2009 Ford Escape: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Mar 11, 2024 · Electrical · WI

Vehicle Will not shift from Park gear. Locking up and can't drive until it allows me to shift. Time varies and also have to start and restart the engine several times before it allows the shifter lock to release from Park.

Filed Jul 18, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · PA

First steering column locked with less then 65,000 miles . Now power train wrench light warning popped on less then 80,000 miles . Throttle body issue forcing car into limp mode leaving driver in danger on the road

Filed Aug 1, 2019 · Acceleration · 70,000 miles · CA

In may 2015,I purchased my 2009 ford xscape four-cylinder hybrid from a ford dealer. The car has been driven by an older woman and mostly kept in a garage so the mileage was low at about 45,000 miles. At approximately october 2018, at 70,000 miles I entered the freeway and when I accelerate the wrench light went on and I could not accelerate . This happened a few more times randomly under completely different circumstances but mostly when I needed extra power. I would pull over and turn off the ignition, turn it back on and the wrench light would be off. I took it to the dealer and they could not determine via computer what the issue was. Could not find a code for the problem. They could not replicate the problem.they said it might've been bad gasoline. Have not had the wrench light or 'limping home' issue sincejuly 2019 with vehicle currently at 79,000 miles. Out of nowhere this month, I am now having the same issue with wrench light and limping home. Engine light is on now, with wrench light. If I pull over turn the car off and on the wrench light goes away. S. I had been able to drive back roads but entering the freeway, or needing to accelerate beyond 30 miles an hour causes the wrench light to go on, and 'limp mode' which is vehicle is unable to accelerate no matter how far I press the gas. I have read many complaints about this same issue. And there was a recall in south carolina? And a class action lawsuit. Lots of complaints that the 2009 ford escape hybrid outside of that state was not included in the lawsuit.

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Engine · 153,000 miles · OH

2009 ford escape, 3.0l xlt. Vehicle engine power lost and the vehicle went into limp mode while driving on the highway, on sept 7, 2018. A red wrench light flashed on the dash during the event. Was able to avoid traffic, park on the shoulder, restart the vehicle, and drive at normal speed to the nearest exit. This same power loss has occurred at normal driving speed two more times after the highway event. There are no engine codes found after diagnostic check by local auto repair shop. The vehicle is no longer being driven on highways. This escape was diagnosed by ford dealer in 2017 for customer satisfaction program 13n03 regarding throttle body failures. The dealership found no issues with the throttle body at that time.

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Transmission · 122,000 miles · OH

Wrench light illuminated on instrument cluster and vehicle went into "limp mode", and could not maintain speed above 20 MPH. This occurred while driving at freeway speeds and was very concerning. I drove home in the right hand lane, with hazards on, along back roads to avoid interstate speeds. Car actually dropped to less than 10 MPH while driving up hill. Took it to my dealer who confirmed that the throttle body was bad. They said that ford would not cover the costs, estimated at $400.

Filed Jan 13, 2015 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · OH

Escape went into limp mode 4 times within the past few months- currently has a field service action number for this problem 13n03, but ford has set such limits.... Dealer must be able to duplicate the incident, but with this power loss - it happens when it happens. Ford does not want to cover repair until that time. So, I have an escape the stalls... When and were it wants, currently car at the dealer.... Never received letter from ford....

Filed Aug 19, 2014 · Acceleration, Body · 72,000 miles · CA · crash

There is a known throttle body issue with the ford escape 2009, where the truck goes into "limp mode" indicated by an illuminated wrench. I had just taken it in for this issue, ford only did the recalibration and did not replace the defective throttle body. The next day while in the parking lot at my work, the vehicle went into "wrench mode" or "enhanced limp mode (since the recalibration)" and lurched into a cement pillar causing severe damage to the front right side of my vehicle. Damage was ~$5k, rental car $500, deductible $100, higher insurance, structural damage to the vehicle (permanent loss of value).

Filed Aug 7, 2014 · Engine · 105,000 miles · TX

After fill-up, engine went into limp mode and vehicle would not accelerate. First instance happened while my daughter was pulling out into traffic and resulted in near accident. The engine has done this several additional times but not for long enough to set the trouble code or light. This resulted in a dangerous driving situation and all vehicles with this potential defect need to be recalled. Took to the ford dealer on 7/28/14 and they advised me they could not fix the problem unless the trouble codes were stored in the PCM. 'this is not right- they need to repair because the federal safety agency states that only approximately 50% of the vehicles with this problem have triggered the trouble codes.

Filed Dec 29, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 71,000 miles · IL

As I tried to accelerate the vehicle went into a limp mode. I had no response from the accelerator pedal. The vehicle would move forward at a idle speed. Yellow wrench light came on. After engine was turned off and restarted vehicle ran as normal for a few days and it happened again.

Filed Dec 26, 2013 · Engine · 85,300 miles · GA

Driving at 50 MPH on highway and car went into limp mode. This reduced car speed to 20mph and I had to immediately pull over out of traffic to avoid getting hit from behind. Turned car off for 30 minutes and started car up and drove home. This happened 2 weeks later.

Filed Oct 26, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 110,030 miles · NC

Vehicle enters limp mode and all power is lost, engine starts to stutter and tachometer jumps, wrench light (power-train) comes on. 3 times in 1 week. Mph = 60, 45, 30. Avoided accident and pulled over. Restarted vehicle and back to normal. No check engine light or codes stored. Dealer states they cannot diagnose unless they can recreate the problem. Danger of rear ending, t-bones upon left turns, and intersection pileups.

Filed Oct 17, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 85,500 miles · MN

As I was driving and the cruise control was set the road I was traveling had slight hills. It seems as though when the car went to down shift and speed up is when it lost power and went into limp mode. The last occurrence was on 10-17-13 while I was driving on a flat road. I had to brake for traffic when I went to accelerate is when it lost power and went into limp mode.