2001 Ford Escape XLS review from North America

Prior to a month ago I had no complaints about my Escape. I had parked my escape and there was nothing wrong with my truck. When I started my vehicle in the morning the clutch pedal didn't feel right. There was nothing for the top 2/3 rd. of the pedal. The clutch was engaging (and disengaging) immediately off the floor. Normally my shifting was smooth. Now it was jumpy.

I took my Escape to the dealer I have always used. I explained my issue, the advisor asked if I had noticed any loss in hydraulic fluid. I explained that there had been no fluid loss as I park in the same place at home and at work. The advisor sat in the driver's seat and pushed the clutch pedal in and out a few times. I was then told that all I was experiencing was normal wear. I told the advisor I disagreed because there was nothing when the clutch was pushed.

About a week later I took my Escape back to the dealer and demanded someone take my Escape for a ride. The first time the advisor (a different person) released the clutch he agreed that there was something-major wrong.

When I returned to the shop to get my Escape I was told that they had never heard of this problem occurring. The bracket behind the clutch pedal was bent. They said the only way this bracket could have bent was to pulled the pedal up. I informed the advisor I had not at any time pulled the pedal up. I was informed that they had taken the bracket off, welded the bracket and then put it back on. I must admit the pedal felt just like it was supposed to. The total of my bill was $97.75.

Twelve days later my nightmare started. The evening prior to my leaving for holidays I noticed the clutch pedal was doing the same thing notified the advisor at the dealership of the problem. I also explained I was flying out of town in 2 hours therefore I did not have time to drive my Escape to the dealership. When the advisor asked, "Is the vehicle was drivable." I stated that, "it was last night when I parked it." We then made arrangements for them to drive my Escape to the shop. At this time I explained to the advisor that my daughter would be using the Escape in my absences. I also informed them she had my permission to make the decisions necessary regarding the repairs to the Escape.

In the mean time I loaded our entire luggage into the Escape to take to the airport to pre board. When I stepped on the clutch pedal there was nothing.

I reported this to the service desk. I was unable to talk to the advisor I had talked to so I left a message stating the Escape was no longer drivable.

The next day my daughter calls me to tell me the news about the Escape. The advisor told her that they had gone over everything on the Escape not once, but twice and they could not identify the problem. She was told that the bracket behind the clutch pedal was not bent this time.

Their only solution was that they drop the transmission so they could look at the clutch. My daughter was at this time quoted that the maximum cost of replacing everything in the clutch would be between $1150.00 and $1200.00. It was agreed between my daughter and myself that if the pressure plate needed replacing, that the clutch plate and any bearings needed be replaced.

I returned to town 2 weeks later and went to the dealer. I was informed the parts had come in Friday afternoon and the Escape was having the transmission pulled out. The service man had to lower the Escape on the hoist as I had to retrieve items I needed out of the truck. I informed the advisor I would be out of town over night and that I would call him on Wednesday.

When I called on Wednesday I was told when the transmission was dropped it was noted that there was one spring missing out of one of the clusters on the pressure plate. I was informed that there still was lots of surface on the clutch plate. The service tech. felt this was the problem and changed the clutch plate, pressure plate and the bearings needed. Upon putting the transmission back into the Escape it was noted that the pedal was still not functioning any different.

I was told when the floor mats were pulled back the tech notice the rod, which was connected, to the bracket, which had previously bent. This rod was connected to the slave cylinder. After close observation it was noticed that the clip which connected the rod to the slave cylinder was bent.

Since the bent clip could not be replaced the master cylinder required changing.

The cost of this issue is $1463.94 plus the original bill for repairing the bracket $97.75 equals $1561.69.

When I picked up the Escape I requested and received the replaced pressure and clutch plates. Two other licensed mechanics informed me that the clutch was changed unnecessarily. Had the service tech followed through when the bent bracket was repaired he would have noticed then that the clip needed changing.

When I questioned the matter of changing the clutch I was then told that the missing spring out of the pressure plate had jammed the clutch preventing the clutch from releasing. This was the first time it was mentioned that the clutch was jammed.

Another thing I find hard to believe is that since I didn't pull up on the clutch pedal I must have caught my foot on the pedal and not realised I pulled the pedal up. Their other explanation to my bending the bracket was I must have caught the strap to my purse on the pedal and the action of lifting my purse out of the Escape bent the bracket.

After submitting a detailed document outlining my observations I received a letter that tells a different story. It appears to me that I am being treated like I have no knowledge of the mechanics therefore my remarks are not valid.

I continue to feel that the clutch did not require changing and that I'm being charged for their error.