555 of the 5,144 complaints about the Ford Escape (10.8%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 0.9× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
555Complaints · Transmission / powertrain
10.8%Share of complaints
0.93×vs. all vehicles
135Last 12 months
2.7%Share involving a crash or fire
5Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (230, 13% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (1). 135 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 148 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
Owners most often describe: “transmission”, “awd”, “power train”, “diagnosed” and “module”. 15 of these reports (2.7%) describe a crash or fire, with 14 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V133000 (2025-02-28, model years 2022).
Thumb was deeply cut using gear shift selector knob due to peeling chrome on the knob.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-03-14 · ODI 11724275
Purchased certified vehicle from Wray Ford on 2/23/24. Car was previously leased by FMCC and still listed as a Ford Fleet Vehicle in Michigan as of 9/12/25. VIN confirms it falls under Ford safety recall 24S79, which was never performed.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-09-15 · ODI 11687233 · Crash
Vehicle purchased from dealer with concealed total loss history and federal/state odometer fraud. Official state title records show the odometer froze at 73,539 miles between Tennessee title issued March 2025 and Ohio title issued January 2026.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-09-01 · ODI 11761195
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message that the door was unlocked was displayed.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11761090
Power train lost during driving, suddenly the car lost the power and a light in the dashboard start blinking, it recovers after a few times turning it on and off, seems to be triggered by brake pedal press, car has been having issues since Oct 2025 after…
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-24 · ODI 11759090
My Ford Escape powertrain went out when I was driving in town, it went from driving fine to not getting out of 1st gear. No warning prior got it towed to my mechanic and he did a diagnostic and it is indeed the transmission.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-22 · ODI 11758731
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Campaign 25V133000 · 2025-02-28 · Model years: 2022
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-330. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S16.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Campaign 24V330000 · 2024-05-10 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2020-2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S33.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) Campaign 22V413000 · 2022-06-10 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Campaign 21V011000 · 2021-01-15 · Model years: 2020
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 20V550000 · 2020-09-10 · Model years: 2020
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
How common are Transmission / powertrain problems on the Ford Escape?
555 of the 5,144 complaints about the Ford Escape (10.8%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 0.9× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Ford Escape model years have the most Transmission / powertrain complaints?
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (230, 13% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (1).
Is there a recall for Ford Escape Transmission / powertrain problems?
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V133000 (2025-02-28, model years 2022).