75 complaints reported

2005 Ford Escape Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
75
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. Upon starting of the vehicle, the contact placed the vehicle into drive(D); however, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle independently downshifted and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The vehicle was shaking, and the vehicle failed to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where and the contact was informed that the transmission torque converter was defective and needed to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2023
Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and accelerating, there was a roaring sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle started accelerating at an uncontrollable speed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the roadway and turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was not diagnosed however, the dealer stated that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2021
Sep 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the overdrive warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the road. The contact stated she depressed the overdrive button. The vehicle was towed to independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was towed to her son's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V606000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 198,684. The VIN was not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2021
Aug 2021

The power steering will repeatedly and unexpectedly go out when driving often when hitting a slight bump or making a turn. This never leads to a code triggered but absolutely could lead to injury or death and has been reported in so many Hybrid Ford Escapes.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2021
Aug 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UPSHIFT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER YOUNG FORD OGDEN (3450 WALL AVE, OGDEN, UT 84401, (801) 629-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2021
Apr 2021

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH. CAR JUST STOPPED ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. DIAGNOSED WITH FAILED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED8/31/2011. I SEE A RECALL FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR VEHICLE WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILURES BUT I AM UNABLE TO FIND SUCH A RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2011
Aug 2019

WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE TO STOP FOR A CAR AHEAD OF YOU, STOPPING AT STOP SIGN, OR SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, VEHICLE ENGINE WILL STOP LEAVING DRIVER IN A SERIOUS AND COMPROMISING POSITION, VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK TO RESTART AND OCCUPANT MUST SHIFT INTO DRIVE QUICKLY AND ACCELERATE QUICKLY SO ENGINE WILL NOT KILL, ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMS UP IT WILL KILL RIGHT AWAY, I'M AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND BE IN AN INTERSECTION AND HIT OR HIT FROM BEHIND, VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS ARE EXACTLY THE LEVEL THEY SHOULD BE AT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2019
Nov 2018

SEE REPORT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2018
Oct 2018

GEAR SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK- VEHICLE STARTS RUNS FINE CAN NOT GET OUT OF PARK. HAD BEEN DIFFICULT SEVERAL TIMES BUT GOT IT WORKING AFTER SEVERAL EPISODES OFF AND ON NOW STUCK IN OFF STREET PARKING AT SENIOR CENTER. APPT MADE FOREPAIR 10-17 SKILLMAN FORDGREENWOOD IN GOOD CAR EVERYTHING ELSE DEPENDABLE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2018
Oct 2018

ENGINE OIL LEAK CAN NOT BE TRACED. SERVICED BY FORD SINCE 2004 WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. ONLY SERVICED BY A FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE, 130,047, AND AGE THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. DYE TEST CONDUCTED BY FORD SERVICE AND NO LEAKS WERE FOUND AFTER DRIVING 500 MILES AND RETURNING TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AS ADVISED BY FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. LEAVING THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, FORD SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATES AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IT SMOKES EXCESSIVELY ON COLD STARTUP. I HAVE REPLICATED THE COLD STARTUP PROCEDURE EVERYDAY IN COLD WEATHER OBSERVING THE TAIL PIPE EXHAUST AS MY WIFE STARTS THE ENGINE SINCE JANUARY 2018. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SIGN OF SMOKE OR EXCESSIVE SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE TAIL PIPE EXHAUST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2018
Mar 2018

ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING & IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE GEARS AT ALL. I STOPPED GOT GAS AND LIGHT STAYED ON. THEN AS I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN IT WENT AWAY. AFTER PARKING AT HOME OVERNIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO GO REVERSE & IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE SHIFTER IT LET ME GO IN INTO REVERSE ONLY WHEN I REVVING UP AND THEN IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES IN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. IN SEARCHING THIS ISSUE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, END HAS CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2018
Mar 2017

TRANMISSION WILL NOT PULL THE OVER DRIVE FLASHES OFF\ON

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2004
Jul 2016

WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION FROM 14000 MILES, WE REPORTED TO DEALER AND THEY NEVER NOTED IT IN THERE COMPUTER.. WE COMPLAINED 6 TIMES WITH IT ONLY GOT PUT IN THE COMPUTER AT THE DEALER TWICE.. FINALLY AFTER IT RAN OUT OF WARRANTY, IT ALMOST KILLED OUR WHOLE FAMILY.. THE TRANY WHEN WE CAME UP TO A STOP SIGN COMING OFF THE FREEWAY STAYED INGAGED AND THROUGH US IN TO A BUNCH OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING A HE'LL OF A ACCIDENT.. WE'LL IT ENDED UP RUINING THE TRANSMISSION CAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AND CAUSED IT NOT TO DISENGAGE.. I ENDED UP SPENDING 3500.00 AND HAD THE DEALER PUT A OWN REBUILT IN. LATER I FOUND OUT FORD HAD 4 UPDATED TORQUE CONVERTERS.. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL WHEN IT ALMOST KILLS PEOPLE.. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS WENT ON WITH THIS VEHICLE.. I AM WILL TO JOIN ANY KIND OF LAWSUIT OVER GETTING THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MORE AVASIVE MOVE TO HELP AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER, INSTEAD OF HELPING THESE BIG COMPANIES BEND PEOPLE OVER.. WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE VEHICLES, AND WE GET TREATED LIKE DIRT..

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2012
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2015
Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2014
Sep 2014

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2013
May 2014

DRIVING NORTH ON HWY 41 WHEN CAR STALLED AND I HAD TO DIRECT IT OFF ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. REFER TO FORD CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2014
Jan 2014

I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE 4WD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 5 YEARS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AGAIN. I CAN NOT GET THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE FORWARD GEARS WORK FINE. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET A HIGH INCIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
Jun 2013

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM BYERS KIA 9 MONTHS AGO. I RECENTLY JUST MADE MY 8TH PAYMENT ON IT. 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION FROM 15-25 MPH. WELL ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3RD MY DRIVE SHAFT QUIT WORKING. WE INSTALLED A U JOINT HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY MADE IT WORSE. I HAVE THE DEALERSHIP WORKING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW. I DON'T FEEL IM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE SEEING IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT PRIOR TO ME BUYING THIS TRUCK . *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2013
May 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED FUEL TO FLOOD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,178. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2013
May 2013

MY FORD ESCAPE 2005 WAS WORKING WELL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SUDDENLY AFTER TURNING THE CAR SHUT DOWN. AFTER RESTARTING THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER. WENT TO FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A TSB 10 -18-10, FAULTY SPARK PLUGS MAKE RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE WHICH MAKE COILS ON PLUGS AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO MALFUNCTION. ALL SIX SPARK PLUGS AND COILS WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CHANGE PCM. THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AFTER ANY MILEAGE, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RE-CALLED AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THESE AS IT IS A DEFECT FROM FABRIC. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2013
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND EVENTUALLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2013
Feb 2013

I BOUGHT THIS USED CAR FROM A DEALER, I TEST DROVE IT BEFORE BUYING ,AND IT WAS GREAT. SAME DAY WHEN I GOT HOME IT SHOWED AN ISSUE, THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE, UNLESS U HIT THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME YOU PUT GEAR TO KEEP IT ON. AND IT WOULD ALSO STALL AT ANY STOP I MAKE. I HAVE TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON BREAK AND ONE ON THE GAS. AND THE CAR MIGHT BE RUNNING PERFECT FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS, AND IT GOES BACK TO STALLING. I SIGN THE CAR OUT THE DEALER AS IS, SO I CANT TAKE IT TO THEM. I DECIDED TAKING IT TO FORD FOR A $97 DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID IT NEEDS THROTTLE BODY OR TRY TO CLEAN IT. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, SO I WENT TO A MECHANIC TO CLEAN IT.. IT QUIT HAVING THE PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS, BUT WHEN I GOT ON THE ROAD TO CHICAGO, 60 MILES FROM HOME THE PROBLEM SHOWED BACK WHEN I STOPPED AT A GAS,I REALLY FEEL IS A FACTORY DEFECT AFTER READING ALL THIS POSTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2013
Dec 2012

OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2005. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED BY FORD TECHNICIANS AT FORD DEALERSHIPS EVERY 5,000 MILES, INCLUDING A RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH LAST YEAR. ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, THE SUV'S TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC) KNOWS AS ENGINE STALLING ON ENGAGEMENT/STOPPING. ACCORDING TO A SERVICE BULLETIN DATED MARCH 19, 2007, SUVS WITH THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION "EXHIBIT AN ENGINE STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN ENGAGING THE ENGINE INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONDITION MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND OFTEN OCCURS AFTER EXTENDED DRIVES. THERE MAY BE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES STORED. THIS MAY BE CAUSE BY INTERNAL WEAR IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH PREVENTS IT FROM LOCKING." THIS EXACT FAILURE CAUSED US TO BE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS HEAT CONDITIONS FOR HOURS AS WE WAITED FOR HELP. HOWEVER, FMC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TRANSMISSION SINCE 2007, YET AS AN OWNER OF A CAR LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD, I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT YEARS AGO FOR REPAIR PRIOR TO GOING ON AN EXTENDED TRIP AND PUTTING MY FAMILY IN DANGER. INSTEAD, FMC KNOWINGLY ALLOWED VEHICLE OWNERS TO DRIVE WITH THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. FORD-CERTIFIED TECH'S FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE GIVEN THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AND THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE TORQUE CONVERTER. AFTER TECHS TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE, THE STALL OCCURRED REPEATEDLY UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE JUST OVER 1,200 MILES LATER, AGAIN, STRANDING MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. I BECAME AWARE OF THE FAULT ONLY AFTER A SEARCH OF OTHER DRIVERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. FMC BEHAVED NEGLIGENTLY IN FAILING TO INFORM CUSTOMERS LIKE ME, LIKELY TO SHIELD ITSELF FROM COSTLY REPAIRS. IN 2007, MY CAR ONLY HAD 24,500 MILES??WELL WITHIN WARRANTY LIMITS. A RECALL FOR VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE ORDERED AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDED COST OF REPAIR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Ford Escape has 75 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.