH) THAT MY ESCAPE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. AGAIN I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MY SUV IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE NO ADVANCED WARNING WHEN THE MOTOR WILL CUT OFF. I HAVE EMAILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO HIGH MANAGEMENT AT FORD IN MICHEGAN BUT HAVE YET TO EVEN GET AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY COMPLAINT. FORD SEEMS TO BE SO WILLING TO LET CUSTOMERS BE INJURED OR KILLED IN THEIR PRODUCTS. ON FELT LIKE A "VALUABLE FORD CUSTOMER" BEFORE I SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE AND AFTER THAT I FEEL LIKE A "VICTIM". SHAME ON FORD.*AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL START BUT WILL NOT IDLE. WILL STALL UNLESS GAS IS APPLIED AT ALL TIMES. WILL STALL IF DECELERATING. FIRST TIME PROBLEM OCCURRED, POWER RELAY SEARCH WAS ADDRESSED. THEN PCM RECALL WAS APPLIED, AND PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW DEALER SAYS AIR BYPASS VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. *LA

2002 FORD ESCAPE V6. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SHUDDERING, AND NOW A TOTAL FAILURE. FOR THE SHUDDERING THE FLUID WAS FLUSHED AND REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE, AND NEW CODES PROGRAMED. *AK HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN FOR THE TOTAL FAILURE YET. (TOMORROW)