Transmission Problems: '02 Escape

Dear Forum:
Has anyone experienced problems with the automatic transmission on the 2-wheel drive XLT Excape, V6 (2002 model)? My problem required a quick tow to the dealer as the car was undriveable. The signs I experienced included: high RPMs on the tach (up to 7K while accelerating from stop to 10 mph); sluggish response from the accelerator; no transmission power to engage the drivetrain. The car has complete electrical power to operate the heat, lights and ignition turns over just fine. Oh, the mileage is 27K!

The dealer we have was responsive to give us a loaner on the spot.

It is a mystery. Anyone have a similar experience?

The above referenced transmission problem was not determined by the dealer. In fact, they just replaced it with a new transmission and could not tell me what caused the problem. Was it a bad transmission?

Saw your post as I was checking out the Escape forums for my brother who just bought a Tribute. I have a 94 Saturn SL1. Totally different car but we just had it towed to a trans shop for same problem. You could press the gas and hear it rev but not engage and crawl up to 20 mph. We got it almost to the trans shop before it stalled. The alternator was shot, so wrong voltage. Trans guys said trans can't be controlled with bad electric. Everything is a computer nowadays. After alternator was replaced trans problem was gone - for now. And we paid trans shop prices to have alternator put in because they needed to fix that to test the trans. It would be worth it to test your alternator/computer/electric

I just looked at your second post. Boy that sure would hurt if they put in a new trans because some wire was cracked.

Problem was solved: the Ford Dealer couldn't figure it out, so they replaced the transmission with a new unit (not a rebuilt). As far as the Saturn, I owned a '96 SC-2 and had more problems with it: tranny failure, gauges died many times, horn module died every 15K or so, and those brakes...too much trouble for me after 115 K.

Thanks for the reply.

The same happened to me. In the middle of I75 the transission blew up when I was driving at 70 mph. No symptoms nothing. I don't know how I wasn't hit from behind since some vehicles were driving pretty close to my tail. I was pretty lucky.

It is a Ford Escape 2001 with less than 55K km (~34K miles?) and my warranty expired on Jan 04 (today is Sept 04) and after doing all the recalls (2-3 per year) and servicing the car regularly, Ford turns the back on ya.... nice isn't it?


Ed