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Home›Ford›Ford Escape› transmission and drivetrain problems
Owner complaints · Power Train · every model year

Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2026

1,528 of the 9,226 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Escape 2016–2026 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2017 (396), 2016 (325), 2018 (275). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 manufacturer bulletins, 7 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

1,528 complaints, 11 model years 17% of everything filed about the Escape typically at 75k miles

Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the transmission and drivetrainShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20260——5 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2025310%—18 TSBsthe year →
202411%—32 TSBsthe year →
20232317%—39 TSBsthe year →
20224712%—36 TSBs · 2 recallsthe year →
2021 in depth6012%74k43 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2020 in depth27314%44k56 TSBs · 4 recallsthe record →
2019 in depth12521%64k18 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2018 in depth27515%79k30 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2017 in depth39615%76k34 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2016 in depth32529%89k25 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
1,528complaints name the transmission and drivetrain, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 52 · 2020: 97 · 2021: 46 · 2022: 237 · 2023: 225 · 2024: 318 · 2025: 300 · 2026: 218

75kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 608 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 48,000 and 101,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The auto stop/start feature completely shuts the engine off when waiting at signal lights or other situations when stopping while the vehicle is in drive. There are alert chimes and a message to shift into park and restart vehicle appears on instrument panel. The problem started approx.
Power Train at 36,000 miles Dec 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While driving 75 MPH in heavy traffic or while changing lanes, the accelerator pedal was applied and the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: cas 24051505. The contact was referred to the local dealer.
Power Train at 14,642 miles Sep 5, 2019 NHTSA owner report
While driving around 40mph, vehicle cut off and displayed a message: transmission not in park. After pulling over and restarting vehicle, the volume on radio moved up and down on its own while transmission in the parked position. Later that day vehicle cut off within 30 seconds of using remote starter.
Power Train at 10,000 miles Jan 16, 2017 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was a strong vibration when driving the vehicle. The contact noticed that an interim solution was to drive in the s gear and, within a few miles, change the gear to drive to prevent the vibration.
Power Train Oct 3, 2016 NHTSA owner report
Transmission is going bad. The transmission started making noise and stuttering. It was stationary when it was first noticed. As soon as I turned the car on and switched gears the transmission started with a whirring noise. Took it to a garage and they told me it is the transmission pump. Which is a known issue with these vehicles
Power Train at 99,000 miles Mar 24, 2021 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

4 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the Ford Escape

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Ford Escape problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Ford Escape years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?

2017, 396; 2016, 325; 2018, 275. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (29%).

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Ford Escape?

Yes — 7 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V301000 (2026), 25V881000 (2020), 25V133000 (2022), 24V330000 (2022). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Ford Escape?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 75,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 48,000 and 101,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.