9.1
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$3,216.00
Average Mileage:
71,524 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints
Most common solutions:
- had to pay to replace transmission (6 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
transmission problem
Helpful Websites About 2004 Ford Escape transmission failure
2009Mar 02
Escape XLT 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 58,000 miles
Why would the transmission fail at 58,000 miles? I had the transmission flushed at 30,000 but it still failed. It has to be a design problem but.... no recall. Ford only offered 3yr 36,000 mile warranty on this year for the power train. Stand behind your products Ford!
2008Oct 06
Escape XLT 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
OK, 70K and the transmission is dead ??. Car is in great shape, always maintained to the top level. However, great, I still have to pay for the repair - (or rebuilt transmission) Dealer is very nice to me and took the time to explain about the drum inside that"let loose" and caused the problems. Sounds like a product reliability issue not a worn or damaged part. OUCH $3200.00 to repair. In my industry if the same issue happens over and over again we, the MFG, stand behind the product, even after 15 year. This really sounds like it's a known issue at Ford. Now that I look back, the car needed a just little more gas coming from a dead stop and up to speed. I now realize it was jumping into 2nd a little earlier and expected, but most of the time I was only driving around town. All in 2 days and DEAD TRANSMISSION.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Aug 24
Escape XLT 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 103,769 miles
As I am finding out, the Escape transmission is a weak point. I have owned mine since new and I guess I am pretty lucky having got this far (167,000 km) before I lost reverse and needed an overhaul. I am a journeyman auto technician so I have a better understanding than most of the reason these transmissions are failing. Turns out the bushings are not holding up which is effecting the hydraulic pressure. The first sign of the bushings failing is a leak at the front input shaft. The bushing wears causing the seal to leak. About 20,000 km later is when I lost reverse when warm, worked fine cold.
The transmission shop that is rebuilding mine said that there are aftermarket bushings which are wider and should hold up better than the smaller stock bushings. The funny thing is there is room in the case for a wider bushing... looks like Ford tried to save a few pennies on bushings and it is costing their customers thousands. The big punch will come to them is lost future sales.
I will most likely not keep mine long enough to know how long the rebuild lasts but at least it is a step in the right direction.
2008May 17
Escape XLT 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
I have a 2004 Ford Escape XLT that I brought w/ 20,000 miles. My Escape is only 4 yrs old and have 87,000 miles, w/ the transmission going out. What type of mess is this! The way the economy is going, do Ford expect us to just be able to by a new transmission or new car. I called the Ford company to see if there was a recall on all 2002 to 2005 escapes, but they stated that there was no other complaints. Unless there is a recall, I will never by another Ford aka- (Found On Road Died)!
2007Sep 15
Escape XLT 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
My wife and I bought our 2004 Excape No boundaries edition 4x4 new off the lot. We always had it serviced by the dealer including transmission flushed around 36K miles. We had noticed that sometimes after starting the car the transmission would be hard to get into gear and then thunk when it went into gear. No big thing. Late 2007 we took 2 friends to the mountains and stayed at another friend's cabin. The cabin was at the top of a very steep road with several stop signs. Each time we started off onto the hill from a stop, the transmission would slip and then thunk into 1st gear. This got progressively worse over the course of the two day stay at the cabin. We drove home and noticed that once we were on the highway there were no problems. About 2 miles from our house we exited the highway and had to stop. Taking off we got the same THUNK going into 1st. I told my wife to take the truck to the dealer the next day. The next day, on the way to her work, the service engine/OD light started up and the transmission went completely to crap. The car was noisy and barely moving. A cottmans transmission shop is near her work, so I told her to take it there. They said the transmission needed a complete rebuild. I took the Escape to the dealer and they said the same thing. We had the transmission rebuilt at the least expensive place and immediately traded the vehicle. I had searched the internet and found dozens of complaints about the transmission failing even after being rebuilt. I will say, Ford came back (after I had it fixed) and offered to cut me a good deal to install a rebuilt unit. Also, this was the only real problem the car ever had, but it was a biggie.
2007Jul 13
(reported on)Escape LX 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 35,900 miles
Transmission died 3 months after the 3-year warranty expired. The dealership said they would not cover anything because I had not had the transmission serviced at 25,000 km (15,000 miles). Ford Canada took the same stand. They phoned and bugged me about oil changes prematurely but never phoned me about something that basically voides any warranty claims. Whoever heard of servicing your transmission with only 15,000 miles on it. GM recommends servicing at 50,000 miles which makes more sense.
The Escape was driven in the city only and has no towing equipment. This transmission servicing requirement at such a low mileage means that either 1) the transmission is very weak to need such constant attention or 2) the servicing requirement is a gimmick by Ford to avoid fixing their faulty transmissions. This was my first Ford purchase in 30 years and I was recommending the Escape to my relatives until this happened. I'm sticking with GM products from now on.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jan 05
Escape XL ?, V6
Wow, where do I start? What an unexpected repair. I hopped in my car to go home and couldn't get out of the parking lot at work. I tried to put the car in reverse and it wouldn't move. I called Aamco, thinking because Aamco specializes in transmissions that I would get a good deal. They held on to my car for almost a week before calling me to say it would cost between $3500 to $4000 to repair. I kindly grabbed my vehicle and took it to the Ford dealership, which had it for a day to say it would cost around $2800. Since having the transmission repaired, I have had no other serious problems.
jrenee
Stafford, VA, USA
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