Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002-11-05-focus-probe_x.htm
I am not saying this stalling issue is not happening. What I am saying is people like yourself make it look like every Escape/Tribute out here is stalling with no numbers to back it up.
"Seems like these vehicles really have a stalling issue.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002-11-05-focus-probe_x.htm"
Scape2's conclusion from Warren19's complete post:
"What I am saying is people like yourself make it look like every Escape/Tribute out here is stalling with no numbers to back it up."
Scape2 - I'd like to know how you drew the conclusion you did from Warren's post.
Baggs indirectly prompted me to check CR and find their most recent reliability ratings. The Escape and Tribute are both ranked 30% below the current industry average. This is not good, but it is an improvement over the initial rating. So things are getting better (assuming the average hasn't changed much).
As for blowing issues out of proportion, it certainly has happened. In this forum and in others. Just because a vehicle has an abnormally high rate of failures does not mean that every vehicle built is a lemon. Clearly, that is a grand exaggeration.
I was just goofing on the the counter-swing to that trend.
As I have said over and over again until I am blue in the face.. I never have said the Escape/Tributes are totally problem free..
The Escape/Tribute have taken it hard on the chin since day one for the recalls. People keep bringing these up over and over and over again.. yet, if you look back it was for 2001 model years and only for certain lot/build dates.
Yes, I have a problem free Escape, the 14 other people I have spoken to also have problem free Escapes/Tribs. I bought mine through the internet. I asked for a certain color/trim level. When I arrived he had 7 on the lot with the colors/trim level I wanted. I chose one.. are you saying I just got lucky?
also, does anyone have a rear spoiler.? if so, does it do a good job keeping the window clean.? not sure i like the look based on photo in literature(never seen one in person). first snow today(buffalo, ny) and rear window is a mess/difficult to see out.
"Separately, NHTSA said it had also upgraded an investigation into thousands of complaints about engines stalling without warning on Ford's Escape compact sport-utility vehicle and the Tribute SUV sold by Ford's Mazda subsidiary.
The complaints involve vehicles from the 2001 and 2002 model years, NHTSA said."
and this one:
"NHTSA said Ford had received 3,274 complaints about the Focus engine problem and added that the stalling had allegedly caused 16 crashes and three injuries."
Tells you that something is going on. 3,274 people wouldn't be filing complaints about their Focus engines stalling if they were happy with it's reliability. Also, NHTSA isn't going to upgrade an investigation into the Escape/Tribute without at least some evidence. "Thousands" would technically be at least 2 thousand. If there are that many reported incidents of stalling, while it might be statistically small, it's of little comfort to you personnaly if you end up being the minority percentage of problem afflicted owners.
While I understand loyalty to a favorite vehicle, I don't see some healthy skepticisim toward symptoms of possible design/quality defects as out of line. Especially if you follow Detroits history of using statistically influenced financial decisions on reparing/recalling defects versus letting the customer battle it out with the dealer. This likely occurs with the asian automakers also.
Just to be fair, I also see the new 02 CRV as having quality issues I never had with an earlier model. However, none of them I've read on this board referenced any engine stalling, but were more nuisance issues.
Having followed the Escape/Tribute board for quite some time (I thought about purchasing an Escape about a year ago) I don't really see any concerted effort to mar the Escape's reputation. More likely, as in my case, a little disapointment in what seems to be a really neat design, marred by even the small number of reported stalling/other issues.
As my old bandmaster used to tell our band many, many years ago, it doesn't matter if everyone of you march in perfect step and never miss a note, one person out of line is what the crowds in the stands notice. Sticks out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately, that fact is true.
Odie
Part One
Part Two
Steve, Host
For sure you could buy the Escape at that price and its the same vehicle.
I filed the information with NHTSA.
Not happy about the incident but I do love the Escape. It works well and suits my needs perfectly. It handles better than a Taurus and carries my skis much more effectively.
Thanks
You should have no stalling problems with an XLS 5 speed. It only happens in the V6 models which only come with an auto transmission.
Lucky for me I have not had the stall happen to me, but now that the tech told me about the timing, when I'm slowing down or coasting I watch the tach and just touch the gas if it goes really low.
Odie
I have a 2001 Escape that had a stalling problem (among many other things that I won't bore you with) and was told that it was a faulty relay. I don't know if it's the same kind of problem you're experiencing, but it would stall on deceleration at low speeds (10 mph or less). I had the relay replaced about a year ago (I think) and have not had the stalling problem since. My service people never said anything about a timing issue. Although I'm not impressed with the reliability of my Escape, I do think my local techs are top notch.
Odie
I had a 2001 Escape and recently traded it in for a 2003 Limited because of the problems with the 2001. The 2003 has been wonderful - we already have 6200 miles on it and we have not had any problems yet!!! It is my suggestion that you go for the 2003 and lay off the 2002 - too much of a history with them. Good Luck.
tidester, host
I plan to have the ATF changed soon. The manual says to not mix Mercron (petroleum based ATF) with Mercon V (Synthetic ATF I believe). Many posts on Escape Central advise going to full synthetic ATF. So when the power flush the tranny, can they be certain they have gotten all the petro based ATF out beforet they put the synthetic in? Is this really an issue I should be concerned about?
Also, has anyone attempted to change their own fuel filter? Where is it located and how difficult is it to do? Thanks
30% Honda CR-V*
28% Subaru Forester
25% Toyota RAV4
20% Hyundai Santa Fe
18% Nissan Xterra
8% Saturn VUE*
5% Pontiac Aztek*
-2% Jeep Liberty V6*
-5% Chevrolet Tracker
-6% Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitara/XL-7
-32% Ford Escape V6
-32% Mazda Tribute V6
-50% Jeep Wrangler
The percentages are the vehicle's numeric score as compared to the industry standard. A zero % rating would mean that the vehicle is of average reliability for the industry. A positive value is better than average and a negative value is worse than average. IIRC, the last ranking for the Escape was something like -40%, so, either the industry average has dropped (it hasn't), or the Escape has made some progress (not much).
CR bases it's data on surveys sent to their users. When they compile this information, they use the last 3 years information (unless the vehicle is newly redesigned, like the CR-V). The asterisk mark indicates those models which have fewer than 3 years worth of data. There are also models which do not have enough data to be statistically significant on a yearly basis (such as the Aztek, which doesn't sell enough units per year). Since the Escape/Tribute has no "*", we can conclude that they have a statistically significant sample for each of the three years included in their surveys.
As Baggs will point out, we do not have the total number of surveys for each vehicle. Since a larger sample is more reliable than a smaller sample, it makes 100% perfect comparisons impossible. Each vehicle could have a different potential for statistical variation.
The relationship with the industry average is still solid, since that includes all vehicles regardless of class (a plenty big sample).
I guess your finally sick of hearing me say that?
To make a long story short, CR only requires a return of 100 surveys to make a vehicle eligible. That means one vehicle could have received 100 while a competing vehicle may have received 1000 thus making it's margin of error lower.
I'd also like to point out that it was posted on another Escape forum that the CR 2003 Auto Buyers Guide has the Escape tied with the Santa Fe for third in reliability. Varmint's numbers are the most recent numbers posted on CR's web site. No one seems to be able to confirm the paper version's numbers so far. I myself find it a little hard to believe that a vehicle could make such a leap in one year though. Unless CR's numbers are just as unreliable as some of the vehicles they report on.
That I don't know, and no one else seems to have seen the issue. Since it is tied with the Santa Fe for third, I'd say third out of at least four.
Sure like it how Varmit is ready to hammer on the CRV when a pending class action lawsuit against the CRV for burnt valves is flying all over the internet!..
again, does anyone have the rear spoiler and what do you think of it (looks/effectiveness?
In their overall reviews, the Escape finishes about 5th. In their reliability ratings, the Escape finishes second to last. Only the Wrangler scores lower.