2013–2014 Ford Escape: Car rolls away or won't stay in Park (shifter bushing recall)
Likely causes, ranked
- Degraded shifter cable bushing$0–$0Shop
Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.
DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section
Parts to check
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Symptom: The shift lever moves loosely, the gear shown doesn't match what the car does, or the car moves after being put in Park.
Likely causes
- Degraded shifter cable bushing. The bushing that holds the shift cable to the transmission can break down and detach. Dealers fit a new bushing.
DIY or shop?
Dealer. Recall repairs are free.
Useful steps
- Check your VIN for the recall.
- Always set the parking brake until the repair is done.
Vehicle focus: 2013–2014 Ford Escape.
Safety / mechanic note
A car that rolls away can injure people. Verify with a mechanic or dealer.
Recalls & service bulletins
Recalls
- 18V471000 2013–2014 Escape and 2013–2016 Fusion with the 6-speed automatic: the shifter cable bushing can wear and come off, so the car may not be in Park when the lever says Park. Details
NHTSA complaints: 852 keyword-matched complaints for Ford ESCAPE 2013–2014 (of 4,826 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-15).
Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Sources
What actually fixed it?
Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.