2001 Ford Escape XLS from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I own a 2001 Ford Escape XLT with over 120,000 miles on it. I replaced the transmission during the first month of ownership (covered by warranty) and have not had a single problem with it since. Love the car.

Very Cool SUV.

I bought a 2003 Escape XLS, 4cyl, 5-speed. It was "used" with 24000 miles. It now has 64000 miles on it. To date, knock on wood, I've had no issues. I really like this car and use it as my primary transportation and even as a make-shift camper. With the rear seats folded, the cargo space is huge and is more than comfortable for two people to sleep comfortably.

I regularly drive this car long distances. I also use it to tow a trailer carrying a motorcycle. Even though it only has a four cylinder, my Escape pulled over a thousand pounds through the hills of PA and New Jersey, with no issues.

I try to do my own maintenance. I change the oil and filter every 5-7 thousand miles. I now run synthetic.

In the winter, I run monster snow tires (not Blizzaks, think cheap chunky snow tire holdovers from the 70's mounted on the stock steel wheels). In foot deep snow, my Escape tears through the white stuff with no issues. It will also tear through deep mud with these tires.

The only issue I have with my Escape, is with the clutch feel. I have trouble driving my Escape smoothly. If not done correctly (lift the clutch, wait for the engine to engage, then give the gas) the car will shudder. Takes some skill and attention. Other than that... I love the Escape.

I plan on paying the Escape off within the next year, and then buying another car. But the Escape will stay with me.

I'm sorry the rest of you have had such bad luck. I just wanted to provide the other side of Escape ownership.

I LOVE my Ford!

I bought my 2001 Ford Escape in late summer of 2000. I have over 100,000 miles on it and have had a few major problems, but so far am fairly pleased. I have replaced front brakes AND rotors twice, my first set of tires only lasted 20,000 miles and somehow the computer was barely plugged in at one time causing it to barely run. They one thing that is driving me crazy at the moment that I have noticed since I owned the car is a sound in the engine that sounds like something spewing over. All my fluid levels seem to be fine, but it always sounds like something is boiling over. Last week my check engine light came on we replaced the EGR valve and it came right back on. I am going to buy the sensor and try that. Does anyone know what the Campaign #02mo1 or #02moi covers? It is supposed to have something to do with covering the EGR problem, but I can't find the details. Thanks for listening!

Stacey Collier

Indiana

staceydc@yahoo.com.

O.K., here we go. My wife and I started out by leasing our 2001 escape XLT 4WD. At the time, it was first being introduced and she had to have it. She was driving a junker and really needed something. At first we were proud of the escape. It was our first new car. That didn't last very long. The first thing was the driver side mirror would shake around, making it impossible to see while moving. No big deal right? Then at about 20,000 miles the brakes were shot. That was big bucks for a young couple who could barely afford the lease payment of $409.00 a month. Soon enough, it was time to turn it in or buy it out. We decided to keep the escape vs. going into another lease. The buyout was roughly $10,400.00 and three more years of payments. It wasn't six months later and the front left stabilizer bar went. Our mechanic said it was better to do both sides. Not a few months later the front axle needed replacement. While in the shop we were informed that the brakes were shot again. This at 42,000 miles. I should have dumped it after that, but I'm a glutton for punishment! The next thing was the driver side inner door latch (plastic)!!! The dealer repaired it and also did two recalls on it (seat belt and something else). Two weeks later the other door latch broke, and it went back to the dealer for another $150.00. While I was there I almost went for a new explorer, but I couldn't swing the payments. Now my poor wife hates this car and we can't get away from it. She drives it unhappily to this day. The reason I'm even on this site is to try to self diagnose our latest trauma with the escape. She called me from her cell and said that the stereo would only work while she was in park or neutral. I seriously thought she was going nuts, but low and behold this is the only time sound will come out. Everything (display, c.d. player, am&fm, and tape) is lit up, but no sound except in park or neutral. We have a three year old girl and she wants to listen to her songs. My wife tries to sing for her, but to a three year old it's not the same! My wife is a saint, but she doesn't sing like an angel. (if you know what I mean) So here I am hoping to find somebody who can point me in the right direction. Over the past few hours of going thru everything I could find about the escape, I've come to one conclusion. Ford motor company should be ashamed of themselves for selling such a lousy product! After all, Henry Ford started this car craze way back when. You would think that longevity would equal quality. But, the escape doesn't stack up. Ole Henry is probally spinning in his grave! Thanks for letting me vent. Mike from Jersey.

I own a 2001 Ford Escape, V6, with 75,000 miles on it. It runs great--most of the time, but it has a miss when it is hot outside. If it is cold out (I'm in Minnesota, it gets COLD), it runs great, but above about 70 degrees F, once the engine gets warm, it begins to have a slight miss. If it is hotter out, the miss is more pronounced. Computer code says COP 1 bad, but I have replaced the COP's, plugs, injectors, computer and IAC valve. I see that other people have had the same (or at least similar) problem, but I have never seen a fix. Is it a wire somewhere? I am suspecting a bad connection in a wiring harness somewhere, or some such thing. Anyone have any similar situations? If so, could you tell me what your fix was? Any information would be great.

Siskhouse1@comcast.net.

I have a 2001 Ford Escape XLT with the I-4 engine in it. I also have the manual transmission in it. I bought it 3 months ago used, (it has 110,000 miles on it now) and within the first month, I had to replace the master and slave cylinder and now I'm having problems with the transmission going into gear. It's like its not holding enough hydraulic pressure to stop the pressure plate. Any advice would be much appreciated on how to deal with this problem.

My email is joe.kallenbach@gmail.com.

Thanks.

Excessive brake dust= cheap brake pads!!

2001 Ford Escape.

Anybody having a problem with the cluster in the dash board?

I have a 2004 Ford Escape, 36,000 miles and apart from exessive brake dust it has been a pretty good car. My latest issue is that it will start great, I will go down the street to get gas and the car will not start back up at the gas station. Today I was driving to work and all was well until I was a block away from my building... stopped at a stop sign and I lost all power, pushed gas and nothing. It eventually died.. restarted without a problem, but then it slowly lost acceleration again. Anyone else having this issue? The mechanic said he couldn't do anything unless it was acting up while he tested it.

I bought a 2001 Ford Escape brand spankin new. There were problems I had with the vehicle at first, I forgot what it was, but was covered under the warranty. Right after the warranty expired my transmission went out. It would have cost me $2,000 - $3,000... but was able to get an after market warranty. Now I'm at 84,000 miles and ignition coil #2 needs to be replaced. Car went completely dead @ the dough-nut shop... "on my way to the dealership" to get it checked because check engine light kept coming on and off (vehicle was sputtering / missing) Oh... and also my shifter cable "BROKE" had to have car towed to dealership, now its going to cost me about $1,000.00 to get everything fixed. I just wanted to vent... looking to trade it in.. long overdue.

2001 Ford Escape XLS - 165,000 miles.

At 64,000 miles the trans went, but had the extended warranty. Lucky?

IAC valve went next. Trouble starting and stalling while idle.

Air bag sensor comes on, but fixed by tweaking under seat wire.

Driver side door mechanism and rear hatch mechanism replaced.

Have gone through two sets of Firestone Destination tires.

Replaced front rotor brakes twice.

Cruise went dead long ago.

AC is weak, but is better with an annual charge.

And the last ailment... is:

Radiator coolant light comes on but goes out going uphill?

No more Fords for me! No more new cars either...

My mother bought this car off the show room floor. 2001 Ford Escape XLT fully loaded with every option available at the time. Sun/moon roof. Running boards, towing package, leather seats, tilt steering, 16 inch wheels, 4X4.

There have been minor issues with the SUV, mainly little things. Such as the rubber hose on the back of the intake seems to crush easy. Fixed with radiator hose (was stiffer than vacuum hose) lost the solenoid in the tranny @ 125K. Expensive to fix.

I now own the car, and it's a blessing to me and my family to have this car. I know when I hit the key the motor starts. It's smooth, and makes no noise.

All of you who bought bad Escapes, I'm very sorry for your loss, as this is the best car I have ever owned. We take it to the mountains, get it dirty, it's in 4x4 mode almost as much as it's in 4x2 and it's performed flawlessly.

Truly Ford did too good a job with this car and broke the mold. If you get a chance to purchase a 2001 DO IT. As it would seem the later ones are garbage.

Thank you Ford for the 2001 Ford Escape.

We have a 2003 Escape with 145,000 miles. No problems except the 4W/D will not shift to 4wd drive; the light comes on but no 4/wd. Any idea why?

Bought my Escape 2003 brand new 7 years ago, 127,900 miles put on this auto, and beside a scheduled 4,000 miles oil change, haven't any problem yet.

I'm still running the original transmission fluid, and the transmission is working like new. Is a 3.0 V6 a greater car, I bought a 2008 and it's working excellent also.