2001 Ford Escape: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · NE

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the brakes hesitated to stop the vehicle and the ABS system was activated in order to stop. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing where the all wheel drive was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Apr 19, 2009 · Electrical, Engine · 75,500 miles · OK

Mar 27 had 2001 ford escape in dealership for oil leak and engine hesitation. Leak not fixed on 1st time taken to dealer. #3 coil, intake gaskets replaced & tuneup done for hesitation. Mar 31 vehicle taken back for same problems, #4 coil was replaced and was told no oil leak, also told engine not supposed to be washed and water blew out #4 coil. On the way home, still smelled burning oil & engine hesitation still felt. Called dealership, was told to let the car sit for a day. Car sat for 2 days. Car still drove the same, oil leak & hesitation still there. Took vehicle straight back to the dealership, on the way there vehicle had no power and would not go faster than 15mph. Then the egr valve blew. And I live 2 miles from the dealership. Dealership had the vehicle from apr 1 to apr 15. Now I was told the catalytic converters on the manifolds are plugged up and this is causing the hesitation and the oil leak was from the timing chain cover. Dealership had to remove the engine to replace the gasket. Was told they don't know how they missed this leak the other 2 times I took the vehicle in for this leak. Only thing the warranty covered is the oil leak. Federal mandated emission law is 8yrs or 80,000 miles. Vehicle is in the 8 years and @ 75,500 miles. Ford refuses to do anything about the converters. Took escape to local mechanic apr 17. Exhaust inspection showed only the rear catalytic converter plugged (replaced now). #4 & #6 coils not firing. Coils work connected in other sparkplug locations. Wiring for coils not working. These coil locations worked prior to going back to dealership. Mechanic said I should sue the dealership for misdiagnosis and breaking additional items when engine was removed. Mechanic also ran diagnostic, no codes coming up, dealership reset PCM to old programming, so vehicle now hesitates & dies. Wife still wants to keep vehicle. Told her no. Already shopping for anything other than ford.

Filed Jan 26, 2009 · Engine · PA

Vehicle's # - 2001 ford escape .every morning I start the car it hesitates to stay started,(idealing) sometimes the car does shut off and I have to restart the car. I start out and when I go to brake the car hesitates and want to shut off at the same time I lose my brakes (they lock up and will not stop...) the car also sometimes smell hot after driving. Once the car has been driven for a while the brakes seem to work fine but there is still a hot smell when we shut the car off. I have had this in for service more then once and they had me do certain services on the car and this still has not fixed the problem, I took back in after spending enough money and doing the service they suggested the mechanics kept it for a few days and thought they fixed the problem,but here we are again(1 yr later) and I'm back to where we started. I have all the paperwork to what was done with the car for this problem.. Service was performed as follows a. Replace intake gaskets,spark plugs,dpfe sensor. B. Fuel filter. C. Perform bg professional fuel injection cleaning service. The second time in for service- a. 100 diag mass air flow meter=rec. Tune up = filters advise on pendg. Codes 0171-0174=poss. Intake leek =replace maf sensor=clear codes. This was everything they suggested we do and now as its cold I'm having the same problem as I did last february. ($2000.00 later) I would really like to have the situation fixed before I can't stop the next time. Thank you for your time... Mrs. Leslie a. Weary

Filed Feb 24, 2005 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · VA

The transmission would hesitate before accelerating in reverse. The dealership repaired the problem. Please provide more information.

Filed Dec 6, 2004 · Acceleration, Body · 92 miles · MN

There were numerous problems. The egr sensor (dpfe) was replaced along with the sop driver side outer belt molding, fuel pump, sway bar links and iac. *bf there was a loud noise coming from the driver's side window, water leaked around the tailgate window, the vehicle was hard to start, the iac was sticking, the driver's side window squeaked and rattled, the vehicle hesitated upon starting, there was play in the front sway bar links, the coolant light stayed on, there was a crack around the oil pan and the oil drain plug was problematic, and the accelerator pedal was sticking. *sc

Filed Oct 28, 2003 · Acceleration · MN

Consumer stated while driving and trying to accelerate vehicle hesitated/or paused before it responded. Took vehicle to the repair shop twice for the same problem, and was told that the problem was the throttle body.

Filed Nov 17, 2002 · Acceleration, Electrical · NY

I purchased this ford escape in march 2001 and have had nothing but problems with it since. On march 26 2001, two days after I received my new vehicle, it wouldn't start. The same problem occurred three more times in a period of two weeks before I brought the vehicle back to the dealer on april 9 2001. The dealership replaced the battery which was obviously defective. Since then I have had numerous other problems with my ford escape. I reported that the throttle was sticking (5/17/02) and it was replaced, but it continues to happen. I also reported that there was a vibration and hesitation when shifting gears around 45 MPH (5/17/02). Nothing was done at that time to remedy the problem. I later (8/29/02) reported the same problem to the dealer, brought the vehicle back for service on 9/27/02 at which time the torque converter was replaced. There is still a hesitation and loss of power as I drive the vehicle. Also on 5/11/02, the "service engine soon" light came on. The fuel emissions valve was replaced on 5/17/02. On 10/28/02, I reported to the dealer that my vehicle almost stalled at an intersection on 10/26/02 and later that day it would not start. I also told the service representative that there continued to be a "loss of power" as I drive the vehicle at highway speeds. I brought the escape back to the dealer on 10/30/02 and the technician found "nothing wrong" with the vehicle from the tests he performed. I am not satisfied with these results there is something obviously wrong with this vehicle! Dt

Filed Jun 14, 2002 · Engine, Suspension · VI

When consumer starts up vehicle it hesitates/stalls. Consumer had taken vehicle dealer to check because of its pulling to the left. Consumer was never been told why vehicle stalls.

Filed Apr 23, 2002 · Engine · PA

While traveling on highway, vehicle will shutdown. *ak vehicle hesitates on a cold start, when accelerating you get approx. 30 percent acceleration power and then it surges to full acceleration. After the engine warms up it runs well.

Filed Apr 3, 2002 · Electrical · OK

The engine stalled while travelling 35mph. I was braking lightly going around a left handed curve and hit a bump. The radio and AC were on. The engine light came on and I lost power assist to the steering and brakes which made it hard to complete the curve safely. I got the vehicle to the side of the road, but not out of the road, before it came to a stop. I turned off the radio and AC, then the ignition switch. I waited about 90 sec. And it restarted on the second try. It has not happened again, but now the engine light is on all the time and the vehicle hesitates. I am taking it in tomorrow to the dealer.

Filed Oct 24, 2001 · Acceleration · PA

There have been multiple times when pulling out of a street that the car comes to a stop; the rpms die off and pressing the gas does nothing, letting off the gas sometimes helps but it just takes a second for the gas to work, this is scarry since I am usually pulling out across 4 lanes of traffic. I have been to do the dealership 3 times for this but they can never find anything. The dealership changed an iac valve but the car continues to hesitate. The car did stall while going down a small hill; the brakes and steering completely went. I had to turn off car and restarted the car.

Filed Aug 20, 2001 · Acceleration, Transmission · TX

Had shifted into reverse and it started to backup. Then, it hesitated when brakes were applied, sounded funny. Rpms revved up, and vehicle started to shake. Vehicle suddenly accelerated while still in reverse.