Ford Escape Problems

At 148,000 km it would be worth servicing the ’box, particularly if the car has been doing any towing. I would also check with your Ford dealer to see if Ford has released any software updates for the transmission.

Ford's mid-sized SUV, the Escape, is available as both an all wheel drive and a front wheel drive across its three trim levels (Trend, Titanium, and Ambiente). There is no rear wheel drive model and many don't consider the Escape's all wheel drive to be true 4x4 as there is no low-range option for the transmission, which is traditionally what separated 4x4s from all wheel drives.

All of them would be good choices, but I would prefer the Mazda CX-5 or the Kia Sportage. Either would be fine.

If it's not on the service schedule, in the owner's manual, then it's not necessary. Lots of dealers are trying to fluff-up on their servicing to improve their profits, including replacing the likes of coolant and brake fluid at inflated prices.

You will get great value and a classy car in the Suzuki Grand Vitara. The CR-V also goes well and is slightly better value than a RAV4.

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.

The usual way to detect problems is by using diagnostic equipment to identify the cause, but it's rarely successful when the problem is intermittent. If it's not doing it when the diagnostic gear is hooked up to the car it won't show up. That's the problem you have. Cleaning the throttle body was worthwhile, resetting the computer might have had some effect, the surging at light throttle is probably the best clue to what's happening. Without any guide from the diagnostic gear it becomes a process of trial and error. That it becomes sluggish suggests it's going into limp-home mode as a result of detecting a problem. It could be as simple as a dodgy wiring connection, alternatively it could be a faulty sensor, like a crank angle sensor, or it could be related to the EGR as you have heard. The only way to find the cause is to work through all the possibilities until you find it.

It's unlikely, but you could drain the oil and refill it with the correct volume of oil and see if it goes away. But I would take it to a mechanic and have them tell you what the problem is.