Problems · by component

2004 Ford Escape power train problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Escape cite power train, 5% of all 499 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
27
5% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUTO FORD (A, 3301 EAST CENTRAL TEXAS EXPRESSWAY, KILLENE, TEXAS 76543 (254) 699-2629) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL IN 2015 AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEREAFTER THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER AFTER CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE VIA TELEPHONE/VOICEMAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2018Power trainODI 11144682
“NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V16500. LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOSE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING. IT MAY BE DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION FOR THE LOSE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE UNDERNEATH BRACKET.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2017Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11020115
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2017Power trainODI 10953819
“ABS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. TOWED TO SHOP TO HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BAD. SINCE THEN 3- ALTERNATORS, 2- BATTERIES, 3- O2 SENSORS, AND AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT BLINKS ON AND OFF AND ILLUMINATES WHEN YOU HONK THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS, ALL DASH LIGHTS AND STEREO CONSOLE LIGHTS DIM TO ALMOST INVISIBLE. TOOK TO 4 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM!!!! THIS COMPANY SHOULD REALIZE THIS CAR IS A LEMON, AND BACK THEIR WORKMANSHIP. AND BLOW THIS CAR UP !!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2016Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10923846
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATED THAT IT WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2016Power trainODI 10918785
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2016Power trainODI 10864268

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall 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
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.