Ford Escape & other options

[JL7456]

I am currently leasing a 2012 Ford Escape Ltd. The car is loaded and I like to drive it and everything about it. When we leased the car I made a point to look for one that was made before the cut off date when Ford said the car was not towable any longer. After doing some research I now see that Ford is recommending a transmission cooler be installed to the tune of $3500. I think Ford bought Remco and now offers this option. I am concerned about the transmission problems that I have read about on older Escapes. I do not know if I should go ahead and buy the car at the end of the lease or look for something else to tow behind my Winnebago Voyage (2005). I used to tow a 2004 Jeep GC, but that was a heavy car and now want to keep the weight under 4000 pounds. I have been looking at the Honda CR-V as I still need a small SUV.
Any advice would be appreciated from other Escape owners (2012 and older). Thanks!!

[JL7456]

Thanks to Phaeton Gary for the latest post on the Escape transmission problems. This is why we are so hesitant to set up the car for towing. Sorry to hear of all your problems. You confirmed my fears that Ford may not take care of replacing a transmission. I have read that sometimes they do and other times not. It is too much of a risk to take . Thanks again.

[Phaeton_Gary]

I towed my 2011 Escape over 2,000 miles with no problems. Then on my way home from a Thanksgiving trip I noticed smoke coming from my car. I pulled over immediately, could not determine the problem and had the car towed to the nearest Ford dealer and went on home (about 60 miles). The dealer called me the next day and told me that my transmission was "shot" and would need to be replaced. After some questioning he evidently determined that I had followed the manual and would order a new transmission under warranty (the car had about 32,000 miles on it). After many promises of ship dates I finally got my car back in mid April (four and a half months). I drove it around town for a week and headed to Disney with the car in tow. I had traveled about 80 miles when this transmission burned up. I again had the car towed to the nearest Ford dealership, and went on down to Disney without my car. I spent many hours on the phone during my vacation because the current dealership read a code that the transmission overheated so they refused to honor the warranty stating that I had towed improperly. I had contacted an attorney during the first repair when it became obvious that I would be without my car for almost five months. Since I now have an attorney no one at Ford will even talk to me. I have had good relations with all dealership personnel but above that I have been treated terribly. I had one senior level customer service regional exec tell me when I asked why it should take so long to get a transmission, that Ford was in the business of building new cars not parts for older cars. I (and my attorney) would like to hear from anyone who has had a Ford Escape Transmission fail while flat towing. Apparently there are many.

[JL7456]

I want to thank all five people who replied to my original question. I learned a little something different from each reply and ScottMack's answer may have helped me make my decision on what I am going to do. I have been with Ford since 1957 and would hate to leave them over a towing issue and transmission problems. I am going to start another post discussing the Ford C-Max Hybrid and Fusion. I am giving Ford every chance that I can. Thanks Again!!

[ScottMack]

JL7456,

Our Escape is a 2010 and flat towable according to Ford. I, too, went above and beyond Ford's recommendations, i.e. all TSB's complied with, would tow no longer than 3 hours without stopping and starting it up etc., etc.

Our transmission blew at just over 4800 towing miles. Ford replaced it under warranty. I inquired about the Remco pump and they would not provide any financial assistance. I purchased the pump myself (Aug 2011) and had it installed (just under $1500.00 total). I was not happy about footing the expense, but the Escape is a fully decked out "limited" and was fully paid for. I really could not afford to take the depreciation hit.

We have since towed the car an additional 12,200+ miles with the Remco pump with no issues at all (I still also follow Ford's flat tow procedures - run through gears, etc.)

I was disappointed to find out that Ford had purchased exclusive rights to the Remco pump for the Escape and then more than doubled the price to obtain one. I have been a die hard Ford guy for 25 years and do not plan to ever purchase another Ford based on how they have handled this particular issue. (Some owners had been successful at getting Ford to either partially or fully fund the pump - no consistency at all in Ford's handling of the problem).

I guess it comes down to your particular financial situation. The added cost of the pump now is fairly significant. That, and the cost of a baseplate and braking system will result in a sizable additional investment in that vehicle. Base plates are car specific. I have never leased a car, so I don't know how much you would have in the car between the leasing expenses and the purchase price. You might come out ahead to start over with a vehicle known to be towable and have it properly equipped from the get go.

I tend to keep vehicles much longer than most people, so I felt my expense in the pump was worth it as long as it keeps me from burning up another tranny. So far, so good - I even used my pump to pump out the transmission fluid so I could replace the fluid at 30,000 miles (combined driving and towing) - The Escape does not have a replaceable tranny filter, so the Remco pump worked great in getting all of the fluid out, even what normally won't come out with a simple draining of the tranny - did not spill a drop!! Measured what came out and put in the exact amount, so I know I am at the same level as the TSB calls for.

Good Luck…...

[rtz549]

In the future; maybe the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid can be flat towed? I like how it will be able to do the first 30 miles all electric.

http://www.plugincars.com/cars

[kyhawk]

the_armadillo wrote:
I believe that even with the Remco Tranny pump that some Escape owners have still had issues with tranny failure before and after the so called cut off date. Since you like the Escape that much, you might want to look for an Escape Hybrid. We have a fully loaded 2012 4WD Escape Hybrid Limited which is great. As you already know, it is quiet and comfortable plus it tows well. Nothing to do but turn key to accessory and put it in neutral. Towing speed limit is 75 mph and you don't have to run it thru any tranny circulation procedures. Also NYC has been using the FEH in cabs and they have routinely been going over 300,000 miles with any drivetrain or battery issues.

We love our Escape Hybrid too. Sad that Ford no longer makes it.

[mlh]

I had a 2012 Escape built before the cut off. I had the transmission fluid lowered per the TSB and checked it every so often. I was religious about going through the gears while holding the brake for 5 minutes before each trip and at each gas stop. I also did it after being stopped a while since the fluid may have settled?? I was also very adamant about staying under 65 mph. I never had any issues whatsoever towing the vehicle. I always knew that something could happen at any time. I even kept an email from Ford in my glove box stating that my specific model and VIN was towable. Eventually we got tired of worrying about it and traded it on a jeep wrangler. I know that may not be the help or advice you are looking for. Had I known then what I know now about the Escape issues, I would have steered clear of that vehicle. I don't know that there is a greater chance of something happening to your transmission while flat towing, but switching to a vehicle without any "known" issues sure helps give you peace of mind.

[the_armadillo]

I believe that even with the Remco Tranny pump that some Escape owners have still had issues with tranny failure before and after the so called cut off date. Since you like the Escape that much, you might want to look for an Escape Hybrid. We have a fully loaded 2012 4WD Escape Hybrid Limited which is great. As you already know, it is quiet and comfortable plus it tows well. Nothing to do but turn key to accessory and put it in neutral. Towing speed limit is 75 mph and you don't have to run it thru any tranny circulation procedures. Also NYC has been using the FEH in cabs and they have routinely been going over 300,000 miles without any drivetrain or battery issues.