Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
What Happened
The shift lever bolt in your Escape's transmission connects the shift lever to the transmission. In some cases, this bolt might not be tightened correctly, which can cause the shift lever to come loose.
Risk if Unfixed
If the shift lever comes loose while you're driving, you might not be able to shift gears. When you try to park, the gear indicator might say 'PARK', but the transmission might not actually be in 'PARK'. This means the vehicle could roll away, putting you and others at risk of injury.
Free Fix
Your Ford dealer will check the transmission and either tighten the bolt or replace the shift lever assembly – all for free. You'll get a notification with the schedule for the repair.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Original — Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
View full recall details →
Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →