2009 Escape transmission problems

mr129 · 10-20-2009, 08:25 PM

I would love to hear if anyone else has had this problem!!!! Sorry it's such a long post, but the 3rd incident just happened today and it's VERY frustrating.

I bought a new 2009 Ford Escape XLT FWD 2.5 liter engine in June. On August 30 I was driving on I- 95 in Pennsylvania when my car started acting erratically. For the first 30-35 minutes of my trip the car felt like it was pulling (for lack of a better word….almost as if the emergency brake was still on or the oil was overdue for a change). About 40 minutes into the trip, the RPM dial started going crazy. It shot back and forth between 2000, 6000, and 4000. At the same time, the car lost power. Even though the RPM’s were running high, the car would not go more than 40mph. I pulled off on an exit and while I was going up the exit ramp hill the RPM’s were at 6000, but the car wouldn’t accelerate over 20mph. As I got to the crest of the hill, the car lurched and then the RPM’s and MPH’s leveled out. Once I pulled over safely on the side of the exit, I noticed that the “wrench” icon was illuminated. I called Ford Roadside Assistance to have the car towed to the dealership where I bought the car. I kept the car on for about 30-40 minutes after I called for the tow truck and the “wrench” was illuminated the whole time. The service people were great, but after having the car for 3 days and driving it for 112 miles while hooked up to computers the whole time, the problem was never duplicated nor did it register on the computer that anything was wrong. Oddly enough, the “wrench” icon never registered as having come on (even though it was lit for at least 30-40 minutes). I was told that if it happened again, I should (if it was safe) drive to the closest dealership and tell them what had happened before and NOT turn the car off (the service tech believed that when the car was turned off the computer reset and that is why they were never able to figure out what was wrong).
On September 22 I was driving to work on I-95. Once again, the car began doing the same thing. This time the RPM dial was moving erratically from one number to another and the car lost acceleration. Also, there was a loud noise as the car shifted from one gear to the next. The “wrench” icon was illuminated once again. I pulled off at the nearest exit and drove a the nearest dealership. As I was driving on local roads, the car would not accelerate higher than 40mph. Once I got to the dealership, I explained what had happened previously and told them not to turn the car off. They took the car and parked it until someone could look at it. After 45 minutes, my service advisor informed me that they did get a reading from the computer about a transmission issue. Grand total, my car was at this dealership for 18 days. They discovered that it was a problem inside the transmission. Apparently there was something that was not sealed properly when it was installed and as a result the seal needed to be repaired as well as a drum that it was on. The parts were on backorder for close to 2 weeks. They indicated that they were having trouble contacting their Ford representative to find out what was going on with the part. I finally received a call on October 9 that my car was ready. I picked it up that evening thinking that everything was finally fixed.
Then today I was driving home from work (once again on I-95) and the car started shifting erratically with the RPM’s going from 2000-4000 and the car losing acceleration once again. This time the “wrench” icon did not light up and once I pulled off the highway, the car drove better. I took it back to the 2nd dealership and now they are going to look at it tomorrow. I'm worried nothing is going to register again and they won't be able to fix it again this time.

Any help/ideas/thoughts on what this could be would be greatly appreciated!

Wil · 10-20-2009, 08:41 PM

I posted my problems under '09 Escape Transmission. I wonder if you also have an output bushing failing? It would cause a lot of heat, which in my case burned the oil, and also in doing so would be causing the output shaft to become hard to turn, resulting in the downshifting, etc that you are experiencing. Ford did not find any problems on the computer either nor did it act up for them when they drove it. They had to take it apart to find that problem. I am awaiting a transmission replacement.
Wil

wptski · 10-20-2009, 08:59 PM

I'm suprised to hear that they are repairing the transmission instead of just replacing the whole thing which they normally do!

XRing · 10-20-2009, 10:05 PM

I too picked up my 09 Escape (XLS) in June. But the transmission seemed okay.

However, there was a problem with the ATF level. It seemed to be very low,
right from the dealer. It appears, they failed to check it during dealer-prep.

Did you check your ATF level after you picked it up in June? And was the level normal?

theoldwizard · 10-21-2009, 05:10 AM

If you get another "trouble not found" diagnosis, demand a "flight recorder". It is a device that the dealer installs temporarily in your car. When trouble occurs, you press a button, and data is stored to help diagnosis your problem.

P.S. Paragraphs make reading long passages easier !

zoom_ute · 10-21-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wptski

I'm suprised to hear that they are repairing the transmission instead of just replacing the whole thing which they normally do!

I agree. I wonder if they thought it was the valve body or something that is external to the transmission.

To the original poster, try to find out more detail when you get it back (ie specific codes that were stored, part numbers of repacement parts, etc. etc.) , and ask if the failure is related to any of the transmission TSBs that have been issued, there are at least 3 related to the transmission IIRC.

komondor · 10-21-2009, 05:53 PM

This is where camera phones with video come in handy just grab it and record at lest you have something to show them!

theoldwizard · 10-22-2009, 01:35 AM

mr129, sounds like you should familiarize yourself with your state's Lemon Law !

P.S. Everyone else, how much do you want to bet we will never hear "the rest of the story" !

mr129 · 10-22-2009, 12:26 PM

Thank you for all the suggestions. It has given me a lot of things to pursue if they don't find anything on this latest visit....especially the TSB. My car has always shifted pretty hard and I think one of the TSB's that I found could definitely help that part of the problem. The dealership has been good this time too. They're driving it as much as they can hoping for it to fail again for them. One of the service guys is taking it home with him so they can have it on the highway for a period of time since that's when it seems to happen.

I have started looking into the Lemon Laws for my state and I am pretty close to meeting the number of visits criteria and the number of days out of commission criteria so that is the next thing to pursue after we see how this visit goes.

Thanks again for the suggestions and I will keep you updated after I hear back from the dealership.

mark v · 10-22-2009, 12:34 PM

Yes please keep us posted.