2017 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 27owner reports
- 76,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Apr 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
27 of the 92 reports of transmission shudder on the 2017 Escape describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (92 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts
Tick what matches of 27 reports
Hesitation when accelerating on other Escape years
No other Escape model year has enough reports of hesitation when accelerating for a sheet of its own. See every Escape year.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for a car that pauses before it goes. You press the gas, and for a beat nothing happens, or the engine revs and then the car catches up. What makes it distinct from the wider sheet is timing: the complaint isn't a rough shift at speed but a delay right when you need to move.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (18 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
All 4 recalls on the 2017 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
No report on this problem is short enough to quote in full.
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 27 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. 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 1562 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 1332 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 623 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 295 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 88 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 82 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 56 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 49 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 48 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 44 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 38 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 30 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 27 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 27 reports