[Davis137]

Well, let's see, where to begin?

About 2 weeks ago, my wife was driving across town doing some errands, and she got sideswiped by a University student in a Focus, and that partially damaged the right fender, a small spot on the hood, and the RHS of the front bumper cover...all in all, after several estimates, $1200-ish to fix. Luckily for us, the kid and his parents asked us to not involve our insurance companies, and they paid us $1200 to put towards the repairs.

Also, I've got something seriously wrong with my driveline (maybe more than one thing), which I've mentioned in the common problems threads...transmission had started coasting from 1st to 2nd gear, almost like it was hunting, and then engages 2nd gear violently. I took the truck to the dealership to get a transmission flush done, and it's actually getting worse. I'm also getting a strange gnawing sound coming from something else (maybe the transffer case or rear diff?) that I've noticed outside of my AT tire noise when the tires are cold.

I might have a borked wheel bearing, my alignment seems slightly off, and I think one of my wheels might be unbalanced too.

Oh yeah, and my front brakes are on their way out too, as they shudder like crazy when slowing down from highway speeds.

I'm starting to have my doubts about the durability of this truck for the longterm, and wonder if I should have bought something full-sized with heavier duty components...

What do all of you think?

 

[jonas1022]

I dunno, that fender bender would have been double the $1200 if it were a Yukon or Expedition. Those parts are not inexpensive like the Escape.

Mechanical, there is no saying that the bigger machines wouldn't need just as much. And I already alluded to the expense that the larger machines can be.

What you save in gas and insurance costs will just about cover the cost of you lifetime of repairs on the Escape. Can you say that about the Yukon, Taco, or Expedition? I doubt it. Most of them get 8-12 miles per gallon less than what you are getting on you Escape. That's more money even yet.

Big SUV? Just say no.

 

[Ajax]

Just go at it one thing at a time. Get pads and discs, change them yourself if you're mechanically inclined (not that hard). Then take it to a tire shop, get rotation and balance.

I've had no issues so far with my 05 (cross my fingers) and I'm a little suprised at the number of issues you're having, having owned 2 Fords for the last 7 years and having no non-standard repairs in that time.

Good luck!

 

[Squishy]

As combined damage to both vehicles exceeds $1000, you must report this collision to the nearest collision reporting centre. This is required by law, regardless of whether you wish to settle outside of insurance. You are also required to report the collision itself to your insurance company, but you do not need to make a claim through them.

 

[JIMMYJOHN]

My 97 windstar has 148,568 miles on it with very minor repairs. My 03 Escape has had No servicing at all with 47,563 miles on it. So I sure won't gripe about Ford