Ford Escape Problems

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.

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.

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.

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.

You're right, they should have advised you that they wanted to test drive your car before actually doing it and hoping you wouldn't notice. I would speak to the dealer principal and express your displeasure at the treatment you receive and seek some form of compensation from him.