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Ford Escape Transmission Problems

146 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 8:54 AM

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#109 of 146 Ford Transmissions...... by nvbanker

Oct 31, 2011 (2:25 pm)

As good as my Fords have generally been, especially my Escapes - I will admit, the biggest weakness Ford has, IMO, is the transmissions. Although, several of them are made by Aisan, a transmission manufacturer who sells the same units to GM, Ford and some Japanese manufacturers, the few problems I have had with Fords - have been the transmissions..... And I agree - when they fail, they fail too early.

#110 of 146 Re: Ford Transmissions...... [nvbanker] by babbs3

Nov 05, 2011 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 31, 2011 2:25 pm)
Thank you nvbanker for being honest. I feel you like Fords' but having tranny problems and at least saying so is refreshing. So many die hard folks act like it is no big thing to have problems with the trans. I am scared to even try a 3rd new car for fear I'll get that strange 6 auto trans. I really don't want to buy any more imports (I sadly did in the past) and felt guilty for it. I guess the Asian trans. is here to stay because not every single one fails so why should the auto makers stop using them. Now Chrysler has announced the use of a 8 speed auto. Who makes those? I don't know what to do about my next purchase or lease.

#111 of 146 Re: Ford Transmissions...... [babbs3] by nvbanker

Nov 07, 2011 (9:48 am)

Replying to: babbs3 (Nov 05, 2011 1:10 pm)
I don't know who Chrysler is going to use for that 8 speed, but since Fiat owns them now, it could be from anywhere. My Lexus has an 8 speed, but it's home grown I think, and not like your usual old gearbox, it's electric and only uses 2 quarts of fluid instead of gallons. I doubt Chrysler could afford to put those in their cars. I've owned several Chryslers, mostly minivans, and transmissions are the only thing I've had trouble with on those as well. Honda and Toyota have both had trouble with transmissions in the past, though they are slow to admit it. GM seems to do a little better, but they share the Aisan product that Ford uses in their front wheel drive models, and I dislike most GM products intensely. Still can't forgive them for the rubbish they made for decades and their 10 year behind technology. Well, I could go on, but let's just say, I dislike GM the most.
 
Guilt aside, what I have pretty much gone to is Ford trucks and SUVs, and Toyota cars....seems to serve me the best. Just leased a new Explorer for my wife, and LOVE the car much more than I thought I would. I have a work fleet of 7 cars, 4 Escapes, 1 Toyota Camry and 2 Chryslers. All doing pretty well, the Fords and Toyota are the best though. 2 of them are Hybrids. The Ford Hybrid system is the best by far. The Toyota Hybrid is slow, slow, slow and the Ford actually gets better mileage than the Toyota car.
 
Fact is, most cars on the road today are pretty good. Buy what you like, Hyundai has the best warranty, check Consumer Reports for weaknesses, and watch the 3 year old study JD Power does, and hope for the best. Stay away from Volkswagen, they are universally rated very poorly. Best of luck!

#112 of 146 2004 Escape -I wish it would! by confusedagain

Nov 18, 2011 (7:03 am)

I myself keep getting the run around from everyone at all dealships. One mechanic says my transmission problems are due to one thing then the other says something else and so on. Ford needs to be brought back to reality. I have tried contacting everyone at the upper level and NO ONE will contact me back. I had email addresses for all of them and sent for the last 1 1/2 constant visit to the shops, changing when they told me to and the problems keep getting worse and the trips are more and more. I have a 2004 and have had constant problems since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago including the week I bought it they started. From electrical to transmission, and yet they keep the vehicle for weeks at a time and when I get if back they say there was anything ... how come you keep it that long and do all this work but there was nothing wrong. I could go on for ever about all the problems that are still wrong and even my extended warranty will not cover.... I have decided that no response means CONTACT AN ATTORNEY ( I will use the money I have been using to get it fixed on the attorney now) ALSO 8 ON YOUR SIDE TELEVISION STATION WILL ASSIST ME WITH THIS ONE!

#113 of 146 Re: 2008 Transmission gone--70 K miles [cathy24] by jordan28

Nov 27, 2011 (11:31 am)

Replying to: cathy24 (Apr 29, 2011 5:02 pm)
First, your dealer ripped you off big time. Flushes typically only cost around $150, if that. Second, I'm wondering how many people with transmission problems have V-6 engines, because even the Asians can't get V-6's to stop eating transmissions in FWD's(even Toyota Camrys have this problem). Third and ironically, my Fusion's sport transmission from Ohio is holding up fine, even though it starts slipping when the fluid gets over 30k mi on it(after a flush it stops). I found out when it was new that Ford stopped installing filters on their transmissions, and if these out-sourced transmissions are the same it could have a lot to do with it. For anyone looking to buy a car, NEVER buy a FWD car where the HP rating is near or exceeds 200hp. For 200+HP opt for AWD or RWD, it is what I did(V-6).

#114 of 146 Re: 2008 Transmission gone--70 K miles [jordan28] by confusedagain

Nov 27, 2011 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: jordan28 (Nov 27, 2011 11:31 am)
I wish it was so simple but it has been... transmission slipping, radio stops then starts working, windows stop working then started, lights on the dashboard all coming on and then not, seatbelt mechanism not working, airbag relay broke, motor mounts, wheel hubs, clicking noise everytime I step on the brake (LOUD) they said is was suppose to do that - strange it never did it when I bought it then it started for months then just stopped and then started again recently, power steering pump, engine races when you let off the gas peddle... I know there is more just cant think of it all. I think that it is enough really since most of this started shortly after I bought it from a dealership and I have been told several things for each item as to why.... but funny they keep it for weeks at a time but say nothing wrong and it comes back with something fixed.

#115 of 146 I'm puzzle and so is the dealer by fedup27

Dec 31, 2011 (5:53 pm)

When putting my cruise on going up a hill at times, the engine starts to rev up, the 2009 escape doesn't go any faster, the rpms go up to 4000 to 5000 and won't get out of it until I put the escape back into park. I tried putting it into neutral when on a busy highway and then back into drive but nothing worked. I have taken it in to the dealer 2 times and they can't find anything. They questioned why I put it in neutral and I said to try and get the rpms down since my vehicle never goes over 3000 rpm even when I step on it. This time, I didn't take the cruise off, I left it go on and on for about three miles and finally the check engine light came on. Even when I slowed down to exit the interstate, the rpms didn't move like they should. I left the cruise off the hour ride home and drove 60 miles and hour without any problems until after I left my sister off, putting the vehicle into drive, it jerked. I only live three blocks from her with a 25 mph speed limit. I stepped on the gas, rpms went way up again and I had to lift off the gas in order for it to shift, then pulling into my drive it didn't want to move much but I did get it into the garage. Anyone else had this problem?????

#116 of 146 Re: 2008 Transmission gone--70 K miles [Jordan] by wwest

Jan 01, 2012 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: jordan28 (Nov 27, 2011 11:31 am)
Toyota introduced a new "real time" ATF line pressure control technique in the early RX300 models. The new design yielded a quite significant improvement in FE but (apparently) inadvertently included a very serious design flaw. The FE gain was great enough that the new design was widely adopted before the design flaw was publicly exposed, "discovered".
 
Toyota, after several attempts at fixing the flaw, finally settled on DBW(RX330) as a final fix. Prevent the engine from rising in torque until a re-acceleration downshift could be accomplished/completed.
 
The suggestion of opting for AWD, F/awd, is a non-starter.
 
The use of the brakes for traction control on FWD provides a serious level of safety but with a TON of stress on the driveline components with both engine drive and braking engaged simultaneously. Basically the reason the engine is also INSTANTLY dethrottled simultaneous with braking actuation.
 
It is very well know that have both front and rear drives engaged simultaneously on tractive surfaces is detrimental to driveline component life cycles. While always of relatively short duration, front AND rear drives only used under low speed acceleration, in the long term that always adds up to premature driveline component failure.
 
So adding F/awd, and the associated inadvertent additional driveline stress, to an already flawed transaxle design only exacerbates the failure rate. Look at the transaxle failure rate for early F/awd RX300, the F/awd version of the Escape/Mariner, and the entire life period of the MDX as examples.

#117 of 146 Re: I'm puzzle and so is the dealer [fedup27] by wwest

Jan 01, 2012 (12:59 pm)

Replying to: fedup27 (Dec 31, 2011 5:53 pm)
Why would you engage the cruise on an uphill run?
 
For myself I would be initially engaging
 
My practice in that case, more often practice, is to disallow the engagement of OD.
 
My guess is that one of the clutches involved in the highest non-OD gear selection is marginal and begins slipping with a sudden application and simultaneous need for reasonable high torque transfer.

#118 of 146 Re: 2008 Transmission gone--70 K miles [confusedagain] by lyncar

Jan 20, 2012 (8:28 am)

Replying to: confusedagain (Nov 27, 2011 4:10 pm)
I had your exact electrical problem - it is the ignition. Just replace it and electrical problems go away - or when you are turning your key on, after it is on just slightly nudge the key back so it rests against the resistance. The problem is that the ignition is telling the starter to keep starting and starting... and your electrical thinks the car is about to start so it pauses.

Messages Page 12 of 15

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