My MIL drove one today - CPO 19k miles, 5 year / 100k mile warranty. $19,999.

MIL's sporting a 2003 Alero, HEAVILY smoked in, maintained by the Ford dealership w/ 49k on it. It's in fair condition and she was offered $2k trade-in. I wouldn't give $2k cash for her car.

Are the 2010 Escapes any good? A guy at work has an older model and the tranny puked, cost him $2750. A quick Google search digs up transmission problems. Have you had good luck with yours? Are transmission issues prevalent? Is there a recall on the transmission?

Thanks,

 

The 2010 has a different transmission. Well, at least the number of forward gears is different. The price you are quoting depends on model and options. I have heard of people getting a 2010 4-banger at around 18-19k, plus tax, tag, etc. Sticker is around 22-23. That would be a deal. Your MIL is looking at a used car. The hit should be pretty big the first year, so I would want to know original sticker to determine if it was being priced properly. Look at kbb.com or nadaguides.com or used-cars.com or car-trader.com for comparables. Lots of places to search, but after you look, you have a possibly better idea of prices being asked anyway.
I have not heard anything bad about the 2010 models, and they have more safety equipment than the older ones. Better gas mileage, too.
tom

 

I have a 2010 4X4 Limited with 11K on it. No issues whatsoever. Great vehicle IMO.

 

We have an early 2010, basic details are down in signature, also has Sync,sunroof, and cargo package. List was around $25k.

No problems. We like it, would do it again. Am impressed what the improved 2.5L four with the 6 speed auto trans behind it can do. It can go when it needs to.

And yes, the 6 speed auto trans of 2009 and newer is a totally different trans than the earlier 4 speed auto.

It's the easiest vehicle I've ever had to change oil & filter on.

 

I have a 2009 Escape V6 4WD with 73,000 troublefree miles on it and I love it. My mother has an identical Mariner and loves her version. Its quiet, quick, gets good gas mileage, holds our bicycles and tows my boat. What more could I ask?

 

So no reason to fear a self destructing transmission in a 2010 Ford Escape? I've read more on the transmission issues with the 2010's and it mentions a park rod pin issue on some made between a couple of months...2010 Ford Escape Recalls & Problems

 

Well, Merch, avoid those days... Otherwise, make sure there recall has been completed. The problem reported could be significant if you park on a hill regularly, and don't bother to use the parking brake. The use of the parking brake on a hill makes it ever so much more easy to take the transmission out of park when you want, as the brake takes the load that the park pawl would have had. The 'weight' of the car is not leaning on the pawl, and you thus can move the selector lever out of "Park" much more readily.
Trying to explain that to my wife was more difficult, and I don't think she ever got it.
tom

 

We had a 2003 escape 4X4 no tranny issues when we traded it in with 105k miles I think. Bought a 2010 escape limited 4x4 with the v6 so far almost 12k miles great truck no issues

 

This guy is a mgr at a rental car company referring to 2010 Escapes and Fusions:

Seems like there are mixed reviews on these still.

 

Mechelement: You made a quotation ... with no attribution. What was the source for the quotation. I remember talking to another rental person who made similar claims about the transmission in Escorts years ago. I wonder if there is some sort of 'code of the rental units' where they bad mouth the cars they rent, just in case they are talking to someone under cover, looking for a good quote, or to preserve their right to sue the manufacturer in case the *is* a problem. BTW, who rents Escapes?
I guess I discount stores like that because of the source. Most rental guys are not car guys. I knew one of the executives years ago, who was in charge of the West Coast division, and supposedly was wanted back in NYC for a promotion. He was definitely not a car guy, and had less tools in his garage than most of the people I know. The story he told was so similar, it rang my memory bell...
The 2009 6-speed is the same unit as the 2010, I believe. What does Consumer Reports have to say about the 2009 reliability?
tom

 

I have 2010 Escape XLT V6 4X4 auto with tow package this is one great Ford. I have a 2005 SD also, but fuel mileage towing small loads with the Escape have made this one great vehicle insted of using my big truck all the time . I have 22,900 miles on my Escape and I have not had any trouble with it. There was a recall on the tranny on a calibration issue and had the dealer take care of it. Good fuel economy with this and very good traction with the all wheel drive I love to drive this car. Nice ride good handling and it tows a trailer with loads it was made for very well. When towing heavy loads in hills put in grade control and it will not shift into OD and does a very good job. I would like to get a new on before the 2012 comes out with just the 4 cyl motor is all you get you need cubs to make power and the new 4 cyl is less. The Escape is a great vehicle and if it fits your needs I would reccomend one if you are looking for this type of vehicle it is great. Fuel milage has been in the winter now 22.7 mpg and the best in the summer 25.7 I am not a fast driver but this I feel is good.

 

The quote is from a manager at a rental agency's corporate office in Denver, CO. He's a car guy. Just from another board, that's all. Frequently folks are hard on rentals, so perhaps an extreme outlier.

Is the 2011 transmission the same as the '09-'10?

 

The 6F35 6-speed automatic trans for transverse-engine based applications appeared in the Escape/Mariner for model year 2009, and is used in 2010, 2011, and will probably be used into the future. Is used on some other Ford FWD-based cars. As with any mass-production design, I'm sure improvements will be made over the life of the design.

Enterprise rents (or did rent) the Escape. In early fall of '09, we rented a very early 2010 with only about 130 miles on it for 24 hours to verify that an Escape was indeed what we wanted. It was, and we bought one a couple weeks later.

I like riding as passenger as my wife drives it, listening to it rapidly go up through the gears with the 4 cylinder engine. It's like there is a little guy inside, doing perfect super-rapid shifts every time. It really is impressive. It never stumbles for a gear, lugs, or delays shifting in driving. A lot of real road testing must have gone into the development of the transmission control software algorithms. I'm impressed.