Ford Escape

pluto5 · December 2002

Looked into the Escape and from what I found most people were averaging in the teens. With a war in Iraq looming oil prices are likely to skyrocket and SUV's are going to be very unpopular so I purchased a car, particularly since Escape has poor crash ratings. 2-wheel drive is harder to sell in most areas cause people expect these vehicles to have 4 wheel drive, although I would have put winter tires on the 2 wheeler. Car is so much more fun to drive and not tippy.

odie6l · December 2002

I have a 2001 XLT V-6 4WD and it has the 16" tires standard, But I had Goodyear Wrnagler RF-A's put on in place of the Firestone/Continental Tires and they Fit perfectly under the wheel well.
As for Gas Mileage.... I've been using the Tornado Fuel Saver and I've been keeping track of the gas mileage, I've been getting about 22-23 mpg in and around town (Hershey / Lebanon, PA area) and have been getting anywhere from 26-27 mpg highway. I haven't taken my trip to Knoxville with it in yet...so I can't comment on how the LONG highway trip with the tornado will do, but before I had the Tornado I got about 23-24mpg on the trip from Lebanon,Pa to Knoxville,TN (basically all I-81/ I-40)

Hope this helps
Odie (Happy Holidays all)

Ps. - some people call the Tornado Snake oil... Well all I need to say is I oiled the Snake and It slithers better now.

beachbumm · December 2002

Thanks for the info, odie. I'd be thrilled to get even in the low 20s mpg in an SUV. What is the Tornado? Easy to install at home? What about voiding the warranty? Sorry if this is ground already covered here. P.S. to Pluto: I have an Audi A4, gets 30 mpg on the highway. It glides like a barracuda. I will probably keep it, but I am tired of paying through the nose every time a raccoon decides to commit suicide. I've replaced the front and rear bumpers, the transmission oil pan, and the fuel line. I want something high enough to just keep on rolling!

odie6l · December 2002

go here to get info.

Http://www.tornadofuelsaver.com

My local Ford Dealer put in free of charge at a routine oil change.

Odie

bess · December 2002

Averaging 20 to 22 around town and 26 on the highway. 2001 Escape xlt v6 4x2.

Save you money on the tornado and just lighten up on the foot and mpgs will be guaranteed to increase.

scape2 · December 2002

I have a 4x4 V6 Escape and I average a strong 21mpg??? teens??? what???. If you visit a very popular Escape room they have a survey and people are averaging about 20MPG with the V6 4wd. I'm sure with a V6 frontwheel drive you would gain at least another 2-3MPG...
Poor crashtest rating for the Escape?? what are you talking about?? It is 5 stars except for 1 category it recieved 1 star in the offset frontal crashtest..

vermontgirl · December 2002

I am living in Vermont and I have a long driveway. You need 4wd to get up it. I have 5 dogs and the combined weight is 400lbs. I would carry them with me at all times. (well most of the time) I have a 2wd truck at this point and I need an upgrade. What I am asking is if the Escape can handle the additional weight, and the type of driving in Vermont. Is there anyone out there that has one in VT? any suggestions?

scape2 · December 2002

The Escape would easily handle the "extra weight". With its 200HP and 200ft/lbs of torque it would do just fine... 5 dogs??!! now, whether they would all fit in the back with the back seats up?? or down?? seats down.. no problem... up? problems...

beachbumm · December 2002

Thanks for the numbers. That's what I'm looking for, some real world numbers. I realize that driving style can be a factor. The gas tank on the Escape is smallish -- would be great if it were 18 gallons. I just don't want to have to stop every 250 miles if I can help it.

nmcelvan · December 2002

bought an '03 4x4 in october. have 5200 miles already. live in vermont and drive 70 miles r/t to work daily. been averaging 20-22 mpg highway, and 17-18 around town. only annoyance so far is the 16 gal fuel tank and frequent fill-ups. otherwise, love the car. lots of interior room and good power. also would have liked a 5 speed, but it is what it is.

scape2 · December 2002

Many have commented on the need for a 5spd option with the V6. I too believe this would sell.
Beach.. do a search for an Escape club. There are several I visit on the net. I cannot link you because I will bring the wrath down upon me.. In one they have a poll about MPG numbers..
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! Yeah!.. finally the snow has hit the Cascade range in the Northwest. Took the kids up for some tubing.. Had the Escape burried about up to the running boards.. did just fine, no chains too!! This is one great vehicle...

lovethosesuvs · December 2002

No hilly country here but I have a big hairy dog. Would suggest getting the Husky cargo liner for the back. I also rigged the back of the back seats up with a tarp (color: tan, bought at Menard's) that goes under the Husky liner and up the back of the back seats (since they're carpeted--dog hair magnets

). The liner keeps everything so much cleaner. Also got the heavy-duty floor mats from the dealer and they're fantastic.

cegledi · January 2003

Speaking of MPG. I think Ford installed a dummy 'dummy' light. It glows brightly but when I go to fill the tank, I only put in about 13-13.5 gallons each time. Whether this is Fords' way of saying "you're not going to strand my brand name on the side of the highway" or if it's just an early 'early' warning light. If I did have a light foot, I don't, or my wife drove it all the time, I won't let her, then getting 300 miles before filling up would be great; averaging a little more than 20 mpg. My light comes on around 240 or so.
I swear I don't drive that hard but it's hard to resist hearing that Duratec. Got to love it.
I'm putting in 89 octane now for a while to see if it makes a difference. Cleaner fuel = cleaner engine. Let's hope.

scape2 · January 2003

I also run 89 octane in my v6 Escape. It just seems to run smoother and have better acceleration. Don't know how many miles you have on your Escape but it was about 7,000 when I saw the MPG improve for me. The v6 in these vehicles is wonderful and powerful. I enjoy entering freeway on ramps or even passing. It sure gives one heck of a kick when you push the pedal to the floor about 35-50MPH.

jblake2 · January 2003

I think my wife and I have decided on an Escape to replace our dying minivan. I've found a used 2002 with 20k miles on it for $17,995. I know the warranty is close to gone but this will be my wife's car and will be driven locally mostly. Waddya think?

jblake2 · January 2003

Just checked it out at the dealer. It was a rental car. That explains the high mileage for the model year. Don't want to touch it.

ucabears · January 2003

Can anyone give me some advice on removing the back door panels to replace the factory speakers?
I'm not very impressed with the muddy sound of the factory ones. I would like to replace them with some three-ways. Does anyone know what the factory speakers are (dual cone, maybe)?
Getting to the speakers is certainly not as easy as it used to be when they were all in the back dash, huh?
ALSO, when can you expect to see the MPG go up on a new Escape? I have about 1,600 miles on my 4x4 and have not been very impressed by the MPG yet.
Thanks

scape2 · January 2003

I own a 2000 XLT 4x4 with 19,000 miles. My mileage actually didn't start to improve until about 6,000 miles. Also, don't forget these are SUV's. If you have added any accessories this may also affect your MPG. I average a strong 21MPG on average. During a trip of about 500 miles I averaged 24.7 MPG cruising at a average speed of 65MPH.
Sorry, can't help you with the door panel. However there is an Escape club out on the net if you do a search. I cannot link you because I will get in trouble.. They can answer all questions about Escapes....

cbuswell1 · January 2003

Yup, I've had the stalling problems. Had to get the media involved for the dealership to even acknowledge the problem. Also contacted my state representative and as a result they've upgraded the investigation of the Escape to one step below a recall. I had the PCM (computer) replaced along with other things. Thought the problem was fixed, but then about three months later, it started stalling again. Other than that and what I would consider poor workmanship on some other areas, I really like the vehicle. Unfortunately, getting too nervious to drive it now, I'm afraid of running into someone if it stalls as you have very little control of steering or braking. I'm done with Ford!

odie6l · January 2003

I'll say this again (for the umteenth time)...
If your out driving and your car stalls on you just Restart on the Fly. Place your car in Neutral and Restart, then just go right back into drive. All your power will be back as soon as you restart.
If I remember correctly, Basic Driver's Ed. teaches you how to do this as a recovery tactic.

Odie

suvshopper4 · January 2003

Do like odie says.
Just pretend you're driving an old beater.

scape2 · January 2003

Way back in this thread you will find a section where it was determined that an estimated less than 1 percent of Escapes/Tribs sold had this "stalling" issue. Now, don't get me wrong.. if it were me I would be peeved off to all hell too.. There are fixes and TSB's posted around the net that have fixed this issue. The Escape/Trib have an uphill battle to fight since upon introduction the media had a hayday with the recalls. Anyone who has read the recall notices will see they are for only a certian build date and lots.. NOT EVERY Escape/Trib made. I predict the reliability will go up overtime in these vehicles. I have spoke with 22 owners now of Tribs/Escapes of various trims and model years. None have had any problems so severe it would cause them to sell or never buy another Ford/Mazda product.

aztjboy · January 2003

Back in July, I bought (what I thought was) my dream vehicle: a Jeep Wrangler. I've always wanted one, so I got a 2002 Wrangler X with a hard top, and put a lift kit and 31" wheels on it.

Yeah....

Five months of 13 to 14 miles to the gallon, having NO cargo room, and a physical workout from being bounced around, I had enough.

So, I did my research and determined that a Ford Escape was just what the doctor ordered. Last Saturday, I found a used 2002 XLT for $16,900. I took a bit of a bath on the Jeep, and the Escapes mileage was pretty high (23,000). While I feel like I sold out, especially whenever I see a Wrangler, I'm as happy as a clam driving around in this (comparatively speaking) Taj Mahal!

Eric

tidester · January 2003

Sounds like you're really happy with your choice - good for you! It takes a certain kind of person to be at home in a Wrangler!

tidester, host

ibred · January 2003

Anybody out there driving their Escape on gravel. My 03 Sport leaks dust into the passanger cabin to the point you can't see the road. Dealer says this is "normal".

scape2 · January 2003

Did you have the vents open to the outside? air on? window cracked? I have been down many dusty logging roads/access roads and this is the first of I heard of dust that thick making it into the cabin??

aztjboy.. congrats on your purchase. Just remember the Escape is no Wrangler, it cannot offroad like the Wrangler. However, it will do just fine on any gravel, or loggine/access road. Just be sure to not twist or put too much torque on the frame of the Escape... Enjoy...

ibred · January 2003

Non of that, windows closed, air off or on max, just lots of airbore dust. Dealer says they will clean vehicle wherever I bring it in, not very helpfull if I'm in a ditch, or hit someone due to not being able to see. Thanks for the input.

suvshopper4 · January 2003

Have you tried pushing the "recirculation" button? (What scape meant by "Did you have the vents open to the outside?")

Using the "recirc" button should keep outside air from coming into the cabin.

cbuswell1 · January 2003

To Odie6I:
Well, it's a pain in the ----. I've had the PCM replaced along with other components and it is still a problem. You must be a Ford employee.

odie6l · January 2003

NOT... I'm a hospital employee in a pediatric unit.

Odie

baggs32 · January 2003

I've been accused of the same thing on another board by a Santa Fe owner just because I defended the Escape and what was said about it. I think just about everyone thinks Scape is an employee too. It's pretty funny how bitter people get sometimes.

odie6l · January 2003

you know what I'm waiting for?

With all the companies renaming their vehicles with older names, I'm waiting for Ford to rename the Explorer and the Escape and call the Bronco / Bronco II. I just have this sneaky feeling that this will probally happen. Simply because I heard today that the Taurus is probally going to be renamed the Fairmont and the recently killed Contour will be brought back as the Falcon (see Http://www.ford.com.au ) and you will see both. Because in Australia the Falcon still is alive and kicking as is the Fairlane and Fairmont. Also down under the Falcon's major competitor is the Holden Monaro - which is due here as the New Pontiac GTO. I have noticed alot of the vehicles going back to older names...I just hope that Ford DOES NOT get rid of the Escape name plate.

Thanks for letting me rant. And this is only my view of things to come.

Odie

scape2 · January 2003

I have been called a Ford employee and other things..:-} for defending the Escape. I don't understand why some find it so hard to believe the Escape is a reliable and quality built vehicle?? I have just over 19,000 trouble free miles on my Escape. I have taken it into the mountains to skii, fish, and water craft... I am totally confident my Escape will get me there and back.. There are those that want to beat the recall issue to death, even though its now 3 years old!!...

audia8q · January 2003

scape2...don't sweat it. Ford and Mazda have sold so many of these things if they were as bad as some on here want us to believe there would be a full scale riot in detroit. Of course, for the people who have had legit problems it truly sucks and hopefully they can work out there problems.....but these are good vehicles that have alot of happy owners. Our sales of both lines are still strong.

mckee4 · January 2003

I have owned my '01 Escape XLT for 18 mos. and 28K mikes with few to no
problems. Late this last year I basically did my 30K mile maintenance with a
few exceptions, i.e, brake-check. I took it to the Ford dealership where I bought
it and had them align the front end (needed) and check the brake pads. To my
surprise I received a call from the service advisor who informed me that I not
only needed pads but rotors as well. The rotors were effectively ' unturnable '.
The pads I can handle, but what should have been a $150 brake job quickly
turned into a $450 brake job. To say the least I am disappointed with the Ford
on quality of rotor brake manufacture. I did request that the dealership notify
Ford that this is a problem to to me, if no one else, and that next time I intend
to install aftemarket rotors that can be turned, if the problem crops up again in another 25K-30K miles.
Otherwise no major complaints about the vehicle other than a couple of minor
warranty issues; subwoofer blown, etc.

carguydc · January 2003

Just saw a new Ford Escape commercial - with a couple of dogs and a tennis ball - on American Idol last night. Pretty good ad.

tugboat1 · January 2003

I would appreciate any feedback from recent buyers regarding price. I have an X plan discount number; however, if this car is already heavily discounted, I'm not sure the value of the plan.

scape2 · January 2003

I know its too late.. but you should have had a private shop do this work.. Dealerships mark-up quite a bit. At a private shop you could have requested a more "heavy duty" rotor along with raybestos pads. The raybestos pads don't "shed" as much.. causing the dreaded black dust. Thanks for the heads up though! I think I'll take mine back in for a break check. I have 20,000 on my Escape.

Rattling sound solved!! It was bad gas.. I had filled up 2x at an Exxon and I'll never go back.. I took the Escape to the dealership and they pinned it down within an hour. I had about 1/4 tank full and they filled it and put in an "additive" to help clean my fuel system and walla! no more rattle.. I was shocked myself....

saturnfreak01 · January 2003

I just saw an ad for a 2003 Escape XLS 2WD at a local dealer for $ 16,495.00. I know that the Escape has a $1000-1500 dollar rebate but does this price seem to good to be true?

If this is an ongoing sale/special at this particular dealer I will pick one up at tax refund time hopefully...

odie6l · January 2003

Over here in Central PA we got many (and I mean MANY) different type of gas stations.
Just to list them;
1. HESS
2. TEXACO
3. SHEETZ
4. WAWA
5. EXXON
6. SUNOCO
7. CITGO
8. TURKEY HILL
9. and a few Mom + Pop stations here and there.

So we got a good variety of stations.. it's all about preference in this area.

scape2 · January 2003

not go to the smaller gas stations. I try to stay with name brands. I was very surpised that Exxon gas would make my Escape rattle like that. Glad that is over..
Saturn freak.. make sure its not a 2WD 4cyl model. That sounds about right however... Escape XLT's in my area go from 18K - 19K, loaded 4x4 V6 Escape premiums are regularly advertised by large dealeships for 23K, and its not just one, it can be up to 6! to choose from...

imidazol97 · January 2003

About the gas that you purchased from a name brand (a good one). I picked up
gas on a trip and car acted strangely getting back on ramp and on hill to interstate.
Very sluggish next day. I put in more gas. Problem gone. I thought I had a car problem.

I called the name brand company. They refunded the cost of that fillup which was on
their credit card through a big bank. They were interested in the station and all.
The gasoline company probably would like to know so if there's a pattern at a station
they can fix it. In the past I had heard rumors of nonbranded gas being delivered to
tanks at brand stations so the franchisee makes more money. Just a thought.

scape2 · January 2003

Good point on the gas station.... I won't be going back to that Exxon station ever again...
My Escape runs great, drives great, performs flawlessly.

I just ticked over 20,000 trouble free miles. I sure am seeing alot of Tribs around lately. Also noticed Ford stopped putting the running boards on the Escapes.. I guess its another way to cut costs maybe? Sure do like the looks of the new Premium model Escapes. I saw a Dark silver one yesterday and it really caught my eye. The person had put some nice wheels/tires on it, along with a rack ontop, rock guard and windows were all tinted. Sharp.... Even with all the initial negative press the Trib and Escape seem to sell pretty well... I truely believe reliabilty will bounce back here in the next year or so. I have personally spoke with 27 owners of Tribs/escapes of all kinds of models/years and none have had any problems so severe it would make them never buy a Mazda/Ford product again...

odie6l · January 2003

the step bars that are on the escapes, alot of people either ordered without (myself included) or just took them off. When you get alot of grime and nastiness on them..it will then rub off onto the back of your pant leg as you get in or out of the escape. Plus then you got people like my wife who, even though she is only 5'7" don't use then and didn't like stepping out over them.
So in retrospec..slot of people just didn't like the side bars so ford made them only an Option.

Odie

bri66 · January 2003

I too just paid $450 for a front brake job today. I was told by my mechanic that there is no replacement aftermarket rotors yet for the 2001 Escape. He explained to me where the auto makers have cut back on the amount of steel in vehicles for weights and gas mileage, that rotors are now a disposable, unreuseable item. I guess we live in a disposable world, rotor replacements with each brake pad set.

scape2 · February 2003

I bought my Escape in late 2001 and my XLT came with them. I admit they are pretty much useless but they sure look good :-))

mckee4 · February 2003

Funny, the service rep. effectively told me the same thing about the rotors being 'disposable',
so there must be something to it I suppose. I
was kind of dubious at first. He even went on
to say that other car manufacturers ( some highline brands too ) are doing the same thing.

Hopefully next time I need brake job aftermarket
rotors will be available. Concerning the brake pads; the newly installed Ford pads are not shedding as much brake dust as the factory pads did. After several days on the old pads with
clean wheels, the wheels would be dark gray or black with brake dust. Now with clean wheels,
the brake dust build-up is not that bad at all.
The wheels are reasonably clean after 2 weeks.
Ford must've changed their brake pad composition.

29.5K miles, subwoofer replaced on the MACH 5
stereo system and everything else is running
just fine. I did change to a straight synthetic
oil ( Mobil 1 10W-30 ) from the semi-synthetic
Motorcraft 5W-20 blend. The higher weight is
recommended for the Houston area, and will not
void any Ford warranties.

suvshopper4 · February 2003

How many miles before you needed that front brake job? And how heavy of a brake foot do you have?
Thanks.

bri66 · February 2003

I drove the car for the first year and put 36,000 miles, mostly all highway ( 200 mile work commute). My wife's been driving it the past six months and she tends to have a much heavier foot on both gas and brakes than I do. I believe the brakes had around 40,000 miles on them when we had them replaced. I would like to add my 2 cents about the side step bars. I had them on my 2000 Explorer and found them to be a great parking lot door protector. When I ordered my 2001 Escape I had them added not to use as a step, but again as a door protector from parking lot dingers. They work perfect much better than the side fender moldings you can purchase. Thinking of adding them to my 1966 Mustang. HA! HA!

stever · March 2003

"Ford Motor Co. said it will sell a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Ford Escape small sport/utility vehicle at a loss while it tries to cut the costs of the hybrid system in half."

Ford to sell hybrid SUV at a loss (cnnmoney)

Steve, Host

Ford Escape

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