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2014 Ford Escape: complete transmission failure

128 of the 2,091 complaints about the 2014 Ford Escape describe complete transmission failure.

owner complaints
128
of this car's complaints
6%
typical repair cost reported
$5,200
typical mileage
92,000
recalls
2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 19 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Complete transmission failure by model year

What owners say

Filed Aug 30, 2026 · Transmission · VA

When I was about to park, the transmission failed. I couldn’t reverse, and it got stuck in Neutral. I wasn’t able to shift it into Park. When the mechanic came, he said the shifter cable bushing was faulty, which was exactly the part covered by the recall they had previously done.

Filed Jun 3, 2026 · Transmission · KS

My in city driving car has had it's transmission fail and continues to not be drivable. I am the only owner of this car and have completed all repairs and upkeep according to schedule. In October 2025, my 2014 Escape "slipped" out of gear while in drive and would not engage again. Had it towed to Mel Hamilton Ford where I was informed my transmission had failed. I was given the option to overhaul it or replace with a new at almost $8000-$10000. The overhaul was the more economical solution at the time for us. They repaired the broken transmission parts and returned it to me. After receiving the car back, it never "felt" right again and continued to have issues with shifting between gears, especially around the 40 mph mark. In April 2026, the transmission failed again while driving to work. It "fell out of gear" and had to have the car towed again to the dealership. They found the Front Pump had gone out this time as well as more metal shavings in the transmission causing damage again inside. They replaced the affected parts again. Two weeks later, the transmission has failed again. When shifting from park to reverse, the car would shift very hard and the whole car would "hop" before settling into gear. Same issue happened as before where it fell out of gear and could not get it to go back into gear. It has been towed back into the shop and currently still waiting to hear what's wrong this time (May 2026). As of right now, there is no current recall on my vehicle. Clearly there is an issue that needs addressed!

Filed Apr 1, 2026 · Transmission · OH

While I was driving, the transmission seemingly stopped working. I was able to coax the car into a parking lot and had it towed to the dealership. I was told the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. I was quoted approximately $7000.00 for this repair. All of its prior service, except for occasional oil changes, had been done at the dealership.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Engine · NC

1. Total transmission failure. Kept up with maintenance, but I changed the transmission fluid and suddenly it just died. Transmission just gave out and it's been a fancy lawn ornament for the last 6 months. 2. God forbid I was anywhere that wasn't inside my neighborhood. If I was anywhere else the car suddenly decelerating and not being able to accelerate would be a death sentence. 3. It's an 6F35. You can go get it reproduced at any Ford Escape really. 4. Got it inspected. Needs a brand new trans, not just a single part. Quotes going at lowest $6k. 5. No warnings, messages, etc. Car would jerk a little bit when initially accelerating, but this went away with oil changes.

Filed Sep 16, 2025 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifting to reverse, there was a loud popping sound coming from the transmission. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who replaced the transmission fluid, but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 138,000.

Filed May 8, 2025 · Transmission · KY

Transmission failed around 81,000 miles resulting in a costly repair. Luckily I was not on a busy highway at the time so I was not in imminent danger.

Filed May 7, 2025 · Transmission · TX

The transmission failed on the highway. I put a lot of money in repairs on this vehicle since purchased in 2022 and stopped working in 2024. The vehicle has the defective 6f35 transmission. Paid almost 5k to repair the transmission alone. Ford has issued no recalls for thos claim but they knew it was defective.

Filed Apr 9, 2025 · Transmission · IL

Was traveling for work in Ohio. On a major highway at night. The road was under construction and therefore had merging lanes and a reduced speed limit coming up. I passed 5 trucks before the merge to get ahead them before the tight lines. As I was passing I was losing power. Very dangerous in the left lane! I eventually was able to cut some people off with my flashers on to get to the right lane. There was no shoulder! My car continued slowing in 55mph construction zone. I was finally able to get on a shoulder. I was able to turn the car on and off around 8 times to limp off the highway to a near by Loves truckstop. No leaks or smoke. There was no warning. The transmission failed. Towed to a local Ford dealer. 370 miles from home. They were zero help. Had it transported to a dealer at home. Total catastrophic trans failure. Around $6700 to Ford with no discounts from them.

Filed Feb 21, 2025 · Transmission · CA

Transmission failed after only 83k miles. Also needed entire engine rebuilt. Sunroof liner also became loose, as well as Backup camera failed.

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 220,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated with the message "Pull Over Engine Overheating" displayed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who was not able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred and had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine block. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure the transmission failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · 113,081 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a DTC code for an engine misfire in cylinder #3. The contact cleared the code; however, the check engine warning light returned. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes and the engine. Due to the failure, the contact immediately shut off the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that there was a coolant intrusion in cylinder #3, resulting in engine failure. The engine was replaced. The contact stated that shortly after the engine repair, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact reversed the vehicle into a parking spot and then had the vehicle towed back to the dealer. While at the dealer, a mechanic discovered metal shavings inside the transmission fluid, causing transmission failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was 113,081.

Filed Nov 2, 2024 · Transmission · FL

At 104,000 miles the cars ability to shift gears was gone. Engine Light comes on dash. Took to certified mechanic and they confirmed it was a TRANSMISSION failure and I needed a new transmission. There were no warning lights on prior to the failure. Vehicle has had one owner and has been serviced regularly. All records to prove it. Cost of repair, $6000!!!!

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Power train: shift linkage/cable/rodReported June 10, 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Recall number 22V413000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shiftReported July 16, 2018 · 504,182 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Risk
If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.

Recall number 18V471000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2014 Ford Escape transmission failure

Is complete transmission failure a common problem on the 2014 Ford Escape?

128 of 2,091 owner complaints about the 2014 Ford Escape (6%) mention complete transmission failure. The model year with the most reports is 2014.

How much does it cost to fix complete transmission failure on the 2014 Ford Escape?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,200 (median of 29 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2014 Ford Escape?

There are 2 recalls and 19 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2014 Ford Escape

Overheating 351Check engine light 244Stalling 205Engine failure 128Fire or smoke 128Backup camera 87Loss of power 83Jerking 72Won't shift 61Power steering loss 58Misfire 54Hesitation 47Door locks 46Fuel pump 34Slipping 29Won't start 26Harsh shifting 23Screen failure 22Steering lock-up 19Wipers 16No deployment 15Seat belt 15Fuel smell 14ABS 13Grinding brakes 13Sudden acceleration 13Whining noise 13Knocking 12Headlights 12Shudder 10Tire blowout 9Adaptive cruise 8Brake failure 8Warning lights 6Battery drain 5Pulling 5

All model years of the Ford Escape

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