2007 Ford Escape Power Train

The torque converter was failing in my 07 escape. When I switched gears from park to drive or reverse the car would shake and sometimes stall out. Or if I had to stop at a stop sign or traffic signal while in drive the same issues would happen. The old torque converter is not available for inspection unfortunately because I gave it back to autozone to get the core charge money back. But when we installed the new torque converter it completely solved the issues and the transmission is running great again. It put myself and my passengers at risk since my car would completely turn off at traffic lights sometimes. This problem has been reproduced by others and I actually found out the torque converter was the issue by finding a technical service bulletin (TSB 07-5-6) so I know other shops have discovered this issue. There were no warning lights or anything and no parts were inspected by others. I completed the whole replacement.

This Escape is an AWD Hybrid. When driving in slippery snow, sand, ice, etc., the front wheels spin, but there is no power transmitted to the rear wheels, causing serious control and traction problems. An "all-wheel-drive-locked" signal appears on the info display, followed instantly by "AWD disabled". After a while (a couple minutes), the system then comes back and says "Automatic AWD restored". Which is simply not true—AWD never engages, but a driver going into a snowstorm or other difficult situation has no way of knowing this until it's too late. Problem was diagnosed by a good mechanic as a faulty transfer case—a very common problem in 2002—2011 AWD Ford Escapes. There is a serious design problem—the transfer case is too close to the exhaust, which cooks the internal lubricant, causes it to leak out completely, and kills the bearings inside the case. There are many cases on forums of this problem causing locked wheels at speed, sudden lack of drive on highways, etc. Not to mention the problem (as in my case) of drivers entering dangerous driving situations where they are counting on AWD for safe driving, but having just front wheel drive, with absolutely no warning from the car. I have no idea why this has not resulted in a. recall so far, but it is an serious, obvious (and worsening) safety issue. Parts and labor cost will be over $1000. Dissection of fragged transfer cases destroyed by this problem is easily available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yLkr609bfI

WHILE DRIVING ESCAPE AT APPROX 70MPH THE OVERDRIVE SENSOR SES LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. STOPPED AND BORROWED A SCAN TOOL FROM A LOCAL GARAGE WE KNOW. CODES P0741 AND P1744 FOR TCC WERE FOUND. DROVE HOME APPROX 40 MILES. ESCAPE WAS SHIFTING POORLY AFTER EXITING EXPRESSWAY. LIMPED VEHICLE HOME. NEXT DAY 11/14/2020 ATTEMPTED TO TAKE ESCAPE TO MECHANIC. ESCAPE HAD TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ODOMETER READS APPROX 110,500 MILES ESCAPE WAS TOWED TO ACCURATE TRANSMISSION IN BELLEVUE, MI FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR. DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TOTAL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2900. HEARD THAT SOME FORD ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND WONDERED ABOUT 2007 FORD ESCAPE ISSUES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT ALSO DETECTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION: WHEN I CRANK MY VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK WILL REMAIN RUNNING. WHEN I SHIFT GEARS INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSISTENT HESITATION WHEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP OR AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BEGINS' TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, ONLY IF I SHIFT GEARS QUICKLY INTO 2ND GEAR OR PARK AND KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND ONE ON THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY. THESE VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL ON MY FORD ESCAPE 2007 AT FORDMOTOR.COM WHERE THEIR IS WEB PAGE TO SUBMIT MY VIN NUMBER - SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VIN NUMBER. ADAMSON FORD BIRMINGHAM, AL., HAVE CONCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE HAS GONE OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORMS ATTACHED. *JS

2007 FORD ESCAPE - AT 42,644 MILES THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND NOT PICK UP SPEED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE REGULATOR VALVE..... AT 47,819 MILES THE CAR DID THE SAME THING , THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER , SEAL & PUMP , THEY CALL ME TO PICK UP THE CAR, WHEN I GOT THERE IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.... AT 52,338 MILES THE CAR AGAIN DID THE SAME THING WITH THE FORWARD GEARS AND AGAIN THE OD LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AGAIN TOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER - STICKING G VALE WHICH THEY REPLACED..... AT 53,175 MILES I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A BANG AND WHEN MOVING WOULD SHAKE,, THEY TOLD ME THAT AWD FORDS DO THAT AND THAT I JUST NEVER NOTICED BEFORE.... AT 91,678 MILE REVERSE WENT OUT AND AGAIN THE FORWARD GEARS SHIFTS WHEN EVER.... THEY NOW TELL ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORUMS DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WE'RE HAVING WITH OUR ESCAPE STALLING AND NOT RUNNING. WE WENT TO A MECHANIC WHO EXPLAINED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON ESCAPE TRANSMISSIONS AND WE SHOULD REPORT THIS ONE AS WELL AS IT DOESN'T HAVE MANY MILES FOR ITS AGE.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT WAS GREEN MY CAR DID NOT GO. WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED AND FOUND OUT THE THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. DOES FORD KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS?

STARTED WITH OCCASIONAL CLUNKING WHEN IN REVERSE. SLOWLY DEVELOPED A SORT OF THUMPING LIKE WHEN DRIVING. LIKE FROM A BAD TIRE OR WHEEL BEARING. AS MY WIFE HAD A MEDICAL PROBLEM, I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE CHECKING OUT. I ROTATED AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND BREAKS. I MANUALLY ROTATED EACH WHEEL BY HAND TO CHECK FOR SIGNS OF A WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM. NOTHING FOUND. THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS THE NOISE BECAME WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP. WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE IT OFF THEIR LOT. THEIR COMMENT TO ME IS THAT THEY HOPE I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING IT LONG LIKE THIS. THEY WERE SURE THAT SOMETHING IN THE TRANS AXLE WAS ABOUT TO LOCK UP. I AM SURE THEY WERE RIGHT. BY THIS TIME IT WAS QUITE BAD. THEY FOUND THAT MY TRANSFER CASE HAD FAILED AT 40,245 MILES. A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AWD ESCAPES. I NOTICE THAT 2 WERE REPORTED TO THE NHTSA, ONE RESULTING IN INJURY. IF THIS UNIT LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF LIFE IS POSSIBLE. ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ESCAPES ARE AWD AND HAVE TRANSFER CASES. IT APPEARS THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EARLY AWD ESCAPES ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS PROBLEM. ANY DRIVE TRAIN ISSUE IN ANY VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE LOCKING UP WHILE UNDER WAY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. FORD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WHEN I DROVE THE CAR TO THE SHOP THAT MORNING IT SOUNDED SO BAD THAT I WAS A LITTLE SCARED TO DRIVE IT FASTER THAN AROUND 30 MPH. IT WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED WITHIN DAYS. I FEEL I WAS LUCKY TO GET IT REPAIRED WHEN I DID. IT COST ME $4,353.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE. NOW I AM NOT SURE I WANT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE I SHOULD TRUST THEIR CVT EITHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT AND DRIVER HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ODOR. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND NERVE DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM RIB PAIN AND SMOKE INHALATION. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES AS I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE AND STATIONARY AT RED LIGHT VEHICLE BEGAIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE MAKING A GRINDING NOSE AND VEHICLE STALLED. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND IN MOTION WAS FINE AS I BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP TO MAKE LEFT TURN ON TO MY ROAD VEHICLE AGAIN BEGAIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AND ALMOST STALLED AGAIN. PROBLEM AS BEEN BE DIAGNOSED AS BAD TRANSMISSION.

THE POWER TAKEOFF UNIT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE POWER TAKEOFF ASSEMBLY, AND OR THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD . FORD SAYS THAT THE PART COST $3700.. WHILE TALKING WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS IN MY AREA, THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TVEHICLE. IF IT IS TRUE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ,WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED RECALLED. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF MARBLES ARE ROLLING AROUND IN MY TRANSMISSION WHILE COASTING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO EXCEED 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THAT IT WAS PURCHASED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN OVERDRIVE AND NOT THE REGULAR DRIVE GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH OUT WARNING. I PULLER OVER USING FORCE INTO A STRIP MALL. TURNED THE CAR OFF, SAT THERE FOR 10 MIN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND A SERVICE POWER STEERING READ ACROSS THE DASH. CALLED FORD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE GEAR LEVER WAS SLIGHTLY TOUCHED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

I WAS DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND 2ND GEAR AND FOURTH GEAR STARTED NOT TO ENGAGE ONLY 2ND GEAR WOULD AT 4,000 RPMS. 4TH GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL THE CAR HAS ONLY 119,235 MILES AND I HAVE KEPT GOOD SERVICE ON IT. I HAD THE FLUID FLUSHED AND STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A PERSON THAT SAID THAT THEY WILL TRY TO FLASH THE COMPUTER. HOPE IT WORKS I ALSO HOPE THAT I DON'T END UP IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE GEAR LUNCHES INTO 2ND CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JERK FORWARD. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON A TURNPIKE WITH FEW EXIT RAMPS AND LIMITED SHOULDER CLEARANCE, THE VEHICLE SIMULTANEOUSLY LOST ALL POWER AND DISPLAYED THE WARNING TRIANGLE ("TRIANGLE OF DEATH") AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAY INDICATED "STOP SAFELY NOW". THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND MANUAL CONSULTED. THE MANUAL INDICATED THIS WAS A HYBRID SYSTEM FAULT/FAILURE AND ADVISED ON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TAKING IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE RESTART WAS SUCCESSFUL AND TRAVELING CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER 15 MILES BEFORE THE SAME EXACT SCENARIO REPEATED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF THE MOTOR ELECTRONIC COOLING SYSTEM (MECS)--A WELL DOCUMENTED FAILURE (AND A DANGEROUS ONE) THAT PLAGUES MANY FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. *TR

CAR SURGED FORWARD AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT WITHOUT APPLYING BOTH THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO GET IT HOME. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT AFTER READING ABOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I THINK IT WAS THE THROTTLE. I COULD SEE WHERE THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I TRADED IT IN AND PURCHASED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE THAT MY SON DRIVE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS OCCURRING IN THIS VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AT FIRST I HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND AS IF A BELT WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. THEN I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. I STARTED TO MAKE A TURN AND AS I WAS DOING THIS THE FORD ESCAPE ON ITS OWN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED TO BRAKE, HOWEVER, THE CAR JUST CONTINUED TO LUNGE FORWARD. BY THAT TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AT THAT POINT IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I THEN CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND THEY TOWED IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THEY HAVE ALSO SAID IT WILL BE THERE FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOWED THE SIGNAL: "STOP SAFELY NOW," AND I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. I BARELY HAD TIME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF 70-MPH TRAFFIC. NO PREVIOUS SIGNAL SHOWED ON THE DASH (E.G., THE WRENCH SIGNAL) TO GIVE ME ANY ADVANCE WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

COULD NOT GET SPEED NO FASTER THAN 35 TO 45 MILES, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS STALLING IN NEUTRAL, SOUNDED AS IF I WAS GUNNING THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO, BUT I WASN'T. RIDING REAL ROUGH AT TIMES WITH A RATTLING NOISE WHEN SLOWING DOWN GETTING READY TO STOP, SOUNDED AS IF THE AXLE OR SOMETHING WAS GOING TO DROP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY OR WHILE RIDING STRAIGHT FORWARD, SOUNDED AS IF THE TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING, IT ALSO LET OUT A GASSY SMELL OF FUMES THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO INHALE. THE FUMES SMELL LIKE THE GAS FUMES YOU SMELL IN YOUR HOUSE, LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP ANYTIME.....AND THEY WANT YOU TO PATRONIZE AMERICAN MADE CARS WELL I'M FED UP, THEY NEED A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTION (P T U) POWER TRANSFER UNIT IS WHAT THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE, I HAD TO PAY QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO GET THIS FIX, THIS COULD BE UNSAFE, IF THIS CAR WAS ALL TOGETHER STOP OR THE AXLE FALLS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. PLUS THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T EVEN DETECT THIS, AND IT SHOULD HAVE, I'M REALLY FIRED UP ABOUT THIS I TRIED TO PUT MY VIN # AT THE TOP AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME.