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Ford Escape Transmission Problems

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

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Messages Page 8 of 15

#67 of 146 2011 Escape 6 speed Transmision is defective and unsafe by radflyr

Aug 29, 2011 (9:01 pm)

Purchased May 2011; the transmission has a turbo lag witch is strange that Ford has produced a bad symptom of Turbos historical past witch is no longer an issue for cars that actually HAVE Turbos! The faulty programming of the ford 6 speed seems to be the culprit. It is inconsistent sometimes much worse than other times. Can't be counted on to safely merge into heavy fast moving traffic Say, "like a FREEWAY!" Or other such unusual driving situations. Have almost been T-bared twice. I haven't had an accident or moving violation for over 25 years and drive very safely, but I'm not a snail either. The engine has plenty of power lots of tork but I can feel the transmission holding the power back with its constant searching for just the perfect gear to use but it never finds it in time. If I have a short stop right after accelerating, the car continues to apply power to the axil long after I have taken my foot off the gas and applied the brakes; almost causing rear end collisions at false starts in traffic. And then the tranny makes a hard and loud clunk that feels like the tranny is falling out, it does this with great regularity while accelerating from a stop as well. It reminds me of a 65 Chevy Impala i had for a few weeks in the 70s witch went to the bone yard because the transmission needed a rebuild and the car only cost me $175. So I guess Ford still can’t build a car better than my old $175 Impala with an additional 43 years of technology advancement and an extra $25,000.00. They still handle their mistakes no better than they did in 1975. I was there with Ford then as well; I thought I’d give them a second chance but they just can’t handle Technology. And they should stay away from it. As I said I am not a lead foot but the best Mileage I have gotten is 22MPG. I got consistent 26 to 30 MPG out of my 2006 Mustang witch I traded for the Escape only because I have become disabled and could no longer pull myself up and out of the low Mustang. The Service Manager at the dealer in Cary, NC said they have had a lot of complaints but that the problems and they used to resolve each as it arose with reprogramming and had replaced a few transmissions but Ford told them not to do anything about it anymore. I am paraphrasing but I was basically told Ford has reverted to their historical M.O. "They are blaming the driver now (Just like they did with the dangerous Explorer tires and wheel alignments that cause accidents and death and injury in the early 2000s,so they don't have to admit the transmission is a lemon and therefore avoid a recall. Stating: "that the transmission is adaptive and if you aren't consistent about the way that you drive.” You may notice some unpleasant variances with shifting". I am 56 years old, been driving since I was 10. Grew up on a farm. Know engines transmissions and gears. Have owned more than 30 cars of various brands from domestic to foreign cheap to expensive. I know that this problem is a Defective Programming witch is causing shifting problems (Hard and searching shifts out of sequence (which will in time Cause Mechanical breakdown of the internal components in the transmission, engine, CV joints and breaks. Poor gas mileage and shortened life from the product. I've been there before. Ford's claims of quality and standing behind their products Eh! Go buy a Honda, GM, Toyota, or if you can afford it Acura or Audi. "Ford is still doing business; “just like its 1999!" It’s been three weeks since a Ford rep promising would get back to me within 3 or 4 days. Haven’t heard a word since, nothing from the dealer eighther. Seems all those millions spent monthly to promote It's products and how they are so good keep bad press out of the public view. "Otherwise I would not have purchased this junk." Wish I had my Mustang back! "Wish I had gone to GM!"

#68 of 146 Re: jumping out of gear [escape8] by nvbanker

Aug 30, 2011 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: escape8 (Aug 28, 2011 8:27 pm)
Yes, it's 9 years old.

#70 of 146 2005 escape tranny vibration at idle in gear by sm_lawrence

Mar 09, 2010 (10:31 pm)

Hey guys, new to the forum. I recently bought a 2005 ford escape. 4wd, 82,000 miles. Its has a slite vibration in drive and reverse at idle, like pulled up to a stop. Has anyone else had problems with this and if so, what was the fix? tranny fluid looks clean, at level, and doesn't smell burnt. Any help is greatly appriciated!

#71 of 146 Fuel Problem with 2008 Ford Escape by louise5600

Apr 21, 2010 (11:21 am)

Yesterday I went to Panama City, FL from Dothan, AL, a distance of 82 miles one-way. The SUV was great going down but coming home something strange happened that frightened me. Before I forget I need to tell you that I purchased gas (I needed 1/2 tank) before I left Dothan. About 10 miles out of Panama City the car began to vibrate and had no pickup to speak of. I had a few small hills (very small) to climb and the car went from 55 mph down to 45 mph with the cruise control on. The car barely made it up the small hills. And when I would stop for a stop sign or stop light the car would vibrate something awful. And when I was going down the road the car seemed to make small "jerks" forward. I prayed to God to just get me home safely. Then this morning I was planning on taking it into the shop and when I fired her up she ran just great like nothing ever was wrong. I am afraid that I will get caught out some place with it happening again. I called my brother-in-law this morning and asked him if I could have gotten some "bad" gas. He did not think this was the problem. Has anyone else had this happen to them and if so, what was the problem and how did you solve it? Thanks a million for any help you can offer this old lady.

#72 of 146 Vibration at 15 mph by jakaruka

Jun 15, 2011 (8:27 pm)

Hey Guys,
 
Just joined. I am have the same type of problem. My Ford Escape (2005) starts to vibrate when I reach a speed about 15 mph and stop at about 18. It will keep vibrating while I am at those speeds. The vibration seems to be coming from the front drivers side. What is the problem and what is the fix? Thanks a lot for any help.

#74 of 146 2011 Escape, defective 6sp trans. DANGEROUS! by radflyr

Aug 29, 2011 (9:10 pm)

Purchased May 2011; the transmission has a turbo lag witch is strange that Ford has produced a bad symptom of Turbos historical past witch is no longer an issue for cars that actually HAVE Turbos! The faulty programming of the ford 6 speed seems to be the culprit. It is inconsistent sometimes much worse than other times. Can't be counted on to safely merge into heavy fast moving traffic Say, "like a FREEWAY!" Or other such unusual driving situations. Have almost been T-boned twice in three months. I haven't had an accident or moving violation for over 25 years and drive very safely, but I'm not a snail either. The engine has plenty of power lots of tork but I can feel the transmission holding the power back with its constant searching for just the perfect gear to use but it never finds it in time. If I have a short stop right after accelerating, the car continues to apply power to the axil long after I have taken my foot off the gas and applied the brakes; almost causing rear end collisions at false starts in traffic. And then the tranny makes a hard and loud clunk that feels like the tranny is falling out, it does this with great regularity while accelerating from a stop as well. It reminds me of a 65 Chevy Impala i had for a few weeks in the 70s witch went to the bone yard because the transmission needed a rebuild and the car only cost me $175. So I guess Ford still can’t build a car better than my old $175 Impala with an additional 43 years of technology advancement and an extra $25,000.00. They still handle their mistakes no better than they did in 1975. I was there with Ford then as well; I thought I’d give them a second chance but they just can’t handle Technology. And they should stay away from it. As I said I am not a lead foot but the best Mileage I have gotten is 22MPG. I got consistent 26 to 30 MPG out of my 2006 Mustang witch I traded for the Escape only because I have become disabled and could no longer pull myself up and out of the low Mustang. The Service Manager at the dealer in Cary, NC said they have had a lot of complaints but that the problems and they used to resolve each as it arose with reprogramming and had replaced a few transmissions but Ford told them not to do anything about it anymore. I am paraphrasing but I was basically told Ford has reverted to their historical M.O. "They are blaming the driver now (Just like they did with the dangerous Explorer tires and wheel alignments that cause accidents and death and injury in the early 2000s,so they don't have to admit the transmission is a lemon and therefore avoid a recall. Stating: "that the transmission is adaptive and if you aren't consistent about the way that you drive.” You may notice some unpleasant variances with shifting". I am 56 years old, been driving since I was 10. Grew up on a farm. Know engines transmissions and gears. Have owned more than 30 cars of various brands from domestic to foreign cheap to expensive. I know that this problem is a Defective Programming witch is causing shifting problems (Hard and searching shifts out of sequence (which will in time Cause Mechanical breakdown of the internal components in the transmission, engine, CV joints and breaks. Poor gas mileage and shortened life from the product. I've been there before. Ford's claims of quality and standing behind their products Eh! Go buy a Honda, GM, Toyota, or if you can afford it Acura or Audi. "Ford is still doing business; “just like its 1999!" It’s been three weeks since a Ford rep promising would get back to me within 3 or 4 days. Haven’t heard a word since, nothing from the dealer eighther.

#75 of 146 Re: 2011 Escape, defective 6sp trans. DANGEROUS! [radflyr] by wwest

Aug 30, 2011 (10:23 am)

Replying to: radflyr (Aug 29, 2011 9:10 pm)
SOP for newer automatic transmissions, began with Lexus RX300 design change back in ~'98.
 
Google:
 
abolition hesitation downshift

#76 of 146 Re: 2011 Escape, defective 6sp trans. DANGEROUS! [wwest] by radflyr

Aug 30, 2011 (10:52 am)

Replying to: wwest (Aug 30, 2011 10:23 am)
Hey! wwest, Maybe you could be more specific about what you have replied. I don't understand what it is that you are trying to convey,. I Goggled the phrase and found nothing but found nothing dealing with Ford Escape 6 speed transmission programming wondering clutching problems. Or anything that would address what my transmission is doing. I have wondering shifting up and down all throughout what should be a certain upshift at the proper RPM, I have searching and holding back and then finally shifting to the next when engine speed and forward momentum has been lost and then we are now in the wrong gear again. Clunking and banging of gears dropping at the end and beginning of the shifting sequence. Transmission gears slipping and then clunking and dropping into gear upon both hot and cold start-ups. Severe TURBO LAG when acceleration is needed for lane changing and merging in traffic. As a result as a fact of engineering to be sure that the tranny and engine are running hotter than they need to be running fuel economy is sacrificed and accelerated wear and decreased life on the entire drive train is the result.

Messages Page 8 of 15

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