2009 Ford Escape Transmission problems.

helitack · 09-23-2009, 12:12 PM

so the company bought 2 Escapes. Mine has 24k and co-worker has 28k. When you first start and take off in the mornings... it suddenly takes off like a jet, hoping you won't hit something. There is times when you go to step on the gas, but there is no response for a few seconds then suddenly jerks and takes off.

So I take it to the dealer and found that their was some issues with the automatic tranny... seems that it slips in 2 and 3... on acceleration and the opposite on gears 3 and 4. finds out the bearing on the drive shaft was bad, damaging the transmission. The transmission had flakes of metal in the oil and the fluid was black.

So they head out in search of a transmission, which they found. The drive shaft was on back-order and all of the other dealers that indicated they had 8 or more axles, were out of them.

finally after 3 weeks, they find the parts and got it installed.

Now the coworkers vehicle's check lite comes on and acts like its starving for fuel while going up a gentle incline. Come to find out that the axle had the same problem with the bearing, which damaged the transmission. As of Sept 242009, the transmission is on back-order as is the axle with about 20 day wait time.

sounds like there is some serious issues with the transmissions.

theoldwizard · 09-23-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helitack

When you first start and take off in the mornings... it suddenly takes off like a jet, hoping you won't hit something. There is times when you go to step on the gas, but there is no response for a few seconds then suddenly jerks and takes off.
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.
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sounds like there is some serious issues with the transmissions.

I disagree. These symptoms sound like issues with the electronic throttle control subsystem. Nothing to do with the transmission.

Cuda_Jim · 09-23-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

I disagree. These symptoms sound like issues with the electronic throttle control subsystem. Nothing to do with the transmission.

I agree! There is trouble with the dealer too....that should have been caught in the diagnosis.

XRing · 09-24-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helitack

There is times when you go to step on the gas, but there is no response for a few seconds then suddenly jerks and takes off.

When you first step on the gas, does the engine quickly rev up to high RPMs??
(Like it would if the transmission was in 'N').?.

wptski · 09-24-2009, 10:12 AM

There is/was a TSB #09-14-7 about a hesitation, downshifting, shift flare, etc. issue(s). I wrote down the TSB # a few weeks ago planning to get it done. I did cover vehicles built last year, I forget the build date but it did include mine, build date of 9/12/08, I think.

I didn't get that done yet.

Yesterday I noticed that the TSB had been superceded by TSB #09-18-3 with built dates of up to 8/2/09 which would be the whole '09 model year run it seems. Seems to be a very broad covering TSB!

12Ounce · 09-24-2009, 11:12 AM

"Electronic throttle control" ... whow! Didn't they learn enough with all the problems Volvo had? What was wrong with the old cable and throttle plate?

I'm not buying anything with "electronic throttle control" ... for at least, 10 years or so.

theoldwizard · 09-24-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

I'm not buying anything with "electronic throttle control" ... for at least, 10 years or so.

That leaves you about 5 or 10 cars from all manufacturers that don't have ETC.

It has been pretty much across the board on US Ford products for about 5+ years.

Every Ford turbo diesel since the 7.3L has had electronic fuel control (diesels don't have a throttle plate).

wptski · 09-25-2009, 08:04 AM

Here's the listed issue for TSB #09-18-3 that I mentioned above.

Some 2009 Escape, Mariner, 2010 Fusion and Milan vehicles built on or before 8/2/2009 and equipped with an automatic transmission may exhibit harsh 3-1 or 2-1 rolling stop downshift or downshift hesitation during throttle tip-in/tip-out 3-4-2 downshift maneuver at vehicle speeds between 20-40 MPH (32-64 Km/h). Also may have 2-3 or 3-4 upshift flare during cold starts (engine off for 2 or more hours). There is a new calibration that will improve the transmission downshift maneuver under these conditions and also improve 2-3, 3-4 upshift flare when vehicle is cold.