2023 Ford Escape: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Jan 30, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · VA

Purchased brand new 11/2023, immediately started with electrical problems 01/2024, also would put car in reverse and car would cut off, was dropped off at service but never given a reason for the issue or a repair. 01/2025 car had acceleration issues, dropped off at service and was given a rental and given car back with no explanation. 6/2025 car went into limp mode and was towed to service where they found shards of metal throughout motor, replaced motor and then started having problems with cab filling with exhaust, was told they had no rental available and could continue to drive the car with my baby in it, then told was just a gasket needed to be replaced, car had same issue immediately, returned back to service where the turbo then needed to be replaced as well as catalytic converter gasket, after repair, called numerous times complaining that car would shift very hard and wouldn’t accelerate while driving or pulling out on an intersection or from a stop light, was told valve body needed to be replaced, then check engine light came on immediately after pickup, returned car and purge valve needed to be replaced, after pickup issue of car not accelerating continued, was told no issue found, car acceleration issues has became worse and now have been told soonest available appointment and rental is 02/12/2026.

Filed Mar 27, 2025 · Transmission · 150,002 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the transmission overheated warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stopped and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle but could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to another dealer who also was not able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission failed and was unable to shift into reverse(R) or park(P). The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Aug 26, 2024 · Engine · 4,200 miles · ME

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated after the engine overheated and shifted into "LIMP Mode". The contact stated that during the failure, the message "Engine Overheated" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 4,200.

Filed Apr 12, 2024 · Engine · AR

Within a block of my wife pulling out of our apartment complex onto a 55mph highway to travel to work in the morning, the vehicle had several lights on the cluster illuminate and indicated that it was overheating and went into limp mode. She was able to move to the shoulder and call me. The amount of traffic on this highway and the speed in which she lost power made this a very unsafe event. The check engine light had come on and the vehicle indicated maximum engine temperature, service engine soon light illuminated as well as powertrain fault. The vehicle was towed to the selling Ford Dealer and the condition was confirmed and the vehicle still indicated high temp even after sitting overnight. It was diagnosed from a service bulletin as having a faulty head that had manufacturing debris in it which was released into the coolant system and blocked the coolant temperature sensor. Warranty covered parts have been ordered with some being on Backorder. The vehicle is still in the shop awaiting parts and we have been provided a loaner. We have only owned the vehicle three months and 1500 miles when this occurred. Ford declined a buyback request on the vehicle and offered no remedy except warranty repair.

Filed Nov 13, 2023 · Engine · PA

Shortly after purchasing this, my daughter was driving it and the check engine light came on and it said it was overheating. The dealer was contacted and it was taken in for repairs. We got it back and was told that it was a broken wire in the wiring harness and they ordered a new harness but had fixed the wire so it should be good to go. 2 weeks later it did the same thing and actually went into limp mode. This time they said it was the sensor in the cylinder head and they ordered a replacement. Fast forward 3 1/2 months and it's still at the dealers. They are now telling us the cylinder needs to be replaced and the parts are on backorder. While we have been waiting they gave us a 2023 Bronco Sport with the same 1.5 liter 3 cylinder and that hasn't given any issues. When the loaner hit 5000 miles we had to return it to the dealer for a different vehicle. They gave us a 2023 Escape with the same 1.5 liter 3 cylinder and only 800 miles in it. The 2nd day my daughter drove it, it did the same thing as the one she originally purchased did. We have now been told by the service department that they have several doing the same thing and they are replacing the heads on each one when they get them. Our Escape is now on the Lemon Law Buyback and the dealer won't even give us the time of day. The dealer told my daughter she needed to stop the Lemon Law Buyback process and then they would talk to her about trading it in for a different vehicle. The issue is, she is upside down on the loan and the only way she can finish the Lemon Law buyback is to come up with close to $5000 to get out from under the vehicle and the dealer says there is no way that they can/will roll that into a different loan. Upon looking at the Forums many of these vehicles are having the same issue. Ford really needs to step up and take care of this ASAP. It isn't safe being stranded along the road.

Filed Oct 29, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TX

3 times, either merging on the highway or full throttle, vehicle screams overheat warning with wrench light for a couple of seconds and disappears. No limp mode or smoke at all. And coolant level is at MAX. No clue is this some sort of glitch or engine failure? Vehicles drives amazing and power is great. Maybe it’s a software glitch?

Filed Oct 24, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · KS

Vehicle has a 1.5L dragon 3 cylinder. When passing vehicles, on 3 occasions it throws codes that says that the engine has an engine overheated issue, service asap, and goes into a limp mode which does not give you any time to get to safety before your speed is dropped below 55 mph. It will not go out of limp mode until you completely shut off the vehicle and wait 5 or so minutes and turn it back on. Even after it stays in a limp mode capacity and does not easily get back up to highway speeds. The certified dealership service department has had my brand new vehicle 7 weeks with no resolution. Car was bought with 16 miles on the odometer, on August 25th, 2023, at 650 ish miles on September 6th it happened the 1st time. The 2nd time was on September 14th, 3rd time September 15th, 4th time was, September 29th. 3 times on a 4 lane highway, 1st time on a 2 lane country highway.

Filed Aug 18, 2023 · Engine · TX

At approximately 1,000 miles on 2 separate occasions while traveling on the interstate, roughly 10 minutes apart, an audible chime and visual alert within the speedometer cluster appeared “engine coolant over temperature” for approximately 10 seconds. The temperature gauge within the cluster indicated normal, midway within the span of the gauge. The following day prior to starting the vehicle, a cold start essentially, the coolant level was “full”. I ran a “check engine” check with no stored codes in temporary or permanent storage. My 2023 Ford Escape has the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. When the warnings appeared, there was no reduction in engine power(limp mode) and no signs of steam while looking in the rear view mirror.