[tdot]

Hi,

i'm new here and new to Ford products. My wife and I are looking to buy a Ford Escape 2010.

I'm hearing good things about Ford's quality and I have test driven the Escape already. Pretty good vehicle,

the only thing I noticed during the test drive is that the 4 cyl is a but noisy. Aside from that it was a good experience.

I'd like to get some feedback from owners that have had their cars for 3 years or more.

- What are the major issues you've had with the Escape? What should I watch out for?
- Do you recommend the extended warranty?
- Rust Protection? I'm in a cold climate, tough winters. Lots of road salt Probably a good idea. One the salesman talked about is an electronic device that shoots current through the car. Not sure how it works.

Thanks.

 

[kkreit01]

Say "No" to all the dealer extras. It's purely $ in their pocket. You already have a 5/60 powertrain warranty. How long do you normally keep your vehicles?

During winter, drive through underbelly touchless washes. Keep a good paint sealant on (Duragloss 105, Collinite 845, etc.), and you'll be fine.

I don't know of any major issues. I had an '07 which was never back at the dealer service dept., and neither has my current '08.

With some $, and a lot of time, you can make it more quiet if you like.

 

[tdot]

Thanks for the info. I am planning to keep the car approx 6 or 7 years. I do approx 15-20K per year.

Do tell how I can reduce the noise.

Also where can i get the paint seal applied? Ford? or a 3rd party?

thanks.

 

[kkreit01]

Read this thread for making it quieter:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4547&start=50

It takes a lot of time and $. It requires stripping the interior -- which most will be scared to do on a new vehicle.

For a paint sealant, you can buy over-the-counter, and apply yourself (just like wax). If you have Carquest, they carry Duragloss products. You may also be able to find Collinite Insulator Wax locally. If not, Megs NXT 2.0 or Mother's Synwax will also be OK. Apply every 4 months or so. Use a clay bar once/yr. Use Duragloss AquaWax monthly (while drying during a wash). Your paint will look good for years.

 

[schufitz]

Not sure the rust protection is needed. I live in the Chicago area where salt is used liberally during the winter. I traded in a '94 Ranger that I bought new and it had no sheetmetal rust issues after 14 winters. Some issues on the underside of the tailgate, but fenders & bedside were still solid. I do park in an unheated garage which may help and usually had a good coat of wax on it, more so when it was newer, but they don't rust out like the did back in 70's & 80's.

 

[krider450]

If you are concerned about protecting your paint you should ask a dealership 2 products. One is called TST its a waxed that is buffed on to your car and u never have to wax it again. The second product is what I have on my 2005 Mariner its made by Simoniz and its called Glass Coat. This product does the same as the TST but instead of buffing it on with Glass Coat you just wipe it on and you wipe it off. Now both products also offer interior protection to and they both come at a price, but they also protect the resale value of your car.

 

[Davis137]

Welcome to the world of Ford, and welcome to the forum! :welcome:

As far as reliability goes, the E/M/T's have had a pretty good track record, both with the older models, and the newer ones. I guess there's a reason why the Escape is the best selling small SUV on the market, and has been many times already in previous years.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do!

 

[Katscan]

I know Car and Driver did an article on the Escape, gave it a very good rating. One of the reasons I went with this little beauty.

 

[C17chief]

Of the Fords I have had over the recent years (2000 ranger, 02 mustang GT, 03 F150 which I still have, and the 09 Escape), the Escape is by far the one with the most issue, go figure. The ranger had the steering rack replaced within a couple thousand miles due to leak, but no other issues at all with it up to when I sold it @ 3yrs and 39k for the F150, not even any significant squeaks and rattles. The mustang, never a single problem with it for 7yrs and 68k although the interior was pretty cheap with rattles and squeaks everywhere. The F150, only issue to date was the spring that pops out the cupholders in the dash broke off but I fixed that myself, truck is 7yrs old but only 30k, no squeaks or rattles to speak of. The escape....CEL within a few hundred miles for cracked Y pipe, couple water leaks (driver door and rear hatch), excessive wind noise from front side doors (poorly installed windows seals, slowly fixing those on my own), and last but certainly not least, never ending transmission issues that still arent fixed. The escape is a bit over 1.5yrs old now but only 11k mi on it so far.

The localized wind noise from the door seals is pretty annoying but I am managing to quell them, but the ongoing battle with the crappy transmission is going to end up a deal breaker to me. I already made up my mind the escape isnt gunna be around long. I'm trying to hold off untill the new Focus comes out, but I'm itching to get something else much sooner then later. Anyhow, I like Fords, and the escape will in no way deter me from another Ford since I have had several good ones (in fact had an 88 bronco2 I ran up to 301k with no major issue, and the 80's werent known for quality cars). It's just a little ironic that the newest one I get in the midst of all this Ford improving quality PR is the most problematic one I have had in a long time.

 

[Katscan]

Sounds like you got hit with a lemon, sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with your Escape.

 

[SUVord]

It is rather unfortunate that not all cars leaving the production line get equal inspection.
That was one of the major issues involved with the extinction of the British automotive industry.
Good engineering design but mediocre product.
The Escape in Europe has taken quite a lot of beating from the auto press because of a lot of issues like the ones mentioned above, plus the warping brake rotors and the alternator on the V6s which is roasting at where it is located.

 

[gbrown69]

Like ALL models from ALL brands, you will always find peoples that having bad times with their car. For the escape, the fact that it is very few peoples with big problem for the lot they sell (+/- 35000 units a year) is the average that make this car well rated. If you fell on a bd one, you are very unlucky. Mine is 1 year and 10K and not an issue with it so far. Even the 6 speeds trans is going very well and find it the best auto trans i've seen to date. Remember my chevy astro in the 80's with overdrive always broken... what a piece of crap! no to mention the Plymouth Acclaim trans having about the same problems... That is also my 1st ford new product (had an 01 windstar bought in 06) and i'm very satisfied with it so far!

 

[johnnymossville]

I agree that the 4cyl is a bit noisy. The V6 feels smoother and quieter, but then you won't get 33+mpg on a trip like I do currently.

I have no doubt whatsoever that it will last though. 45,000 miles so far and not even a hiccup so far from the vehicle. It's been good to me.

 

[jonas1022]

So far, so good!

Nothing to report on issues with the Mazda Tribute. :shades:

 

[US MARINER 1]

WELCOME! Did you get your truck?

 

[kmoose]

- What are the major issues you've had with the Escape? What should I watch out for?
- Do you recommend the extended warranty?
- Rust Protection? I'm in a cold climate, tough winters. Lots of road salt Probably a good idea. One the salesman talked about is an electronic device that shoots current through the car. Not sure how it works.

Thanks.

- I've had no issues other than the idiots in my selling dealer service department. I was a Honda man, and have also owned 2 Mercedes Benzes including my wife's current B200, and I like this Escape. Nice and basic, holds a ton of stuff, and I LOVE the fact that it has drum brakes on the rear. Unless you are doing the Nuremburgring on a regular basis I see no reason for rear discs, especially on a mini-ute, other than big parts profits from the manufacturer. I'm sure someone will quote a random test proving the Escape to have a long stopping distance, but it is leagues ahead of any Honda I've driven in the past 10 years....

- Never buy an extended warranty - except on a high end European car which are great fun and incredible to drive, but not too reliable and really expensive to fix. Take half the money you would have spent on the warranty and buy a T-Bill or GIC for the length of your warranty. Then you have cash available after the warranty expires if something goes wrong. 99% of the time you'll be money ahead.

- Rust protection from a dealer is usually applied by a high school coop student with no real training. It also is mostly snake oil - expensive snake oil. Try Krown or Rust Check - it isn't cheap and requires annual application for the warranty to be valid, but it works. Plus, once you pay Rust Check the first time, you will have the access holes so you can buy a $10 can and do it yourself in subsequent years. But, that being said, anyone I know with a 10 year old or more Ford has no rust on it (Toronto area). PLUS, in the winter, never, ever park a salty car in a garage. It is tempting to avoid scraping it off in the morning, but it will sweat in there. Warm Steel+moisture+Salt = Future Bondo candidate. Leave it outside in the cold.

 

[SUVord]

Kmoose knows moose, so +1000!

 

[stone]

156,000 KMS clocked up, on my 06 2.3 L escape.
No major problems experienced.

 

[TomyD]

Ey Tdot,
I got mine this past May and I'm still loving it. I got the 6 Cyl. THe engine does roar during accelaration but once the desired speed is achieved, the escape is more quiet that the little car i had before.

As for the winter/salt stuff, I'm in Halifax, I got the underneath coated and I also purchased a few spray cans of that stuff from Princess Auto which I used after installing some mods.

Don't get that electronic anti rust (Canadian tire link). I heard that inorder to get max coverange, you'd need at least 4 devices installed at each quadrant of the car. Not that it doesn't work, it's just that it works on a small area. As you move farther from the device, the field of protection loses sthrenght.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4 ... ?locale=en

I too, recommend a frensh water rince once in a while.