Ford Escape 2001 - 2007 review

2006 Ford Escape 2006 Ford Escape interior, click for larger view 2006 Ford Escape Ford Escape, a mid-size car-based SUV was developed in association with Mazda; Mazda Tribute is built on the same platform and was assembled at the same plant. Ford Escape was the America's best-selling small SUV for a few years. Unibody construction, Front- or Four-wheel drive. Transversely mounted 4-cylinder or V6 engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, MacPherson struts in the front, multi-link independent suspension in the back. ABS is optional (standard from 2006). Disk brakes in the front, drums in the back (all four disk brakes available on late V6 4WD models). Hybrid version is available from 2005. The interior is comfortable and roomy, but conservatively-styled and some materials look rather cheap. The split rear seat can be easily folded flat (with headrests removed) for extra cargo room. Ride and handling are good for an SUV, great maneuverability, good visibility. Some engine and wind noise are noticeable, especially at highway speed. Optional four-wheel drive system provides good traction on a slippery road, although it's not designed for heavy off-roading. In NHTSA frontal crash test, 2001-2004 Ford Escape received five stars for the driver and four stars for the front passenger. 2004-2007 Ford Escape received four stars for both the driver and the front passenger.

The engine

The 3.0-liter V-6 Duratec 30 engine

Escape is available with two engine choices: 4-cylinder 2.0-liter 16-valves DOHC 127 hp engine (replaced with 4-cyl. 2.3L 153 hp engine starting from 2005) and the 3.0-liter 200 h.p 200 lb.-ft. DOHC 24-valve V6 Duratec engine. Either engine is fairly reliable if maintained properly and doesn't have major problems.

Strengths

- Comfortable and spacious interior
- Good handling, maneuverability
- Great visibility
- Powerful V6
- Perfect size; not too big not too small
- Rear seat folds flat
- Relatively low price

Weaknesses

- Not the best quality and reliability
- Ignition switch location
- Excessive road and wind noise at highway speed

Overall

Ford Escape combines benefits of a car-based SUV with roomy interior and optional V6 of larger truck-based SUVs. It's not as cramped as Toyota RAV4, it offers optional V6 that you won't find in Honda CRV, it's not as expensive as Toyota Highlander and not as thirsty and bulky as larger truck-based SUVs. However, don't expect the Escape to be completely trouble-free; although general quality of Ford products got better in recent years, there is still some room for improvement.
I'd recommend to consider an extended warranty to protect yourself from unexpected repair costs, especially for the powertrain; problems with the transmission are not unheard of.

What to look for when buying a used Escape

Escape is a popular car with fleets and rental companies, definitely check the used car history records - follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- Look for leaks
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a Ford dealer before buying a car.
- An automatic transmission needs particular attention.
- Make sure to test hand brake and rear wiper operation.
- Look for tires being noisy due to uneven wear.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice on a lift - many components (e.g ball joints) can not be properly inspected by simple visual inspection.
After buying a car, visit your local Ford dealer to check if all necessary recalls and engine computer software updates have been performed.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition; check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash your truck regularly, wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and protected from harsh environment.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid regularly.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine; it may cause serious problems.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, before they cause something serious.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- If your car stalls unexpectedly, visit your dealer, there is an engine computer software update available to address this problem.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in the garage on the lift (e.g when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips from Samarins.com

Ford Escape short specs. (2003 model)

Links

If you are looking for Service Manual

If you want to find more technical information such as repair manual, check engine codes description, electrical diagram, diagnostic procedures, vacuum line diagram, fluid type, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, etc. follow this link: Where to find repair manual

by Vlad Samarin