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2019 Ford Escape: transmission slipping

11 of the 604 complaints about the 2019 Ford Escape describe transmission slipping.

owner complaints
11
of this car's complaints
2%
typical mileage
33,200
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 9 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Transmission slipping by model year

What owners say

Filed Jun 1, 2026 · Transmission · TX

Transmission issues, Hard Shifting & Slipping

Filed Aug 1, 2024 · Transmission · CA

Transmission is slipping, would not accelerate when applying gas. Shifting up and down while driving. But the most important issue that I think is a severe safety issue. When attempting to brake the vehicle transmission will not disengage. You have to press the vehicle brakes extremely hard to and maintain the pressure to stop the vehicle. It is lucky that I just change the rotors and brakes two weeks ago.

Filed Apr 22, 2024 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the shifter while in second and third gear. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Feb 27, 2024 · Transmission · 94,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle slipped out of gear and failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle was placed in neutral and was coasted down the hill, where the gear would not change. The vehicle was able to restart several hours later but, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 94,000.

Filed Oct 19, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · 84,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the engine was replaced. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the oil was changed. The contact's son noticed that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust and noticed that the coolant level was low. The contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact's neighbor informed her that there was white smoke coming from the tail pipe. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the driver's side CV joint was leaking, and the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving the “Transmission Service Now” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the torque converter valve needed to be replaced or the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated there was an unknown substance in the line. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

Filed Oct 11, 2023 · Body, Brakes · MO · crash

Car was parked in residential parking lot overnight. This morning I noticed my vehicle had rolled forward and hit a pole and the curb, cause front left damage to the fender, wheel and wheel hub assembly, and the brakes. Call is currently under recall due to a problem with the transmission slipping out of gear

Filed Mar 7, 2023 · Electrical · IL

1. The transmission "zooms" and revs higher as I'm breaking. I'm afraid that the gear will slip and I won't be able to stop - especially if it's icy on the road. 2. When the car is turned off completely, there's a mechanical sound that persists for 10min. It's not the water/cooling pump or the engine cooling down. It sounds like an ATM machine that's trying to dispense cash, but can't. I suspect this is draining the battery. 3. On my way to work yesterday, the key (and the spare key) were not recognized and I couldn't start the car. Lights came on, so I didn't think it was the battery. This morning, battery is dead. I really think it's a result of whatever is causing the sounds mentioned in #2 above. While #1 is a safety issue to myself and other motorists, the issues reported in #2 and #3 are personal safety concerns. I am a woman who commutes from gig to gig, traveling through sketchy neighborhoods, and parking in dimly lit public parking garages. If I cannot start the car or it goes dead, I could get mugged or physically hurt.

Filed Jan 22, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 3,400 miles · TX

I purchased my 2019 ford escape brand new in early spring of 2019. Shortly after purchasing my escape I did notice some slippage of the transmission. I planned on going back to the dealer so they could check it out, but unfortunately I became ill, and therefore it slipped my mind. I was in and out of the hospital for the next several months, but as soon as I felt well enough I could not wait to drive my new car again. My first trip was actually to my oncologist office, but I was excited just to be driving. On my way there, however, my car jerked me to the left causing me to run off the road. I was right in front of my doctor's office, so I parked and went about my business. When I my appointment was over, and I came back out I noticed I had a flat tire. It really surprised me, because even though I did have the weird incident I mentioned previously, I didn't think it would cause my tire to blow out. So, I had the tire replaced, and life went on. Shortly after that, I started having problems starting my car. I had it towed to the dealer for the first time 11/19/19, my car was towed to the dealer 1/20/21 with the same problem. I admit, I do not drive my car much these days, but I do make an effort to start it almost everyday, and let run for 20 minutes. When I purchased the escape, I was expecting to have to drive to the medical once or twice a month. I am sure everyone is driving less because of the corona virus. I really feel nervous going out because of my vehicle and corona. I have call roadside assistance more since I bought the 2019 escape, than my own mother. One last thing. I did mention the transmission slipping the first time I had it towed back to the dealer, and they said when they test drove it after replacing the battery, it drove fine, but I recorded the mileage when I went to pick it up, and the mileage was the same as it was when I dropped it off.

Filed Jan 13, 2021 · Engine, Steering · 33,200 miles · IN

2019 ford escape titanium steering wheel shakes/vibrates heavy & makes a loud noise from car (almost sounds like a bad loud muffler sound) at speeds of 35 MPH & 45mph when the gas peddle is leveled at speed and also does the same when going up an incline at the same speeds. Also transmission slips between 1 & 2 gears intermittently. Very bumpy ride in the back when going 70 MPH on the highway. These issues happen when on local roads & highway ramps. Dealer repair has checked several times. First few times they could not replicate the issue. December 29, 2020 finally got the issue to replicate and put a ticket directly into ford. I checked back on 1/7/2021 since I bare the heard from the dealer service rep. At that time she still didn't have an answer to a resolution to fix the fault. I called today 1/13/2021 and the dealer repair service rep said it was a characteristic of the model because they informed ford on the ticket they tested another 2019 escape with the same engine & transmission and it had the same fault. Car was manufactured 3/2019. Please note I have purchased brand new ford escapes in 2002, 2005, 2009, 2017 & 2019. I know how the engine & transmission of a ford escape should preform. I still have my 2009 escape and it preforms better then this 2019...comparable engines & trim package. The faults this 2019 is having are not characteristics of a car they are clearly issues where parts need to be replaced or repaired to operate properly. Ford needs to do the right thing and find what is causing the issue and repair it correctly.

Filed Mar 1, 2020 · Engine, Wheels · 11,000 miles · IL · 2 injuries

Since buying my escape brand new with 1 mile on it, it has been plagued with issues, engine shuts off while driving can be going 30 MPH or 70 MPH, while driving on the interstate at 70 bad smell from catalytic converter seeps in through vents. Passenger side tire wall blew while turning out of a parking lot. License plate light out and unable to remove to change. Dealership has had car several times claiming nothing is wrong with it. Radio keeps saying "update" dealership claims it's my phone (my phone has no updates due) brakes make terrible noise when reverse breaking. A little over 11,000 miles and transmission keeps slipping but dealership claims nothing is wrong, also car does not want to start half the time. Usb for phone cord in front does not want to stay connected, and back port for car charger overheated and caused my daughter burns on her hand. My daughter was driving it and it stranded her on side of road and wouldn't start, had to shut off ,take out key and let sit to restart but dealership claims nothing is wrong. Overall the disappointment with the 2019 escape is high. Something needs to be done further to investigate these claims of engine shutting off and other issues.

Filed Jul 16, 2019 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · VA

At 10,000 miles my escape transmission began slipping. It takes forever for it to shift but no transmission light comes on. My gas mileage has also gone way down as a result of this. Ford claims it's fine. But it does it often. Also when the engine stop is engaged at stop lights, it doesn't always start back up and I have to put the car in park and restart the vehicle.

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

Questions about the 2019 Ford Escape slipping

Is transmission slipping a common problem on the 2019 Ford Escape?

11 of 604 owner complaints about the 2019 Ford Escape (2%) mention transmission slipping. The model year with the most reports is 2014.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2019 Ford Escape?

There is 1 recall and 9 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2019 Ford Escape

Check engine light 185Engine failure 138Overheating 131Misfire 88Stalling 37Fire or smoke 35Transmission failure 25Loss of power 22Hesitation 19Jerking 19Shudder 18Headlights 11Fuel pump 8No deployment 7Knocking 7Won't shift 7Adaptive cruise 6Tire blowout 6Won't start 6Backup camera 5Start-stop 5

All model years of the Ford Escape

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