2016 Ford Escape · symptom sheet

Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard

86owner reports
88,000median miles
$5,500median quote
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 21, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

319 of the 1,105 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 86 of those describe transmission shudder.

Tick what matches of 86 reports

shudders or vibrates at low speed

slips or revs without pulling

bangs or clunks into gear

hesitates when I accelerate

a dealer did a software update

fluid was changed or flushed

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (17 reports), the torque converter (6 reports) and the clutch (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

22V-413Jun 10, 2022

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
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.

What owners paid

11 of the 86 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,600 to $6,500.

$1,600$5,500$6,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 63,500 and 111,000 miles, from the 66 reports that gave a mileage.

115

516

217

118

719

1520

121

2422

1023

724

1025

326

What owners wrote

“Transmission failure. Had to have the transmission repaired at 132,000 miles. Had idle issues and inconsistent speed while driving on the road, constant jerking causing me to lose speed while driving. Check engine light illumination was on but this is not always a tell-tell sign of the transmission failure in these vehicles.”
Filed Apr 1, 2025 · 132,000 miles

“I have 2 ford escapes a 2015 and a 2016 (2016 referenced in this complaint) both have experienced catastrophic transmission failure within weeks of each other. The transmission would slip and hard shift, eventually disable completely and would indicate the transmission needed to be serviced.”
Filed May 3, 2024

“Driving the car with no signs at all, car instantly drops rpmâs and wonât accelerate at a busy intersection. Warning for transmission faulty or engine issues did not come on at all. Car was driving normal and then stopped as clutch started slipping. Confirmed with dealership that transmission is out. The car stopped in traffic.”
Filed Jan 9, 2024 · 120,222 miles

“The transmission has started to jerk/skip while driving. Sometimes it jumps and lurches forward suddenly as if suddenly catching the next gear”
Filed Aug 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 86 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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.