2008 Ford Escape: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 17, 2020 · Steering · 121,000 miles · WA

My wife was on the freeway going 60 and she took an exit and immediately couldn't steer. The orange wrench light came on but she could still drive any speed it didn't engage limp mode .we can still drive just not steer. There is a recall for this yr for this torque sensor, but its not showing up for our VIN #.

Filed Nov 12, 2019 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · MI

I was driving home from work at night and my 2008 ford escape started to lose power. It then just stopped and wouldn't shift. The engine would rev really high, but the transmission wouldn't shift. I was stuck in the middle of highway traffic which made it unsafe. I turned my vehicle off for about five minutes and then turned it back on, it started to shift really slow which I believe was the limp mode. It was towed to a repair shop, the mechanic stated it was a vacuum link and replaced the part. I went back to amp repair shop in clinton township, mi to pick up my vehicle, as I was driving home, it did the same thing with the engine revving high and the transmission not shifting in the middle of gratiot ave, a main street in clinton township. I had it towed to USA transmission in maduson heights, mi. The mechanic diagnosed and told me it was in fact the cd4e transmission and stated they rebuilt a lot of these. He also said the internal parts were worn out because there were a lot of metal shavings in the tranny pan. He stated the cost to rebuild my transmission will be $3075. I dont understand why this transmission has not been recalled. My ford escape has only 120,000 miles on it. It should have lasted longer. I want ford to admit that the cd4e transmission is defective and I would like for them to pay %100 of the repairs. The transmission went out without warning and made it unsafe, I could have been seriously injured as well as others..

Filed May 6, 2017 · Acceleration, Transmission · 89,699 miles · MO

Loss of 2nd and 4th gear/ limp mode. I purchased a used 2008 ford escape with 69,980 miles. No complaints till hit 89,000 miles when all if a sudden there was no 2nd and 4th gear. I was getting ready to pull into traffic. Put foot on accelerator went to about 16mph and refused to ho faster. Rpms revved up to 4000+ the yellow wrench light came on. Once got to 20mph hard shift into gear .and did this again at 40mph except wont shift into higher gear. Was told it is in limp mode. So I did internet research on this. Said over 368 complaints just on this specific problem, specifically on the 2008 ford escape. I tried resetting the PCM. Did not fix problem. Replaced the throttle control sensor. Did not fix problem. Now that leaves the 2nd & 4th gear band assembly. I called and got 3 estimates, they ranged from$1900-$3000. Part cost $89 and a new transmission cost $1700. Replacing this part can be done without having to remove transmission and said to about 2hours. My complaint in if this is a common issue why aren't you replacing part or fixing this? There has been several investigations and still nothing! This is the first ford I purchased and will be the last! Which is a shame because I love my truck. Just can't afford to fix it. So I will park it and pray ford owns up to their faulty parts and assembly and fixes this. And I will make sure everyone I know and everyone I meet knows about how ford knowingly put in defective parts on many vehicle so they could make money fixing them. Think about it. All these ( throttle control sensor and 2nd & 4th gear band ) go bad at 89,000 mile.

Filed Feb 8, 2016 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · IL

At approximately 134,000 miles while driving on the highway, my car suddenly drastically slowed down quickly, started revving really high and the 'wrench light' came on. This almost resulted in getting rear-ended by the car that was traveling behind me on the highway. I took the vehicle to a ford dealership for an estimate. Was told the transmission was missing 2nd and 4th gear and the transmission would need to be replaced. Was told by ford that the cost would be $4,200 to replace the transmission. The band for 2nd and 4th gear broke, sending the vehicle into limp mode (only using 1st and 3rd gear). I found this is a known issue as there are many complaints about this as well as a tsb (#tsb-12-4-8). After further research, I have discovered that this is a common issue with all ford family vehicles that have the cd4e transmission. I have owned ford vehicles for over 20 years and have never had this issue. Ford knows that this is a common issue but refuses to assist their loyal customers with a solution. While talking to a ford service technician about this, I was told that ford knows about the issue but refuses to do anything about it, leaving the customer to pay to replace something that ford knows has issues. Does it really take someone to get injured or get killed in order for something to be done about it? If feel that ford should pay to have the transmission replaced or provide a significant discount if the customer must pay for the replacement.

Filed Apr 15, 2015 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · IL

In heavy traffic the car lunged as it was going through the turn lane. The car is not shifting correctly between 1 and 2 gears. It stalls and then lunges. This is my wife's car and she was terrified to drive it. We took it to finish line ford in peoria and they said there was a service bulletin out on this common problem. The 2008 escape does not shift correctly between 1&2 gears and 3&4 gears. The repair costs $1300 so ford is making major profit. I was previously offered a service contract to continue the warranty which they point to and say I could have taken it. If ford was honest and knew about this problem and told everyone that owned a 2008 escape that failure was going to happen on this transmission then I might have purchased the contract but they with-held information needed to make an informed decision. This lunging is extremely dangerous.

Filed Feb 10, 2015 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · NE

Escape would not shift gears when it hit 20 MPH it stalls when going from a stop position. Rpms would jump up during this time until it finally does kick into gear. Took to mechanic and was told the 2nd and 4th bands on the transmission are faulty and need transmission rebuild. There is a tsb out for this problem but this is a safety issue and should be a recall. Mileage is at 101,000 miles. Having your car not accelerate from a stop position puts the driver and other drivers at risk.

Filed Nov 28, 2014 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · PA

Vehicle would not shift and made a noise. This was the first time which involved first and reverse gears. That time the vehicle was covered under the warranty. This time my wife was driving when the car started to make a funny noise. She pulled into a parking lot and called me. When I got there and started the car the noise I heard was very bad coming from under the car. The car was towed to our ford dealer and was checked. Now we are being told that the transmission and cooler needs replaced at a cost of almost $5000.00. The car now as 62000+ miles and not under warranty.

Filed Oct 14, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 149,000 miles · NC

Vehicle won't shift into 2nd gear until reaching 3500 - 4000 rpms. Can let off gas to ease change, else vehicle jerks into 2nd.

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 136,078 miles · TX

Vehicle surged forward when I came to a stop vehicle would not go into gear until I was at 3500 -4000 RPM. I got on freeway &couldn't get to speed limit. The wrench light is illuminated & when I looked up description in manual it states it is the throttle control/powertrain.after doing some research they do have recalls for this but on the 2009-2012 models. It also specified that ford as of feb. 2014 had issued an extended warranty for throttle body assemblies for 2005 - 2012 for 10 years or 150,000 miles. I contacted ford & then state there is no recall nor consumer satisfaction program 13n03 for my car. Yet, the have the same consumer satisfaction program for the 2011 milans. This I know cause my daughter has a 2011 milan & she received notice. I do not understand how ford can not comply when this escape clearly has the same problems as the recalled vehicles for 2009-2012. All I was told was to get it fixed & keep receipt and maybe some day could get reimbursed. This is really frustrating and on ford's part totally unaware and unfair to their consumers!

Filed Apr 28, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 103,000 miles · IN

As I was driving about 30 MPH my car suddenly sped up on its own. When I began to slow down my car then would not shift into second gear. The rmps would jump to over 300 when I tried to go faster than 25 MPH. Once I had gone that speed for a few seconds my car would then do a hard jerk and move into the next gear. This caused many safety hazards for me while driving on the highway.

Filed Sep 16, 2013 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · TX

Vehicle will not shift gears until 3250-3750 RPM. Wrench warning light turns on.

Filed Apr 16, 2010 · Transmission · 60,328 miles · MN

Recently my 2008 ford escape started hesitating when taking off. Almost caused an accident since I was pulling out into traffic. Today as I stopped at a stop light the transmission did not shift down, it lurched forward and died. It appears many 08 escape owners are also having this problem. Why has this not been investigated. Someone may be killed if something is not done.