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As for me, I,m already "in it". I ordered my 4WD/XLT on Jan.14, got my "VIN" 2 weeks ago, and a call from my salesman yesterday saying that he has no idea when the "build date" of my vehicle is. Predicting a big storm in NY on Monday. Wish I had a 4WD!! LOL
The problems is that after she came home from work last night, we drove the Escape to a restaurant after it had been parked for about 15 minutes. We got that fuel smell for about 5 minutes and then it dissapated. I had specifically asked the dealer about the fuel smell problem before I bought it. He said that problem had been corrected. It has not! I will call the dealer as soon as they open this morning.
I will let you know what they say!
I do want to thank all of the contributors to Edmunds. You guys are great and very helpful to those of us who mostly lurk on these boards!!
When I dropped the Trib off, I gave them the official TSB that Ford released regarding the Escape (can be found in the photo gallery of the Yahoo Escape Club). When I picked the Trib back up, they said that they had called Mazda's Headquarters and had received word of an official TSB. To put it shortly, the parts have been ordered and are on their way and the Trib will be fixed...
Is this the most common time to notice the fuel smell? What other times do you notice this fuel smell?. Thanks.
Good luck in your decision.
So here's a positive comment: We've had our Tribute ES for a month now, and have had no problems whatsoever. I think the fit and finish is exemplary, the performance and handling is outstanding, and the car is a great deal for the price. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
BUT - this is a first year model and there appears to be some quality issues. Although most of them are pretty specific (e.g. fuel smell) and minor, if you want to pay some extra $$'s and go for a more established line or a more reliable name, then maybe you should go that way instead. For me, I made the decision that dollar for dollar the Trib was the best on the market.
BTW - the recalls to date, except for the wiper one, affected less than 2 or 3% of the cars sold at the time of the recall. They were not full recalls like you hear on the news. I wouldn't judge the entire line by those.
Anyhow - good luck on your decision.
If I remember the rules correctly, any recall issues on a new vehicle must be handled before that vehicle can be sold at retail - in other words, the dealer can't turn it loose until he can certify that anything subject to an existing recall has been fixed in accordance with the requirements of the recall.
I simply gave teh dealer the Ford TSB when I dropped the Trib off for a service app. and asked them to search for the fuel smell problem. They said they would call the corp. headquarters (which I'm assuming that they did) and would give me word if they found anything when I came to pick the truck up. Low and behold they said they found a TSB (I couldn't get a printed document regarding that though).
I got some part numbers which they ordered on the invoice and asked BOBMAZDA if they were correct, he said that they were internal dealer Part numbers but not to worry since Mazda knows about the problem and would send the new gaskets.
If you want to, bring in the Ford TSB to the dealer and ask them to research the problem (look up on the computer or call the Corporate Headquarters). They should recognize that the Escape and the Tribute have the same engines.
If feel if Mazda Headquarters gets enough complaints they'll be forced to release at least a TSB. Sooner if not later, since it seems like they're lagging on the task right now.
Also, aren't the running lights supposed to work without the taillights on?
It seems like my air flow when I use the heater has some blockade because I don't feel enough comes through on my feet.
The U.S. Tributes/Escapes do not have Daytime Running Lights.
No complaints from me on the heater. There isn't the sensation of the fan blowing directly on my feet, but there is definitely heat being delivered at the floor.
To be honest, most everyone I've heard who got the fix said that their Tribs/Escapes were in the dealer for at least one day (with a rental via the warranty), you're case seems extreme, but, I honestly would be relieved if my Trib was in the shop for those 24 hours. If it weren't in for at least one day it probably isn't the right fix but just the old gaskets that produce the fuel smell after several hundred miles of driving. I'm expecting that my Trib will be in overnight, if it isn't I'd be very surprised.
Just if you're wondering, the car needs to stay at the dealer overnight in order to let the silicone used for installing the new flourocarbon gaskets to dry. If it's driven any less than one day after the repair the new gaskets may break and even leak fuel...
Jeff
Until I hear of a permanent way to fix the problem I'll be taping some electrical tape to bridge the gap. Believe me, it works wonders, the noise is no longer that noticeable. Plus the black of the electrical tape blends in quite well with the mirrors, the only thing is if you fold the mirrors in, you'll have to re-tape them.
I'm looking to see if anyone will be designing a bridge for the gap...maybe made out of ABS plastic?
I heard some people are trying to retrofit some different side views onto their Escapes/Tributes in order to see if that works. That would be an extreme though if you're looking to get rid of the noise.
Mazda and Ford themselves most likely will be addressing a lot (if not all) of the "minor" complaints/annoyances about the cars for the 2002 model. Hopefully the mirrors will make it onto that list, so it maybe good to wait another 6 months to get one or even order a 2002 (especially with the demand and lack of supply for certain parts/packages as well as the demand these cars have themselves).
Jeff
Thanks for easing my mind a little. I dont mind them keeping my car for 4 days if they know what they are doing, it requires some time to allow the silicone to dry, and it solves the problem. It does concern me that the service advisor had never heard of the problem until I brought him the TSB, doesnt know how to fix it or how long it takes to fix it, and jokes about my wife having to drive around in a Focus. I will let you know how it goes from here when I pick the car up.
Is there anyplace I can get a list of the recalls?
I've checked the Mazda site, but could find nothing.
So far the minor annoyances I have found in the first 3K miles are:
1. noise from the seat belt mechanism (right next to your ear, very annoying)
2. rear wiper doesn't always touch the glass. Especially in colder weather.
3. Gas gauge, works strange. Go about 50 miles after a fill up and I'm already on 1/2 tank.
4. Mileage doesn't come close to the estimates at about 17 for mostly highway driving.
Don
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls
Most of the Tribute recalls occurred fairly early in the start-up of production and didn't affect all that many vehicles. The most recent one on the wiper linkage affected vehicles produced thru November. If your Tribute was produced after that date, it shouldn't be affected by any of these.
the rep told me that she will 'list this down' as a list of complaints, but can't become a recall unless A LOT of people complain about the same issue.
well anybody is bothered by the position of the gear shift or wind noise, give mazda a call. give your vin #. 1800 2225500 option 4.
i looked at a Mazda MPV and noticed that the gear shift is located at the same position as in the tribute, but has a steeper 'bend' angle, much like one in the japanese version tribute.
When you have a team and a management team that inssits JOB1 is important - (FOrds new mission motto), and you go from design to production in 18 months - there are BOUND to be issues and lots of them. My Escape has been a nightmare the day I got. Its cheap, loud, low quality and since it is yellow - I now just lovingly call it the Yellow Bomb.
I will definetly will email Ford to add that gear selector is in the way and I banged it down into 2nd again today when I went to turn the radio on.
However, I have a few complaints.
I have been getting really poor gas mileage, averaging around 17 mpg. I realize that it is winter and that I may not see the best mileage driving in the snow, but I regularly make a 150 mile trip every other weekend, and most of it is highway and interstate, so I expected better. One of the reasons I choose the Tribute over and Explorer was for the gas mileage. I guess I had been spoiled by the 36 mpg I got with my 1993 MX-6.
I too have noticed the gas gauge problem where you fill up and all of a sudden after 30 some miles, it reads 3/4 of a tank. I do think it drops slower after that.
Although I had not experienced any gas odor or windshield wiper problems, I took the Tribute in to the dealer (which the nearest is 45 miles away) per the recall notice I received. That was at about 3500 miles. 3000 miles later the wiper quit working in the rain at night. They quit straight up. Needless to say, I couldn't see a thing all the way home... fortunately, I was on familiar roads and only was 4 miles from home.
When I got home I was furious. I was just sure that the wipers quit because of the wiper linkage problem described in the recall. Since it was Saturday night, I had to wait until Monday morning to call the dealer. I hoped it wouldn't rain or snow in between.
I called the dealer and they of course wanted me to "drop by" so they could look at it. I told them I had already been in for the recall (I had to use a vacation day to make that visit) and I wasn't really interested in taking another day off to just drop by so that they could look at it and then order the part and then I would have to drive back there for a 3rd trip. The service guy asked me if I had tried to run the wipers when they were frozen and I told him that this happened in the rain and that I am always very careful to loosen the wipers when it is freezing outside.
I asked the service guy what they do when you bring your vehicle in per a recall notice and he told me all they do is an inspection. Well, hats just great.... could have told them the wipers were working when I brought it in the first time. I think if a part is prone to failure, that it should be replaced no matter what. I even called another Mazda dealer to find out what they do for a recall and all they do is an inspection.
After MUCH pressing on my part, I managed to schedule an appointment and have the service department order the part to fix the recall problem, just in case that was the problem, to save me another trip.
Not surprising to me, it turned out that the wiper linkage was the problem and they fixed it with the part that had been ordered. Then they made a note on my copy of the service order that the "customer needs to make sure that the wipers are not turned on when they are frozen". This did not sit well with me, especially since the recall was made. I told the service guy again that this had not caused the problem.
My whole purpose for this long story is to encourage any of you that received the recall notice on the wiper to take your vehicle in and demand that you get the part replaced. You never know under what circumstances you will be driving in when your wipers quit.
Don
Try this link Blue Oval News: Vehicle Info. They should have all the recent recalls.
Take note though, that the last official recall on the Tribs/Escape was made in Nov. for those that were made prior to November. Since then there have been none which is quite a relief.
I'm tempted to buy one--really like the look and feel--but, not if I have to spend more time in the shop than on the freeway.
The good news is that at least it isn't a problem with how it was constructed and it wasn't a result of a recall! First time I can say that in this forum!
Anyway, for those of you who are dealing with the fuel smell from your Tributes, be relieved that Mazda has now posted an official TSB regarding the smell and the fix.
I guess I can't post the official information here for some reason but you can check it out at the Yahoo Tribute Club. A member over there says he has the official press release and will be posting it soon.
Mine was made in December and I haven't had any major concerns but some annoyances that have been fixed (fuel gauge and electric seat adjustment switch). I do have the fuel smell however and am getting it fixed this friday. However in 3000 miles I haven't had any major problems.
Also as far as the gear shifter goes, I think that this may be more of a preference issue than a design issue. My wife and I both agree it was a bit different feeling at first but we both have grown to really like it. I think that it is perfectly placed to not be in the way of the radio and we will even rest our hand on it for comfort/stability when messing with the radio. Someone typed that they inadvertantly shifted into 2nd while reaching for the radio and I am unclear as to how you would do this reaching for the radio since the lever has to be pulled back to lower from drive to 2nd due to the lever lock. To do this you must be listening to country music as this would be the only reason I would move that aggressively to the radio to change it.
Also for me the lever falls exactly into a dash dark space at night right between the illuminated hazard/rear defrost switches and the radio pre-set switches. Upper body height may play a part with this but my wife is about 5-6 and I am about 5-10 with typical proportioned upper body length. I assume a number of people dislike it and I can understand why. But for it to be looked at as a design blunder I disagree and say that it is just a preference.
By the way we also have a 1996 Grand Am and Full size truck and we LOVE OUR ESCAPE. Not a full fledged family truckster but one helluva fun puddle jumper that can do the family thing too. ENJOY!!!
Mazda in trying to target the Japanese audience placed the gear shifter on the steering wheel. This was done in order for Mazda Tributes in Japan (who have no center console) to allow front passengers to pass to the back seat (like a minivan). Unfortunately for those of us here in the states and in europe, where those designs aren't too popular, we got stuck with the column shifter.
I do wish that the shifter was placed in the center console, but it's no biggie to me. My complaint about the shifter however is that sometimes when putting the selector into gear, it doesn't lock in with the gear active, so sometimes when I do reach around the area, the gear inadvertenly locks/jumps into place.
However, I do find that some complaints are invalid. Anyone knows that in buying a car, you're supposed to thoroughly research the car beforehand, finding out about it's faults. Simply put, it's a large/important purchase that could affect the way you live for several years to come. That said, why are people adamantly complaining about how their escapes/tributes suck when it's obvious that they didn't do too much (if any) research about the car's qualities in the first place? Not necessarily concerning recalls but the small annoyances such as the gear shifter, wind noise... I'm sure those little complaints wouldn't have come forth, since in researching the car, those people would have been aware of the car's faults (being that those faults are pretty big to them) and would have skipped on buying a $25,000 "piece of junk".
Once back into the car, the key will not work in the ignition. The tumbler will not turn in the ignition. The Ford service Dept (240 miles from home) says it was the wrong key # for escape. Ours was #1 and they say it should be a #3. My Ford service center is clueless as to what the
# on the keys means. I have this sinking feeling again about Ford products. Any feedback on this odd issue?
Bob
This system is the most ridiculous design yet by Ford. The car works fine, but the name should be changed to "trapped" rather than escape. Imagine being in an "unsafe" neighborhood, you fumble for your keys and oops, put the wrong one in the ignition. Now you get to wait there inside your car for help to arrive and tow you away...
What a stupid design.
Bob