2009 Ford Escape: transmission slipping

Filed Jul 4, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · MO

Power Steering completely out of my car, making turning in any direction difficult. Causing Safety concerns as it has already caused exterior cosmetic damage while turning into the driveway and not being able to turn in as quickly as I was needing to get out of the traffic cause me to scrape approx. 12- 16inch onto my driver's /left sidebumper/fender. I have also felt loss of power, or a struggle to accelerate. Conditions are worsening as time goes by. As if my transmission is slipping. Power Steering assist light has turned on. It may have also resulted in poor alignment causing even more damage to tires and suspension.I took to the local Ford dealership to check, as there are 100,000 recalls for the exact issues on vehicles with the same year make and model as mine, according to my vin number, my vehicle was not included in these recalls. I was forced to pay nearly 100.00 out of pocket for these test to be ran. The test shows many faults including confirmation of power steering assist at fault and failing torque. Not only has this cause a domino effect of concerns with my vehicles safety, it has caused many outburst of emotional distress as it is hard for me to continue to drive my vehicle.

Filed Dec 15, 2019 · Brakes, Transmission · MI

When I accelerate my wheel feels like it's slipping and grinding and when I apply the brakes hard they seem to not want to stop keeping my ABS on I feel the grinding and brake issue coming from the front wheel. When I step on the gas the front wheel hops and doesn't get traction wants to constantly slip and when I stop in snow the brakes lock up in front and ABS stays on for a bit might be gear drive or bearing it's getting bad. This happens when I have to give a lot of gas to go and the ABS when I need to really stop. This started a couple months after I financed it through genthe chevrolet but I work many hours and it has to be fixed before I end up stranded or in an accident. When I first test drove it it was acting up I told the salesman dave teska he told me it was fixed but he must of doped it like the interior it looked new when I bought it now it has stain spots and looks dirty I found out it was a ford fabric problem and they can't do anything. I'll never buy another vehicle again from genthe.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Engine · 150,000 miles · MD

I noticed the transmission started to slip and I added fluid once. Then it happened again and I noticed transmission fluid inside the engine bay like it has been spraying. I done some research and found this vehicle to have a transmission cooler leak and others had it fixed under recall for 2008. This is a issue with this model vehicle.

Filed Mar 18, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 40,000 miles · NC

We had noticed that the transmission had started slipping and gradually got worse. We checked the trans fluid and it was very low. Come to find out we had been losing fluid and didn't know the problem so we took it to our mechanic because we bought it used from patterson in mt. Airy and the warranty had expired. Our mechanic found that the seal had blown so he put a new axle in also because there was wear on it. Well....we have driven it a total of 2 weeks and the very same thing has happened so it is back to the repair shop again. After investigating this I am finding that other people are having the very same problem and it is very frustrating and getting very expensive. Right now I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. Oh, and by the way, my mechanic said that this car had this same repair done on it before we purchased it!!!!! Looking at my options right now because I can't afford to keep taking this to the shop. My fear is that we are going down the road with our grandbabies and this car stops and we are stranded. And also if it overheats because of no fluid...could fire be an issue??

Filed Dec 10, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 80,451 miles · CA

My wife had started the 2009 ford escape and was traveling at a speed of approximately 5mph, pulling into traffic. The car began moving, felt as if there as no power. She checked to ensure that the car was in drive. The car would not go over 5 MPH. The wrench light came on, no speedometer reading, and she proceeded attempting to engage the car again. The car was drivable for three miles home, with no speedometer reading, limited power. As she drove, she needed to put the car in park to steady the car. A she proceeded to re-engage the car the shifter was "clunky, slipping, and did not feel secure". She did get the car safely home, however we checked the car about an hour after this experience and the car continues to not seem to engage the power train, is not shifting properly, has no power in the engine. There appear to be no leakage of fluids, the car has been properly serviced, has fuel, has a new battery, and we are wondering if this issue is now covered under any warranty. Please initiate an investigation to the many complaint that seem to follow a similar pattern with this vehicle.

Filed Feb 4, 2012 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · NC

The transmission is slipping and wining. Like a bearing is going out. I think it is the output shaft bearing.

Filed Aug 30, 2011 · Transmission · 14,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford escape. The contact stated that while towing the vehicle with an rv, smoke was seen from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the automatic transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the transmission had been replaced a total of three times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 14,000 the current mileage was 23,000. Updated 10/18/11*lj updated 3/29/12 *cn on april 3, 2012 the vehicle was taken to the dealer, because the transmission was slipping while shifting. The transmission was reprogrammed for the slipping issues. Updated 05/18/12

Filed Mar 30, 2011 · Transmission · 14,000 miles · MO

I was accelerating from a stoplight on a two lane road without a shoulder. A vehicle in my lane suddenly slammed on the brakes, so I let my foot off the accelerator to check the next lane to see if I could swerve over at which point I pressed on the accelerator to get in front of the car in the other lane but my vehicle was unresponsive. The rpms didn't change, after a couple seconds and the accelerator to the floor, it finally engaged into gear and jolted forward. I narrowly missed the stopped car. I have experienced these dead spots in acceleration after the mandatory tsb ford released. There have been five times in which it almost caused an accident and I try to avoid making any left handed turns against traffic. My vehicle has also been plagued with other transmission issues, such as slamming into gear, slipping gears, shift flares, harsh shifting and even the transmission being unresponsive and resulting in the vehicle jolting forward when off the accelerator.

Filed Oct 12, 2010 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · VA

2009 ford escape xlt v6 with automatic transmission. While driving the vehicle at highway speeds (50-70 MPH) the transmission slips into neutral. This first occurred when the vehicle was 7 months old (jan 2010) it was taken to the dealership and the transmission was replaced, according to the service department at the dealership, with a brand new transmission. A couple of months later the same problem resurfaced and the vehicle was again taken to the dealership where it stayed for over a week. The service advisor informed us that there was a bad module in the transmission and that once it was replaced the problem would be solved. The vehicle came out of the dealership supposedly "repaired", however, two days later the same exact problem happened with the transmission slipping into neutral when driving on the interstate. We live in washington dc and have to take the washington beltway and interstate 95 every day to get to work and this issue with the transmission is just a serious accident waiting to happen. This vehicle is not safe to operate!

Filed Sep 14, 2010 · Transmission · 27,080 miles · OH

I purchased a 2009 ford escape in june of 2009. In february of 2010, I had issues with the transmission "slipping" and "jerking" while in transmission. I took the vehicle into the dealership, and was informed my transmission had failed, and they had informed me they had installed a brand new transmission. September 8th, 2010 my vehicle was experiencing the same symptoms with the brand new transmission that was replaced in march, at less than 30,000 miles currently on my odometer. Took the vehicle to the dealership september 10th and they informed me on september 12th, that it is indeed transmission failure, and the transmission will more than likely need to be replaced. I am upset that this vehicle continues to have transmission concerns.

Filed Mar 25, 2010 · Transmission · 8,700 miles · 00

While travelling at highway speed, transmission slips to neutral (or low gear) and rpms shoot up to near 6000. Forward momentum slows dramatically which is quite hazardous on highway. Got to dealership right away and within day they "fixed" it by replacing a seal (diagnosis was low fluid). Expressed concerns for safety and was told it is fixed and it is safe. Next day the exact same thing occurs! In addition to that same problem occuring, also now shifting is occassionally very hard especially when acceleration is harder like merging onto highway or passing another car. Bringing vehicle back in but don't have my hopes up right now.

Filed Mar 18, 2010 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · MI

2009 ford escape purchased april 2009. Noticed transmission was slipping out of gear when shifting into reverse to back out of driving. Thought this may have been my error for not stepping on brake pedal completely. March 2010, mileage about 20,000 started having problems with transmission when I accelerate at highway speeds. While pressing on the gas at highway speeds the transmission slips into neutral or starts jerking and will not accelerate and the engine revs up with no error lights coming on. Called dealer to schedule an appointment, soonest they could get me in is march 22, 2010. When I was making the appointment the service representative told me that the problem was probably low on tranny fluid. Checked the tranny fluid when I had my oil changed on march 13, 2010 and it was low, service tech added more transmission fluid but the problem reappeared the same and is getting worse. The potential for an accident at highway speeds is quite possible if you are unable to accelerate when entering the on ramp and a semi truck is in the same lane. I've noticed other complaints addressing the same issue. Definitely there seems to be a problem with the 2009 ford escape transmissions. I'll see what the dealer says and if they can fix the problem. More importantly, the service rep told me that there is no recall on this issue but she has been having alot of escapes coming in for the same problem. Will update this complaint after my vehicle is looked at and diagnosed. I'll also do some research online to see if there is any other information available to me.