2001 Ford Escape: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 24, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · NC

Here recently I have had several occurrences of my 2001 escape stalling while driving. On 2 occasions I was approaching a stop light, slightly uphill and when I pressed the brake the car completely shut off losing all power and steering and I had to "stand" on the brakes to stop. A few other times it happened while I was turning a corner as well as going through a stop light turning right or left, not going fast at all. Pretty scary stuff. I have had no problem starting it back up after the occurrences, however it keeps happening.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · AR

After driving my car without incident for 6 years, it began to intermittently lose power so much that the dash lights fade and the car almost stalls. This is worse at lower speeds, coasting, and idling. The engine misses out so badly that the car jerks forward if the brake is not pressed firmly to the floor and when it's worst at idle, it shakes horribly. I had the plugs replaced (not cheap) because that was the error showing when the check engine light finally came on several weeks after I started having this issue, and a mechanic had already looked at it and thought it was fixed. After having the plugs replaced, I had a lot fewer problems but could still tell there was a problem when it was colder outside and/or when I first started my car for a couple of months. It then began to get worse again and is just as bad now as it was before I had the plugs replaced. I don't want to keep replacing them if it's just going to keep happening again. While waiting at a red light on an uphill intersection just last week, I pressed the gas to pull through the intersection and barely any power resulted. I let off the gas and depressed it again, at least 3 different times, just to get through the intersection without it dying or launching myself into another car. It seems this model year may have a lot of electrical issues, but I've had all of the recall issues addressed and I'm still having major issues that aren't cheap to fix. I've also had the emergency brake indicator light come on without the brake being engaged twice during the time I've owned this vehicle and the indicator goes away just as quickly as it appeared within a couple of weeks.

Filed Mar 30, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 100,495 miles · OH

While traveling uphill going approx 45 MPH the engine on my 2001 ford escape shut down. Complete power to my car was lost. The odometer even lost the miles driven and was replaced by dashes momentarily. When the engine shut down I steered the car to the side of the road, I lost power steering and brakes. The check engine light also came on when this happened. There was no previous indication that there was an issue with the engine. After I pulled to the side of the road. I put car in park and turned key off. I waited approx 5 minutes and restarted the car with no problems. The check engine light was off and car started smoothly as usual. After researching this online, I don't seem to be the only person having this issue.

Filed Jan 23, 2007 · Transmission · 94,080 miles · MI

My over drive light came on suddenly and continually flashed during a ten minute drive home. The RPM needle spiked straight up a few times during the drive and it seemed like I "lost power". Dean sellers ford diagnosed an internal transmission failure requiring a whole new transmission for $3600. I have never used a service other than lapeer ford and dean sellers. I bought the escape (2001 xlt 4 wh) from lapeer ford with 16,000 miles on it. The car never showed signs of this failure previous to yesterday. Dealerships. Searching the internet, I found that there was one transmission recall but when I put in my VIN it was free of recalls. Dean sellers charged me $89 to diagnose the car. I got another quote at american transmission in troy. They towed my car in. Ford test drove my car and electronically checked it. Previous repairs all done at lapeer ford and dean sellers ford: new tire at 16,000 miles; new ignition at 25,000; check engine light at 33,000; plug tire at 40,000; new windshield at 43,000; 4 new tires at 44,000 due to numerous flats (lapeer gave me 3 free); front brakes and wheel bearings at 55,000; tire nail at 60,000; new blades at 61,000; belt recall and tie rod and master cylinder at 69,000; crank case oil leak and rear brakes at 74,000; front brakes at 76,000; washer pump and multi-function switch and fuel filter at 78,000; rear wiper at 85,000; ABS light module, front brake pads, rotor pads right front ABS sensor at 86,000; air filter and battery cleaned at 89,000; license plate bulb and both front sway bar links at 90,000; front lights kept flashing, replaced daylight running lights control assembly at 93,000 and now at 94,000 the transmission. No one at dean sellers today told me that I might not make it home! But immediately upon leaving the dealership the transmission stalled especially during turns.

Filed Oct 12, 2005 · Transmission · 132,000 miles · NY · 3 injuries

Dt: after the contact was pulling out from a highway on october 11, 2005 the vehicle acted like it was losing power. It would slow down, and then it would only go less than 10 MPH. When this occurred the overdrive light started flashed. Three of the children in the car sustained minor injuries. The contact stated that seven months before she had the transmission flushed. There were no problems at that time. The contact took vehicle to the dealership, and they said that the computer showed the code p0733, that the problem was with the automatic transmission, and it would need to be replaced. The contact found that there were other people with similar transmission problem. *ak.

Filed Nov 28, 2004 · Transmission · 56,500 miles · WA

2001 ford escape began having transmission shudder during shifting at approximately 20,000 miles. At 30,000 miles, dealer performed transmission fluid flush which resulted in the shudder going away. Recently the shudder has returned. The vehicle has approximately 56,000 miles. The transmission failed while traveling at highway speeds resulting in a sudden loss of power. The rpms suddenly jumped up to between 5000 and 6000. The vehicle is no longer driveable.

Filed Sep 28, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 121,918 miles · FL

While driving. The vehicle stalled. The consumer was able to restart the vehicle after pumping the accelerator pedal. Please provide more information. *jb the consumer could not control the vehicle due to loss of power in the steering wheel and no brakes.

Filed Jan 24, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 44,000 miles · NE · crash

Auto stalled while going 30 MPH on a slight incline. Auto lost all power steering and electrical. It was lucky that no one was around (early morning). We had to coast to side, and because we didn't have power steering I hit the curb pretty hard. On the way home it did the same thing at about 40 MPH. Will take this to markel ford in omaha, ne for fix. We have 44,000 miles, and if ford cannot get this fixed it will be time to sell. This will be my first and last ford, if I have to pay for this fix. Now I know why my father told me to buy a toyota.

Filed Nov 8, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Engine unexpectedly stalled and engine lost all powerwhile puling into a driveway. This was the second incident in the last 6 months involving the ford escape that is my company car. I barely missed being hit by another car. The first time was on the freeway at 60 m.p.h. I consider myself luck I was not killed or injured.

Filed Oct 28, 2003 · Brakes, Steering · 30,000 miles · CA · crash

Upon driving downhill car disengaged.lost power steering and brakes.anual brakes and steering also failed.

Filed Oct 22, 2003 · Engine · 21,450 miles · WA

Engine turned off while driving down hill (35-40) miles. I lost power steering and brakes. Luckily I was able to turn into the parking lot and stopped the vehicle by hitting the curve. It had happened once before about a year ago but I ignored that incident.

Filed Sep 11, 2003 · Engine · 36,000 miles · DE

Car shut off while moving at 35-40 MPH with no warning. Loss of power steering and brakes. Winner ford said I needed new computer - took 2 weeks to repair. Found out later they only reprogrammed computer. Car had also shut itself off october of 2002, in for repairs, one week later, shut itself off again, another problem. Escape is not reliable. See chat groups and edmonds.com for other peoples complaints.