Faults:

Struts & shocks.

General Comments:

I have had my 2004 Ford Escape for at least 5 years now; it was passed down to me.

Other than regular maintenance, I've had no real problems like other owners. It could be because my Escape is usually garage kept and not abused like so many others, but I will admit Ford did build these SUVs kind of flimsy and not as sturdy as their Japanese counterparts like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. But I can't complain too much; it was given to me free of charge.

Faults:

Driver's side seat wears out quick and the interior isn't the best quality.

Rear pinion seal at 105,000.

Passenger side output shaft seal at 105,000.

Sway bar link at 105,000.

General Comments:

This is a reasonably reliable car with reasonable comfort, performance, and fuel economy. But if you take it to the dealer for its scheduled maintenance, it can get a little pricey.

My Escape averages 19 MPG, which is reasonable for what it is. It offers good cargo space with the rear seats that fold flat with the removal of the rear headrests. The AWD system is amazing in any weather condition with a decent set of tires. On long road trips the car can be uncomfortable for the driver and passengers, but only after hours on the road. Also the car has a pretty good towing capacity, even though it can seem kind of gutless. I pulled an enclosed 6x12 U haul from Georgia to North Carolina loaded down, and it worked pretty hard, but did a steady 65 mph on the highway with the overdrive off.

Maintenance can be a pain and a little on the pricey side for this car. The intake manifold has to be removed to change the back 3 spark plugs, which is around $300 at the dealer or a nervous 2 hours with a Haynes manual for the DIY. I was personally a little bummed that the pinion seal, output shaft seal, and sway bar link failed at 105,000 miles, but those aren't really major repairs and can be done by DIY or for $600 at the dealer. Also the transmission has a none serviceable internal filter, so I pay the $150 to have it flushed every 30,000 miles... better safe than sorry.

All in all, this is a really decent daily driver if you need AWD. I wish the maintenance and repairs were little cheaper, but technicians need to make a living too, so set a little money aside for it. If you can do your own maintenance and repairs, it really does pay off with this car.

Faults:

Brake rotors had to be replaced at ~35000 miles. Not covered by warranty.

Passenger door has always been hard to shut. Mechanics say it's "normal".

Transmission began jerking taking off from a stop a few weeks ago. Now OD light is flashing and transmission is being looked at.

General Comments:

We really liked the car. It wasn't a luxury vehicle, but it did it's job with only the occasional problem that wasn't very big. Now all of a sudden with 56K miles the transmission has started messing up. Regardless of whether it turns out to be a complete replacement or a valve, etc... This is unacceptable. I bought this vehicle via Ford family discount. I still wouldn't buy another one.