2017 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
"Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on
- 44owner reports
- 88,000median miles
- $4,390median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 13, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
2417 of the 2,688 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 44 of those describe transmission warning light.
Tick what matches of 44 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 (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2017 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.
All 4 recalls on the 2017 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 2017 model year.
What owners paid
8 of the 44 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $200 to $6,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 74,000 and 103,818 miles, from the 36 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Was drive the car to a shop after getting a transmission fault service now code the car would not move and broke down in the middle of the road on a busy road shit car off it drove for two minutes and shut off again had no power to get to side of the road had to pay over $100.00 for a tow bill and still at the shop with no answers”
Filed Mar 16, 2023
“Transmission threw a " Transmission Fault " code while driving normally. The car quit pulling at all and I was just able to get out of the road. The Transmission no longer works in any gear. The car has 101,000 miles on it. Ford will be getting this car back, I will not pay for another Transmission with no guarantee that this won't happen again. I will never buy another Ford ever.”
Filed Oct 30, 2022 · 101,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 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 1561 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 shudders, slips or shifts hard 92 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
- 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