Ford Escape

[qwikz28]

Is anyone familiar with the previous generation Ford Escape? I have a friend thinking of purchasing one. Is there any known issues? Any particular model or engine to sway away from? Thanks.

It will likely be a low mileage example 2-3 years old. She doesn't like the new model, so that is out of the question. She needs 4wd also.

http://autoplanex.com/data_images/models/ford-escape/ford-escape-03.jpg

[1320B4U]

My wife had an '08 mariner and my sister-in-law an '09 escape. Both had the 2.3l. Mariner is the mercury version of the escape..same car. Not 1 issue at all w/my wife's. Best car we've owned...again not 1 single issue whatsoever for 60k. Never even had to cut the rotors...just regular oil changes Was a lease so we returned it. Even though I'm a gm guy, my wifes '11 equinox has had more issues than that ford product.

[qwikz28]

My wife had an '08 mariner and my sister-in-law an '09 escape. Both had the 2.3l. Mariner is the mercury version of the escape..same car. Not 1 issue at all w/my wife's. Best car we've owned...again not 1 single issue whatsoever for 60k. Never even had to cut the rotors...just regular oil changes Was a lease so we returned it. Even though I'm a gm guy, my wifes '11 equinox has had more issues than that ford product.

Thanks, that's what I want to hear. I vaguely recall the 3.0 v6 having transmission issues, so I intend on suggesting they stick with the 4 cylinder (which I believe is the 2.5 with these newer models). How was your fuel economy?

[greenformula92]

These are pretty good. I remember some time ago the v6 had some issues but that has since been remedied. Idk if she will get better mileage with the 4 banger or not in something like an escape. As far as the equinox goes I saw somebody pushing a newer one down the street recently on my way to work so clearly they still have issues

[69BirdX]

I heard you got to drop the sub frame to do an alternator. Don't quote me on it

[Firebird67dude]

My office coworker is on his second one that body style. He loves it no known issues with both of his. His first he gave to his daughter when she had kids. His current one sat for a few years when he kept driving his old cutlass ciera so truely the only issue he had was since it sat the ac system went and he was out of warrenty already. So with that the only issue i know is drive it dont let it sit. Which would be for any car.

[1320B4U]

Gas mileage for the wifes' was around 23-24 mixture of around town...around 27 on the highway if I remember correctly. Didn't think the 3.0l was necessary in a car that small...granted we weren't going to tow w/something like that anyhow.

[qwikz28]

Thanks for the tips guys. I advised accordingly. I appreciate the responses.

[BigAls87Z28]

The ex and her sisters all have them. One had issues with hers, but she also treated her car like a bag of ****. My ex's car was kept in decent condition. Researching, there seemed to be hub bearing issues, but I don't know if that was fixed with later models. The three of them all had '05s.
My mother has an 05 that is going to my little brother. It has some serious wheel bearing issues, but pretty reliable overall. Solid cars for sure.

[1320B4U]

I always serviced mine myself and checked for wheel bearing issues every 15k or tire rotation..never problems that I recorded...tires wore evenly thru 60k. Maybe issue w/old year of that design?

[sweetbmxrider]

Definitely the older body style issue. I haven't worked on the new ones much.