Ford Escape Problems

Open the driver's door and look on the side of the dashboard near the door hinges. There should be a bonnet release lever. Pull that and then walk to the front of the car. Stand in front of the middle of the bonnet and lift the bonnet panel while pulling the secondary catch lever, which is near the middle of the Escape, mounted on the radiator top panel to the left of the middle. Hold that lever while lifting the bonnet and it will open up.

It is actually quite hard to buy a "bad" car these days, but quite easy to buy a "bad car for purpose". Ford's Escape is one of several light SUVs on the market that would suit many suburban Aussie families to a tee. That is to say, doing a little light four-wheel-driving, taking the kids camping, or eating up thousands of kilometres on a road trip. If you're wanting a tar-burning performance machines, or something to tackle the local black diamond-rated 4x4 course, buy something else.

Both the 1.5L and 2L Ford Escapes are rated to tow up to 750kg of unbraked trailer, or 1500kg braked. The only Escape I'd try to tow with would be the 2L diesel, which boats 400Nm of torque. Still, the Escape isn't really a good choice for towing a boat as even many small boat and trailer combos will weigh over 1500kg (combined), which is over the Escape's maximum potential tow rating.

Due to modern security systems you will need to take the car to your Ford dealer and have them program the new key for you, as it is coded to your car's ECU. You cannot do this at home as dealerships have this software.

Ford's Escape is 4524mm in length. Other dimensions include 1713mm in height, 1838mm in width, and 1667kg.

The standard scissor jack lives under a lift-up panel in the cargo area flooring. If using this to lift the Ford Escape you should lock it in the factory jacking point, located approximately 30cm behind the front wheels or approximately 30cm in front of the rear wheels, as marked in the owner's manual. Laying on the ground you should be able to see a small arrow marked on the vehicle's sills pointing inwards, which is the factory jacking point. Locate the scissor jack on the vehicle's pinch weld (the thin metal strip running along the car under the sill) at the jacking point, ensuring the jack is positioned on flat, stable ground, and the handbrake is on. For floor jacks, otherwise known as trolley jacks, you should position the jack under the centre of the front or rear suspension cradles, lifting from the approved factory lift point as listed in the owner's manual. Ford Escape models weigh between 1670kg (two-wheel drive) and 1750kg (all-wheel drive) depending of the model and trim.

The broad delineation between all wheel drive and 4x4 or four wheel drive is whether the car has a low-range function. Typically, 4x4 vehicles will have a low-range mode for serious off-road driving (especially in mud, sand or challenging terrain), while all wheel drive cars and SUVs like the Ford Everest do not offer this mode. Ford Escapes can be purchased in all wheel drive or front wheel drive, so double-check the Escape you're looking at buying is an all wheel drive not a front wheel drive. There are no rear wheel drive Ford Escape models.

Ford manufacture their Escape SUV in Spain, China, Russia and the USA. The Ford Escape, called the Kuga in Europe, actually started off in 2000 as part of a partnership between Mazda and Ford, going on to become a sales hit for both manufacturers. The new-generation Escape is expected to be on-sale in 2020.

This isn't a Hollywood movie where you can use a secret handshake to break into a car, then hotwire it by twisting a couple of wires. You will need to call a locksmith or get the car transported to a dealership, where they can open the car, then sell you reprogrammed keys coded to your specific vehicle.

Ford Escapes will last a long time if they are serviced regularly and driven sympathetically. The most common fault listed for the Escape is ignition coils breaking down over time, leading to a miss or hesitation under acceleration. This is a simple problem to fix and not limited to this particular model or manufacturer, so I'd consider the Ford Escape to be reliable - so long as you look after them by servicing them regularly!