Problems · by component

2001 Ford Escape power train problems

128 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Escape cite power train, 12% of all 1,027 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
128
12% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“VEHICLE STEERS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF SUB FRAME AND RIGHT AXLE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 14S02 AT 89372 MI ON 9/23/2014 AND HAD CROSSBRACE INSTALLED PER RECALL. VEHICLE STORED IN HEATED GARAGE, ON 7/20/2017 WITH 105199 MI BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT WHEEL OFF CENTER AND VEHICLE SHAKING BADLY, GRINDING NOISE. FLAT BED TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED FAILED SUB FRAME AND BROKEN RIGHT AXLE. REQUESTED FORD REPAIR UNDER ORIGINAL RECALL WHICH ALLOWED FOR REPLACING SUB FRAME AND WAS DENIED FOR ELAPSED TIME. SAFETY ISSUE, COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AT SPEED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2017Suspension, Power trainODI 11013446
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED TO REVERSE AND DROVE BACKWARDS. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2016Power trainODI 10936452
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2016Power trainODI 10936556
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, STALLED, AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V175000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2016Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10884826
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND CONTINUE NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BUBBLES AND APPEARED AS THOUGH IT WOULD EXPLODE. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2016Power train, Air bagsODI 10881555
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE WHEN THE GEAR STICK WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DETECTED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 267,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10845616

Showing 6 of 128 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Power train: floor shift

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Power trainReported Sep 29, 2015NHTSA 15V606000

Power train: control module (tcm

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

Power trainReported Apr 6, 2004NHTSA 04V165000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.