2014 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
"Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on
- 59owner reports
- 96,000median miles
- $4,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 15, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
1632 of the 2,018 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 59 of those describe transmission warning light.
Tick what matches of 59 reports
Transmission warning light on other Escape years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This sheet is for a "Service Transmission" message, a transmission fault warning or a wrench light. Owners say it often shows up with lost power, a stall or a car that won't accelerate, and sometimes clears on the next start.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
8 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster be inoperative including a blank multiple functional display (MFD), and non-functional warning chimes, messages and warning lights.
On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta vehicles manufactured April 10, 2014, to June 17, 2014 and 2014 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 21, 2014.
In the affected vehicles, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack between the filter body and the filter cap, possibly resulting in low fuel pressure.
Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
All 16 recalls on the 2014 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Escape
Underhood fires caused by fuel leak. Closed oct 30, 2025, led to recall 25V-467.
Healey brothers ford / open recall sale. Open.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 27, 2024.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 21, 2013.
Cruise control cable. Closed jul 17, 2012.
Stuck throttle. Closed feb 21, 2013, led to recall 12V-353.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Engine stalling. Closed aug 31, 2004.
Engine stalling. Closed apr 15, 2004, led to recall 04V-165.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 10, 2002.
Gasoline vapor intrusion. Closed dec 21, 2001, led to recall 00V-277.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
What owners paid
9 of the 59 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,200 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 78,000 and 116,048 miles, from the 47 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2014 Ford Escape that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2013-2015 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.6L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and/or a transmission malfunction service now warning with only diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0741 and/or P1744 stored in the ...
What owners wrote
“Transmission fault error code. The transmission is not shifting into gear whether I am trying to go forward or backwards. I have been stranded twice within the last six months because of this issue.”
Filed Jul 30, 2023
“Transmission light turned on on vehicle today and car started to lose power as I was driving. Constantly stopped on the road and did not go faster than 10mph. Does not have power and took vehicle to a local mechanic and mechanic stated transmission has problems . This is the first time this has happened and did not show any problems before today.”
Filed Aug 5, 2022
“Transmission fault: engine suddenly reved high and didnât move. Weird noise coming on and off. No prior warning or notifications with transmission”
Filed Dec 21, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 59 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 571 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 317 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 304 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 139 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 126 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 112 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 107 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 97 reports
- Vehicle fire 97 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 83 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 51 reports
- Fuel pump failure 33 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 33 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 32 reports
- Engine leaks oil 30 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 28 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 27 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 27 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 26 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 25 reports