2014 Ford Escape Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
PULLED INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT AND PLACED VEHICLE INTO PARK. DRIVER REMAINED IN VEHICLE TO MAKE PHONE CALL AND REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS DESPITE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE IT THEY DISCOVERED THE SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING WAS BROKEN. HUSBAND CALLED FORD DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ASSEMBLED IN THE SAME FACTORY.
FORD HAS RECALL #18S20 THE BUSHING DENIGRATES CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO PROPERLY SHIFT. THE DASH READS PARK BUT THE CAR IS IN REVERSE. THIS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. MY VIN# NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL IT SHOULD BE ITS THE VERY SAME ISSUE THE RECALL COVERS. IN A CVS PARKING LOT. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE VIN NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. HAD TO MANUALL PUT IN DRIVE BUT COULD NOT LEAVE CAR UNTIL SOMONE CAME TO HELP ME MANUALLY PUT IN PARK UNDER THE HOOD
WASTEGATE SOLENOID NEEDS REPLACED, WE HAVE REPLACED SO MANY PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AS WELL. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE THAT'S ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE AFTER IT LEFT OUR VEHICLE COMPLETELY DISABLED IN A TOWN AN HOUR AWAY FROM OUR HOME. WE'VE ALSO REPLACED THE COOLANT BYPASS SOLENOID. THESE ARE ALL KNOWN ISSUES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A RECALL BUT OUR VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT MATCHES THE RECALL SPECS EXACTLY, OUR VIN # WAS NOT LISTED ON THE SHOPS OASIS SHEET SO WE'VE PAID FOR ALL OF THIS OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET. FORD NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REIMBURSE EVERYONE THAT HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES AND PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET FOR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES ALREADY. THE RECALLS OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE EXPANDED TO REFLECT THE TRUE NUMBERS.
THE TRANSMISSION QUIT AT 109,000 MILES. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED TO GO THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK IN STEAD OF MOVING FORWARD. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO MOVE BY REVVING THE ENGINE. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SAFETY OF A PARKING LOT. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I AM FACING A $3500.00 REPAIR BILL ON SOMETHING THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF AND REFUSES TO FIX. THEY RECALLED MY VEHICLE FOR DOOR LATCHES, BUT NOT A POWER TRAIN ISSUE THAT COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED.
THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AT 76,032 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
TRANSMISSION FAIL: WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2014 FORD ESCAPE AT TIME OF THE FAIL. TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULDNT GO ALMOST CAUSED A CAR TO HINT US CAUSE WE COULDNT GO WE COULDNT GET OUT OF THE WAY. FORD IS SAYING ITS THE TRANSMISSION LINE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CHANGE GEARS. WE TOOK IT FORD ONE YR AGO BECAUSE IT WAS SHIFTING RIGHT FROM 2ND GEAR, THEY CHANGED THE FLUIDS SAID IT TESTED FINE AT THOS TIME. ONE YR TO THE DAY TRANSMISSION FAILS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE GEAR BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE. WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED BACK INTO PARK, IT SEIZED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AFTER UNPLUGGING THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TWO MONTHS AGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V471000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NTB WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED DUE TO BUSHING FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED AT NTB UNTIL FORD DETERMINED THE NEXT STEPS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THAT NHTSA WOULD BE ABLE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. A CASE WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DECLINED TO PROVIDE A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,500.
IN JANUARY 2019 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND IT WOULD NOT GO BACKWARDS OR FORWARD AND THERE WAS A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE WE WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE BAD AND WE HADN'T HAD IT A YEAR. I WORK IN A CALL CENTER ON BEHALF OF DEALERSHIPS AND I HEAR THE SAME PROBLEM FROM CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE FORD ESCAPE AND FORD FOCUS ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS GOING BAD SKIPPING GEARS SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU MASH THE ACCELARATOR WHICH IS WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AS WELL THE VEHICLE IS PARKED BECAUSE WE CAN'T DRIVE IT NEED A TRANSMISSION AND WE DONT5HAVE THE MONEY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WITH MUCH EFFORT. GENE LATTA FORD (1565 CARLISLE ST, HANOVER, PA 17331, (717) 633-1999) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE HIMSELF AND FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE TO BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH AND THE SHIFT SOLENOID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED DUE TO PAST EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER REPAIRS. AFTER HEARING THE CONTACT'S CONCERNS WITH PAST DIAGNOSES, THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
ON FEB 22 2019 I WAS DRIVING GO WORK ON A SMALL HILL. I LOST ALL POWER THE RPMS SHOT UP AND THE SUV SLOWED DOWN.I MADE IT TO FLAT GROUND AND THE SUV STOPPED. I PUT THE SUV IN PARK FOR A COUPLE SECONDS THEN I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE IT WOULDN'T MOVE SO I PUT IT IN REVERSE IT STILL WOULDN'T MOVE I PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES TURNED IT ON IT MOVED ENOUGH FOR ME TO PARK IT AT A GAS STATION.
WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEN VEHICLE RPM SUDDENLY REDLINED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. VEHICLE STEERING WAS HARD AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH.
MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING HOME FROM HER SISTERS HOME AND ABOUT 5 MILES IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC ON A 2 LANE ROADWAY CROSSING A BRIDGE WHEN SHE LOST POWER AN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REACH OVER A SPEED OF 10MPH. THIS IN TURN PUT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN DANGER WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AT A RATE OF 40MPH DROPPING TO 10 MPH WITH RPMS JUMPING TO BETWEEN 6 AN 7 RPMS . SHE LUCKILY MADE IT ACROSS THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE FOUND A WIDE SPOT TO PULL OFF. WHEN I ARRIVED I CHECKED FOR FLUID ON THE GROUND THERE WAS NONE. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND REVERSE AND IT WAS ABUNDENTLY CLEAR IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A SLAMMING/BOOMING SOUND AS IT TRIED TO ENGAGE. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO POWER BEHIND THE VEHICLE TO PICK UP ANY ACCELERATION. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THE NEXT DAY WHERE HE WAS QUICK TO LET ME KNOW WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO PARK THE BUSHING THAT ATTACHES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION DID DEGRADE OVER TIME AND CAUSED THE BUSHING TO DETACH FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONDITION DID ALLOW THE DRIVER TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO PARK AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING MESSAGE OR AUDIBLE CHIME. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON FLAT BED. THE BUSHING DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELL OUT OF THE CABLE HOUSING. DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK SHIFTER CABLE CAME OF TRANSMISSION SAYS VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL WHILE SHIFTER IS IN PARK TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL HAPPENED IN DRIVEWAY
THE VEHICLE, WHEN DRIVING IT, HAS STALLED OUT COMPLETELY ON A BUSY CITY STREET. WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY START IT. WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, I COULD NOT GAIN SPEED, SUV WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR AND A VERY LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD. AGAIN, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE IN A SAFE MANNER WHEN MERGING ONTO A US HIGHWAY. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME PROBLEM WAS NOTED ON A VERY BUSY CITY STREET. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LUCKILY WAS NOT REAR ENDED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTIC REPORT RESULTED IN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,700 MILES.
AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN HARSHLY. AT THE NEXT EXIT, I GOT TO THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN, AGAIN EXTREMELY HARSHLY. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION BUT FAILED TO SHIFT UP, AND WOULD NOT PUT ANY POWER DOWN IN FIRST GEAR EITHER. THE STOPPED MOVING IN THE INTERSECTION. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY JARRING MOTION AS IT WENT FROM PARK TO FIRST, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. IN THE MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT AND METAL SHAVINGS HAD COLLECTED IN THE FLUID FROM A FAULT INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS $5748.19 FOR A CAR LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND UNDER 100,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILING WITH NO WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
THE VEHICLE TREMORS AND SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED JUST A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING ACROSS A RUGGED OR BUMPY ROAD, BUT IT'S THE ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT SHAKES. FORDS DIAGNOSTIC WAS CONCLUDED WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT OR CE LIGHT ON ACKNOWLEDGING AN ISSUE. THEY KEPT FOR DAYS AND RAN SEVERAL TESTS. THE MECHANIC COULD TELL BY DRIVING IT A FEW TIMES THAT IS HAS WHAT HE CALLED THE 'TRANSMISSION SHUDDER.' IF HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS AND MENTIONED HOW COMMON IT WAS ON MY MODEL, THEN WHY IS IT NOT UNDER A RECALL? AFTER RESEARCH, I HAVE READ OTHER EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. ALSO, WHY AFTER DRIVING 12,000 MILES AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC NOT A SINGLE LIGHT HAS INDICATED AN ISSUE. IT JUST CONTINUALLY SHAKES AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRUST FOR IT TO TAKE MY FAMILY AND I ANYWHERE. IT'S MY DAILY DRIVER BUT I ONLY LIVE 4 MINUTE SFROM WORK AND THAT'S ALREADY RISKY TO ME.
VEHICLE IN MOTION HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS
I WAS TAKING MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR AND AND WAS CROSSING TRAFFICAT A LIGHT AND WITH NO WARNING I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO,I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND NOTHING LUCKILY IT WAS GOING DOWN HILL SO I COASTED TO A SHOP WHICH WAS VERY NEAR BY AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMING APART AND WOULD BE VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR
TAKATA RECALL THE TRANNY WILL OFF AND ON SLAM INTO GEAR THIS HAPPENS IN ALL ROADS AND IN TOWN AND OUT OF TOWN
WE TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS AT FORD DEALER. WHEN WE DROVE IT HOME ON CITY STREET AT 35 MPH THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD REAR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING. IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $500. AFTER THE REPAIR WE DROVE IT HOME ON CITY STREET AT 40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT CAME BACK ON. FORD DEALER SAID IT COULD BE A SHIFT SOLENOID REPAIR FOR $500 IF THAT DOES NOT WORK IT WOULD BE A TORQUE CONVERTER REPAIR AT A COST OF $3500. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR HAS 40000 MILES AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLES FAILED AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER (PORTER FORD, 600 OGLETOWN RD, NEWARK, DE 19711, 302-738-0800) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
"TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SERVICE NOW" COMES UP ONLY WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY. IT FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD. THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE COMPUTER AND I WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER (I HAD MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE) AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THEY COULD'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS THROWING THIS CODE. THIS WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2014. THE CAR STILL DROVE FINE. THEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, IT BEGAN OVERHEATING. I NOW LIVE IN THE DESERT SO THIS IS COMMON HERE. I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE HEAD GASKET, ENGINE BLOCK AND TEMP. GAUGE REPLACED. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL I STARTED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. THEN THE SAME CODE CAME UP. THE PROBLEMS AND MONEY THAT I HAVE HAD TO DUMP INTO THIS CAR IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $5K THIS YEAR ALONE ON REPAIRS AND STILL HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION CODE BEING THROWN SO I CAN'T EVEN PASS AN EMISSIONS TEST TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE.
3 YR OLD CAR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO DODGE SPEEDIG CARS TO ROLL OFF THE FREEWAY SINCE I HAD NO USE OF THE GAS PETAL OR SPEED. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ERROR CODES P0732-GEAR 2 INCORRECT GEAR RATIO CAME BACK TO NEEDING A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. HAD THEM FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION FOR $300 TO TRY AND SAVE IT TO NO AVAIL. THE SHIFTER CABLE IS ALREADY ON RECALL NOTICE 18S20/NHTSA RECALL 18V471 AND MY FORD DEALER CANT GET THE PART FOR MONTHS NOW BECAUSE ITS ON BACK ORDER. I BELIEVE THIS LED TO THE TOTAL DEMISE OF THE TRANSMISSION. A USED PART FOR $3000 IS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THE DEALERS CANT FIND ONE ANYWHERE. IM ASSUMING ITS DUE TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. MY ONLY OPTIONS ARE SPENDING $5400 ON A NEW TRANSMISSION OR GETTIG RID OF THE CAR THAT I STILL OWE MONEY ON TO SOMEONE WHO MAY SCRAP IT. NO SAFETY RECALL PARTS ARE AVAILABLE STILL AFTER MONTHS AND NO USED PARTS ARE ACAILABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE LIKE ME WITH THIS STYLE VEHICLE. ALSO IN JANUARY THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE 17S09/NHTSA RECALL 17V-209 THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED THAT MAY CAUSE OIL TO LEAK AND MAY RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A WHINING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,632. *TT*JB
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Quick Summary
The 2014 Ford Escape has 346 Power Train complaints on file. 7 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.