dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
bugmuddy wrote:Howdy,
I bought a 2010 Escape used a few months ago and burned out the tranny on my first trip, didn't do enough research on the old blogosphere and took Ford at it's word that it was flat towable. They replaced the tranny last week and set the fluid level according to the TSB. I towed it a couple hours this weekend and burned out that transmission. I talked to the service advisor today, and he's pretty sure they're going to install the REMCO pump after they replace the tranny this time, at no cost to me. Sure hope it fixes it, but I still won't be confident in the vehicle. If you Google "2010 Ford Escape Transmission Problems" you see folks unassociated with motorhomes also having trouble.
I'm on one of the Ford Forums in order to monitor this issue and the particular problem that has been encountered by some (not us at this point) doesn't seem to crop up with Escapes that are not being towed.
Don
2011 Itasca Impulse 26QP Silver Toad 2011 Escape Ltd AWD
New W-I Class C Yahoo Group
07 Jayco 32SS on Kodiak • 06 HR Amb 40PLQ ISC 330/950 • 04 Winnie Jrny 39W CAT C7 330/860 • 2000 Triple E Cder F53
Prev toads • 07 Tahoe LTZ • 04 Colorado Z71 04/06
|
mowermech
Billings, MT
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I just don't understand...
I read here where people have gone through 2, 3, or 4 transmissions in Ford Escapes, and still have the vehicles.
What makes the Escape so wonderful that a person would put up with these ongoing problems?
There are many vehicles available that can be towed four down with NO modifications, NO fancy chicanery, NO troubles at all!
Why not get one of them?
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
|
dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
mowermech wrote:I just don't understand...
I read here where people have gone through 2, 3, or 4 transmissions in Ford Escapes, and still have the vehicles.
What makes the Escape so wonderful that a person would put up with these ongoing problems?
There are many vehicles available that can be towed four down with NO modifications, NO fancy chicanery, NO troubles at all!
Why not get one of them?
Answer to that is pretty simple. We bought them and installed baseplates and lights and maybe a braking device (I use and BB and mag lights now so just moved them from one MH to the next) so we'd have to write off the baseplates and suffer the depreciation. Ford, unlike GM with its Cruze, keeps backing up its warranty and replacing transmissions. The problem seems most acute with transmissions built prior to Feb 2010.
As to the number of vehicles available, many are far too heavy. I towed a Tahoe with our previous 2 MHs and that was fine - but sure don't want to tow it with our current MH. Toad prior to Tahoe was a Colorado and while it towed well I didn't care for it as a vehicle.
There is no question that a toad with a transfer case will have few, if any, problems. The others are not the same as the drive components turn as you tow. I have a friend here at our park in FLA who burned out the transmission in his Honda Van. Honda replaced it but then took the Van off of the towable list.
Most FWD vehicles have to be run prior to towing and periodically when towing. Have a look at the GM manual for the Equinox and you will see the process is almost identical to that specified by Ford - and you have to pull a fuse which you do not have to do with the Escape.
|
1969fowler
Texas
New Member
Joined: 02/22/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
As I write, I am making a deal on a new Ford Escape 4WD but the messages on the transmission troubles has brought that to a QUICK PAUSE. I called Ford and they said that both the 4WD and FWD have no transfer case so that means there is no neutral position to allow the wheels to roll freely. How many have had a problem with towing Ford Escape? Is there some other SUV that would work better?
PJ
PJ
|
mowermech
Billings, MT
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
"Is there some other SUV that would work better?"
YES! Nearly any Jeep Wrangler or Liberty or Grand Cherokee.
|
|
|
the_armadillo
SE Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Sorry, but have rented both Liberty's and Patriot's... They are nice vehicles but neither come close to the ride, visibility, leg room and head room of my Escape. Plus I average 29 combined mpg in my 4wd Escape. Mine is a hybrid and I wouldn't trade it for anything else out there.
|
dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
the_armadillo wrote:Sorry, but have rented both Liberty's and Patriot's... They are nice vehicles but neither come close to the ride, visibility, leg room and head room of my Escape. Plus I average 29 combined mpg in my 4wd Escape. Mine is a hybrid and I wouldn't trade it for anything else out there.
I agree. The last time I was a passenger in a Liberty I found the ride so rough that it was uncomfortable - and the owner agreed. A Cherokee would be find but in our case we didn't want that weight. The Escape at 3500 lbs is ideal - 2200 less than our previous Toad.
DW just loves her Escape (my Flex is towable but it weighs about 1200 lbs more than the Escape) and I sure hope the new model will be towable - well, in four years when we swap. I only keep mine for two to three years but she likes to keep hers 5 or 6 years. Ours is AWD and we only get about 25 mpg driving at 70 mph - same as her previous 06 AWD Equinox. Flex is 24 on the highway - it is an AWD Limited.
|
1969fowler
Texas
New Member
Joined: 02/22/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
We are not new to camping.
Have a 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer but it is too heavy and has age on it now.
I also have another tow vehicle, a 2009 SMART Passion, 1800 lbs. Love this vehicle! It is really easy to put in neutral, hook up, and go. But it only seats 2. I want something else to have more seating capacity. Looks neat behind our 1992 Airstream Classic.
A Ford Escape seems to be the answer but I don't want any troubles. I am still contacting Ford to see if there is a fix to towing the Escape 4 wheels down.
PJ
|
bugmuddy
Riverview, FL
New Member
Joined: 02/10/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
I got the approval from Ford to install the REMCO pump at their expense. Autumn at Ford Corporate level tried to get me to "contribute" $200 toward the $2400 installation because I bought it used. After I peeled myself off the ceiling, the service manager at Brandon Ford told me he'd cover it. Ford harps on their wonderful, transferrable powertrain warranty and then wants me to pay $200 toward a band aid. I sure wish I'd have bought a jeep...
Don Walker
USAF Retired (as of 1 Jun 2012)
2003 HR Endeavor 40
|
xbairman
United States
New Member
Joined: 04/25/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Remco has just completed testing with Ford on a new pump for the Escape and Fusion. The first one that I had installed, paid for by Ford, failed the first time out. Make sure the pump you get is the new one that Remco and Ford designed. I am going to check today to see if it is available yet. I was told by Remco in early January it would be about 60 days.
|
|
|
