NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
66 reportsClear category filter59,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA ODI #10544469
47,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE, MY FORD ESCAPE JUMPED FORWARD AND THEN SLOWLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10541834
16,643 miles · Jul 31, 2013
Power Train
LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER, PUTTER AND WOULD NOT TAKE GAS. WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THE WRENCH LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WHICH WAS THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 7/30/2013. ON 7/31/2013, THE SAME PROBLE…
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LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER, PUTTER AND WOULD NOT TAKE GAS. WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THE WRENCH LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WHICH WAS THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 7/30/2013. ON 7/31/2013, THE SAME PROBLEM BEGAN ALL OVER AGAIN AND I HAD TO RETURN THE SUV TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED, I WAS FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532941
41,000 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Power Train
I PULLED OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT ONTO A TWO LANE ROAD AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MY VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING ON ITS OWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS CREEPING ALONG, BARELY MOVING, AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO ME PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED A LOT BUT NEVER COMPLETELY STALLED. POWER STE…
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I PULLED OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT ONTO A TWO LANE ROAD AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MY VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING ON ITS OWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS CREEPING ALONG, BARELY MOVING, AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO ME PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED A LOT BUT NEVER COMPLETELY STALLED. POWER STEERING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, ETC., WAS ALL WORKING FINE. THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT ON SHAPED LIKE A WRENCH. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND CONTINUED COASTING IN THIS MANNER TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE SPOT I COULD PULL OVER. AFTER PULLING OVER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, AND THEN IT SEEMED TO BE IDLING AND RUNNING FINE. THE WARNING LIGHT SHAPED LIKE A WRENCH IS A "THROTTLE/POWERTRAIN" ISSUE INDICATOR. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES INDICATING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES. THE NORTH CAROLINE CONSUMERS COUNCIL RECOMMENDED OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE FILE A COMPLAINT. I FELT LUCKY THAT I DID NOT PULL OUT INTO A BUSY ROAD AND LOSE THROTTLE POWER LIKE THAT AND BE AT RISK OF GETTING T-BONED BY ANOTHER CAR. I AGREE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525145
4,849 miles · Jul 15, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
NOTE, THIS HAS OCCURRED AT VARYING TIMES/DATES SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 2012, HAS NOT JUST OCCURRED AT THE DATE LISTED. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A PROLONGED HESITATION AND EVEN A LOSS IN SPEED WHEN SWITCHING VIA THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVE…
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NOTE, THIS HAS OCCURRED AT VARYING TIMES/DATES SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 2012, HAS NOT JUST OCCURRED AT THE DATE LISTED. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A PROLONGED HESITATION AND EVEN A LOSS IN SPEED WHEN SWITCHING VIA THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, NOT RANDOMLY. ALSO, WHEN GETTING UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, THERE IS A HESITATION IF YOU TOUCH THE GAS TO ACCELERATE UP TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED; IT WILL HESITATE A FEW SECONDS BEFORE KICKING INTO ACCELERATION MODE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525018
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2013
Power Train
THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT GEARS SMOOTHLY UPON ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BECAME DANGEROUS TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED RESPONSE. I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES…
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THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT GEARS SMOOTHLY UPON ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BECAME DANGEROUS TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED RESPONSE. I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH DIFFERENT RESULTS EACH TIME. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT NO ISSUE WAS FOUND THE FIRST TIME AND THE ISSUE WAS DETERMINED TO BE RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS THE SECOND TIME. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE 2ND SERVICE VISIT AND TOOK THE CAR BACK A FEW DAYS LATER. (I DROVE MY MINI CAR IN THE INTERIM BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE ESCAPE.) THIS TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RESPONSE IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE, BUT NOT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514318
8,402 miles · May 13, 2013
Power Train
TRANSMISSION ISSUE- I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESPAPE 6 CYLINDER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED (20MPH) THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT IN THE RIGHT GEAR, IT MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT WANTS TO CHANGE GEARS BUT CAN'T. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO PROCEED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO WHEN YOU PUS…
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TRANSMISSION ISSUE- I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESPAPE 6 CYLINDER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED (20MPH) THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT IN THE RIGHT GEAR, IT MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT WANTS TO CHANGE GEARS BUT CAN'T. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO PROCEED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR, THEN IT LUNGES FORWARD INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE DEARLERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM,BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I HAD 8402 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 9400 AND I AM STILL RETURNING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT CAN POSSIBLY BE THE ADAPT SHIFT STRATEGY, WHICH IS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TO LEARN THE DRIVER. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE THEY STATE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T DO IT. WHEN I PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT ABOUT 26-30 MILES. I KNOW IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL FORD IS NEGLECTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PERFORMING BETTER THAN THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE (4 CYLINDER) I PREVIOUSLY OWNED, AND WAS SATISFIED WITH. THIS 6 CYLINDER HAS NO POWER TO GO. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN IDLE MODE IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL VEHICLE THAN A REGULAR GASOLINE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10511712
1,500 miles · Apr 16, 2013
Power Train
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION LAGS, OR SHIFTS HARD, SLIPS, HESITATE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS TOLD THE COMPUTERS WERE NOT COMMUNICATING THE WAY THEY SHOULD, THE SECOND WHICH WAS TODAY, WAS TOLD IT WAS A QUART LOW? VEHICLE NOW HAS 32000 ON IT DOES NOT LEAK FLUID, AND W…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION LAGS, OR SHIFTS HARD, SLIPS, HESITATE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS TOLD THE COMPUTERS WERE NOT COMMUNICATING THE WAY THEY SHOULD, THE SECOND WHICH WAS TODAY, WAS TOLD IT WAS A QUART LOW? VEHICLE NOW HAS 32000 ON IT DOES NOT LEAK FLUID, AND WAS LOW ON FLUID WHEN BOUGHT NEW FROM DEALER WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF LOW FLUID, BUT I AM NOT BUYING THAT. AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508451
6,412 miles · Mar 17, 2013
EnginePower Train
WHEN MY ESCAPE IS IN THE RUNNING MODE, THE ENGINE DOES NOT SOUNDS LIKE A GAS RUNNING VEHICLE, BUT IT RUNS LOUD LIKE A TRUCK. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS I HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE MOVING AT A GOOD SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO GEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503303
325 miles · Feb 6, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS FREEWAY SPEEDS. PRESSING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE RECOVERS ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT 325 MI. ON THE ODOMETER AND "NO VEHICLE PROBLEM FOUND". VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EIGHT FREEWAY INCIDENTS OF STALLS IN 3908 MI.ON THE…
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VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS FREEWAY SPEEDS. PRESSING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE RECOVERS ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT 325 MI. ON THE ODOMETER AND "NO VEHICLE PROBLEM FOUND". VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EIGHT FREEWAY INCIDENTS OF STALLS IN 3908 MI.ON THE ODOMETER, THE STALLS HAVE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OR VEHICLE MANEUVERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10496620
NHTSA investigations
2PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding to the limited limp home mode.Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that
DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.