2010 Ford Escape: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Sep 18, 2017 · Transmission · 190,000 miles · MI

Vehicle has a power train failure when driving on the highway. At about 70 MPH the car will begin to shudder and lose speed rapidly. The problem does not persist immediately thereafter, if we pull off of the highway and shut the car off, wait a few minutes, and start it up again, the power train light is off.

Filed Feb 26, 2016 · Steering · WI

My vehicle is displaying the electric steering assist failure warning and the steering wheel is shuddering at all speeds. The steering wheel also pushes back at times. Problem started at 115,000 miles. I have had extensive communication with fmc and they steadfastly refused to admit any liability. They say that they will never fix this issue under any circumstances unless the federal government forces them to do so. They suggest that I have a dealer fix it at my expense. There have been many reports of instantaneous failures resulting in loss of control. This is an inherent problem with all second generation escapes. Over 1 million ford vehicles have the faulty components. Ford is stonewalling the problem in an attempt to avoid the multi billion dollar tab. You must act quickly! Most of us do not have $1500 to replace the electric steering unit. Many will continue to drive and endanger others in rapidly increasing numbers. I can send my communication with fmc.

Filed Sep 25, 2014 · Acceleration · 88,500 miles · MN

Acceleration ability stopped abruptly on the interstate; had to coast to shoulder. Engine trouble/wrench light illuminated. Had it towed to transmission shop. Have fully documented p2112 code indicating throttle body assembly problem. Vehicle has experienced other shuddering/gear changing in the past, documented with the dealership. Ford refuses to service it under recall extended warranty because they didn't see the code. I did not know it should have been towed directly to them. Would be nice to receive this information from the dealership before it occurs. Dealership told me "next time" it happens to pull over, turn it off, restart it and drive it in to them for the necessary service. Ford customer service toll free representative said that it is not save once the light is on and should not be restarted and driven again. This is ludicrous: they are not taking responsibility nor providing safe and accurate information.

Filed Jul 20, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 33,044 miles · MI

I was driving at 40mph on a city street. The vehicle suddenly shuddered and began to slow down. I am now aware to look for a trouble light. The wrench light was illuminated although difficult to see through the glare of the windshield. I was clearly able to see the light. The car slowed to a complete stop. The engine continued to run rough and there was no loss of electrical power. I put the car into park and restarted the car. The car ran without incident until I was able to park at home-about 5 miles away. The car had routine service on 7-16-2014. A throttle body reading was not done, as I requested at time of service, although it was documented, in writing, that there was a calibration update for my vehicle at this time. A previous incident of complete electrical failure was blamed on a faulty battery in march. I had absolutely no previous indication "failure" or cranking issues up until the time of electrical power/battery failure. Even the key fob did not work to unlock the doors. The battery was replaced at my expense. Inquiries about the throttle body issue was were also ignored, by the dealer, at that time.

Filed Oct 14, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 58,256 miles · NY

While traveling on highway with my family, at about 65 MPH there was an engine shudder, then the yellow wrench light illuminated on left side of console. Engine was now vibrating and shaky. Stepped on gas and no acceleration, although all other electrical items were running. With the forward momentum I was able to get over. Pulled over to side of highway, called roadside assistance and in the process, I shut off the vehicle. The agent on the phone asked for the mileage of vehicle and I turned the vehicle on again. The yellow wrench light was off and the vehicle seemed normal. I was able to drive to the next exit and get off the highway and safely home. The vehicle has displayed no further issues since then. This vehicle had just been in for normal service the day prior, saturday. After doing further research online it was found this brand of vehicle had a reported problem with the throttle manifold intake.

Filed Sep 17, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 53,393 miles · OH

Tonight I was driving home doing about 55mph when my vehicle suddenly shuddered and lost all power. Luckily I was able to coast it to where it was mostly off of the road. It did not die but continued to shake while in high idle. The power steering was not working properly and no engine lights came on. Pushing the gas pedal produced zero results. I shut it down and pondered whether to try and start it back up or just call a tow truck. Being out in the country I decided to take a chance. It started up and ran fine...for less than two miles...when it repeated the same scenario only in a much more dramatic loss of power shudder and real rough idle. Wrench light came on. I took a picture of the display panels. Didn't notice the loss of power steering that time and the engine did not die. Called the dealership... No tow truck available. Took my chances again and drove it to the dealership since it was only a few miles further then going home. Didn't have any problem during that drive but detected an engine whine sound that I had never noticed before. Vehicle has 53,393 miles on it. Engine was pulled at 8k for oil leaks. Have had numerous incidents of shifting clunking sound at take off over the life of it. Have had brakes fail in reverse. Always pump them before backing out of my garage to make sure they're working ok that day. All work, right down to tire rotations have been done only at the dealership I purchased this brand new at. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty. Guess I'll learn tomorrow what's up with it this time. Sad to have a $28,000 vehicle that I've never really trusted since its early failure. Just thankful I wasn't still on the interstate moving along in 70+ MPH rush hour traffic. I will never trust this vehicle again after experiencing this.

Filed Aug 19, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 63,000 miles · OH

Driving down the road and everything seemed fine. Suddenly, the engine shuddered, hesitated, and lost power. Luckily, traffic was light and I was able to get off the road. All fluids ok, battery ok, fuel ok, etc. After checking options, I tried restarting the car. It started fine -like there was no problem. Since then it has been happening more often, but not on at any predictable time or event. Engine cool or hot, slow or high speed, smooth or bumpy road -just whenever it seems to feel like it. I've been reading online that this seems to be a common problem with the throttle body on these vehicles. I'm now looking for a replacement and am wondering how much this is going to cost. Since it is a widespread issue, will ford reimburse for the expense?

Filed Aug 2, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 42,000 miles · NC

Car shuddered then died in middle of very dangerous, narrow, curvy road. Started up immediately but died when put in drive. Eventually got the car home after numerous stalls (a distance of approx. 3 miles) had to have car towed in. Told it was the throttle body and the $514.00 repair bill was not covered under any of the warranties. We had owned the car 30 days, and the extended warranty expired the day of the event. Apparently ford is aware of the problem but refuses to recall or pay for repairs. My 17 year old son could very easily have been killed.

Filed Jul 25, 2013 · Fuel system, Transmission · 33,726 miles · VA

I was traveling at apx 45 MPH when the yellow wrench error message appeared on the dash. At the same time the vehicle ceased to respond to the gas pedal. The engine and electrical system remained on however there was no power coming from the engine. The vehicle coasted as it lost momentum. I was able to pull off the major road that I was on. The vehicle shuddered as I came to a stop and turned it off. When I restarted the vehicle, the yellow wrench error light went out and the vehicle started with no problems. The ford dealership later diagnosed the problem as the throttle body component. There had been no previous indicators of any problems. Vehicle had been serviced following the manufacturers service requirements.

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 77,000 miles · AL

I was driving about 55 MPH when the wrench dashboard indicator light comes on. At the same time my gas pedal ceases to work and car speed decreases. I have to coast onto the shoulder of the road. Thankfully brakes work. Car is still running. I turn car off and wait a minute. Turn back on. It starts. Light is gone and car feels shuddery but continues running.

Filed Jul 10, 2013 · Acceleration · 39,000 miles · MD

While driving on a back road, our escape started to hesitate. When I tried to accelerate the car did not respond. I then tried to pull off the road and that's when the car started to shudder. I was able to get the car over on the shoulder of the road and turn it off.

Filed Jun 14, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 70,500 miles · VA

My vehicle is a 2010 ford escape 6 cyc with 4 wd. This was a new vehicle purchased in early 2010 as it had 4.7 miles on it when purchased and I put most of those miles on it during the test drive. When traveling at highway speed recently in heavy traffic the vehicle suddenly lost all ability to accelerate. It was as if there was no gas pedal in the vehicle at all. No shuddering, or chugging after this occurred and absolutely no warning at all before it occurred. It was extremely lucky that no one was injured as I attempted to make my way across 4 lanes of traffic to the shoulder. The vehicle never shut off when this occurred. I then turned the vehicle off, waited, and then restarted and it seemed to run fine. I took it to the ford dealership where it was purchased to assess the situation. I was told the battery was bad which they replaced. I questioned as to how a battery could cause this type of problem as I understand some of the vehicle mechanics and my research showed that it was more than likely a throttle body issue and I was assured that battery was most certainly the issue due to the complex nature of vehicles today and their on board computers. When the battery was replaced my wife picked up the vehicle and had just entered the interstate when at highway speed the same exact problem occurred where an accident was almost caused by her efforts to exit the road. Again no warning. When it was restarted it was driven back to the dealership. Today, it was confirmed by the ford dealership that in fact it was the throttle body issue that my research had show it to be, and more so, the part, which is somehow not a safety recalled item by the federal safety agency, is on back-order by ford because of the shear number of these parts going bad and needing to be replaced in so many vehicles. I now own a vehicle that cannot be operated safely without a safety recall.