2022 Ford Escape Owners Manual - Automatic Transmission

Automatic Transmission

Automatic Transmission Precautions

WARNING:  When your vehicle is stationary, keep the brake pedal fully pressed when shifting gears. Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury, death or property damage.    WARNING:  Do not apply the brake pedal and accelerator pedal simultaneously. Applying both pedals simultaneously for more than a few seconds limits vehicle performance, which may result in difficulty maintaining speed in traffic and could lead to serious injury.    WARNING:  Apply the parking brake, shift into park (P), switch the vehicle off and remove the key or remote control before you leave your vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury or death.

 Park (P)

WARNING:  Shift into park (P) only when your vehicle is stationary.

In park (P) power is not transmitted to the driven wheels.

Note:   A tone sounds if you attempt to exit your vehicle without the vehicle in park (P).

Note:   Your vehicle may not shift out of park (P) if the 12V battery has run out of charge.

Note:   Your vehicle may not shift out of park (P) if a fuse is blown.

Note:   Your vehicle may not shift out of park (P) unless the key or remote control is inside your vehicle.

Note:   The electronic parking brake could apply when you power your vehicle on with the selector in park (P).

Note:   The electronic parking brake could apply if you shift to park (P) without fully pressing the brake pedal.

Note:   The electronic parking brake could apply if you shift to park (P) on a slope.

Note:   Do not manually release the parking brake when the selector is in park (P).  See   Automatically Releasing the Electric Parking Brake. 

Note:   Your vehicle could shift into park (P) if you attempt to exit your vehicle without the transmission in park (P).  See   How Does Automatic Return to Park (P) Work. 

Note:   A tone could sound when you select park (P).

Reverse (R)

WARNING:  Shift into reverse (R) only when your vehicle is stationary.

In reverse (R) power is transmitted to the driven wheels.

Neutral (N)

WARNING:  In neutral (N) your vehicle is free to roll.

In neutral (N) power is not transmitted to the driven wheels.

Drive (D)

In drive (D) power is transmitted to the driven wheels.

Low (L)

In low (L) your vehicle decelerates more noticeably than in drive (D) when the accelerator pedal is released.

Note:   We recommend using this mode for driving on hilly or mountainous roads or when towing a trailer. See  Towing a Trailer . 

Shifting Your Vehicle Into Gear

The selector is on the center console.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Rotate the outer ring to select a position.

Note:   The position illuminates on the selector.

Note:   Your vehicle cannot shift from drive (D) to park (P) with a clockwise rotation. Your vehicle cannot shift from park (P) to drive (D) with a counterclockwise rotation.

1. Press the low (L) or manual (M) or sport (S) button when your vehicle is in drive (D) to enter or exit mode.

Automatic Transmission Position Indicators

The instrument cluster displays the current position.

Note:   The position could illuminate on the transmission selector.

What Is Temporary Neutral Mode

This mode keeps your vehicle in neutral (N), for a limited time, when you exit your vehicle or switch your vehicle off.

Note:   Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.

Temporary Neutral Mode Limitations

This mode could be unavailable if your 12 V battery charge level is low. Connect an external power source and attempt the procedure again.

Your vehicle could shift to park (P) after 30 minutes, or when the vehicle battery charge level is low. Prolonged use of this mode can cause the 12 V battery to run out of charge.

This mode could be unavailable if your vehicle is below operating temperature. Warm up your vehicle and attempt the procedure again.

Do not tow your vehicle in this mode. Failure to follow these instructions could result in vehicle damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.

Entering Temporary Neutral Mode

1. Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Power your vehicle on.

1. Shift into neutral (N).

Note:   An instructional message appears.

1. Press the low (L) button.

Note:   A confirmation message appears when your vehicle enters the mode.

1. Release the brake pedal.

Note:   Your vehicle is free to roll.

1. Switch your vehicle off.

Note:   Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.

Note:   The neutral (N) indicator on the transmission selector may flash in this mode.

Exiting Temporary Neutral Mode

1. Press the brake pedal.

1. Shift into park (P), or power your vehicle on and shift into drive (D) or reverse (R).

What Is Automatic Return to Park (P)

Your vehicle shifts into park (P) if you attempt to exit your vehicle without the vehicle in park (P).

How Does Automatic Return to Park (P) Work



Your vehicle shifts into park (P) when your vehicle is stationary and any of the following occur:

• You switch the vehicle off.
• You open the driver door with your seatbelt unfastened.
• You unfasten the driver seatbelt when the driver door is open.

Note:   Do not use automatic return to park (P) when your vehicle is moving, except in an emergency. 

Automatic Return to Park (P) Limitations

Automatic return to park (P) may not work if any of the following occur:

• The driver door ajar sensor is malfunctioning.
• The driver seatbelt sensor is malfunctioning.

See an authorized dealer if any of the following occur:

• Seatbelt indicator illuminates or tone sounds with the driver seatbelt fastened.
• Door ajar indicator does not illuminate with the driver door open.
• Door ajar indicator illuminates with the driver door closed.
• Transmission not in park message appears, with the driver door closed, after you shift out of park (P).

What Is Grade Assist

Provides additional grade braking with a combination of engine motoring and high-voltage battery charging to help maintain vehicle speed when descending a grade.

Switching Grade Assist On and Off

1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.

1. Select Driver Assistance Settings.

1. Select Grade Assist.

The grade assist lamp appears in the instrument cluster.

Your vehicle determines the amount of engine motoring and high-voltage battery charging. You could notice the engine speed increasing and decreasing to help maintain your vehicle speed when descending a slope.

Grade Assist Indicators

 What Is Manual Park Release

Manual park release allows you to shift your vehicle out of park (P) in the event of an electrical malfunction or emergency.

Manual Park Release Precautions

WARNING:  When doing this procedure, you need to take the transmission out of park (P) which means your vehicle can roll freely. To avoid unwanted vehicle movement, apply the parking brake prior to doing this procedure. Use wheel chocks if appropriate.    WARNING:  Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the stoplamps are working.

 Using Manual Park Release

Activating the Manual Park Release

1. Apply the parking brake.See   What Is the Electric Parking Brake. 

Note:   If the battery has run out of charge, use an external power source to apply the parking brake.

1. Remove the access cover located to the bottom left hand side of the steering column on the lower instrument panel using a plastic wedge or pry tool.

Note:   Do not pull the tether.

1. Sit in the driver seat.

1. Power your vehicle on without your foot on the brake pedal.

Note:   Do not attempt this procedure when the engine is running. Failure to follow this instruction could result in vehicle damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Pull the tether towards you until the lever engages.

Note:   Do not use excessive force. Failure to follow this instruction could result in vehicle damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.

Note:   A message appears when your vehicle is out of park (P). If you do not receive a message attempt the procedure again.

Note:   A warning lamp could illuminate.

1. Release the parking brake.See   What Is the Electric Parking Brake. 

1. Switch your vehicle off.

1. Release the brake pedal.

Note:   Your vehicle is free to roll.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery as soon as it is safe to do so.

Note:   If your vehicle detects wheel speed when the battery is connected, the electronic parking brake could apply.

Returning Your Vehicle to Normal Mode

1. Connect the negative battery cable to the battery as soon as it is safe to do so.

Note:   If your vehicle detects wheel speed when the battery is connected, the electronic parking brake could apply.

1. Apply the parking brake.See   What Is the Electric Parking Brake. 

Note:   If the battery has run out of charge, use an external power source to apply the parking brake.

1. Sit in the driver seat.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

Note:   Do not start your vehicle.

1. Pull the tether towards you until you feel a hard stop.

1. Release tension and return tether to the stowed position.

1. Start your vehicle.

1. Confirm the instrument cluster displays park (P).

Note:   If the instrument cluster does not display park (P), the warning lamp remains illuminated, or a message persists contact an authorized dealer for service.

1. Switch your vehicle off.

1. Release the brake pedal.

1. Install the access cover.

Automatic Transmission Audible Warnings

Transmission Not In Park (P) Audible Warning

Sounds if you open the driver door before shifting into park (P).

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – INFORMATION MESSAGES