Keeping an '01 Escape 3.0 XLT young

[kw5413]

I purchased an '05 Escape (new) for my middle daughter and it has been pretty ding dang good to 40,000 miles. So now, I have purchased an '01 for my youngest daughter who starts driving next week.

Here's the scoop:

• '01 Escape 3.0 XLT
• 99,500 miles
• Exterior - Not even a door ding
• Interior - immaculate
• One owner
• New plugs / air cleaner / oil & filter
• OASIS report - Only major issue during warranty life was new radiator early on
• Maintenance records looks like vehicle was well cared for
• Only concern is dual exhaust...loud but, sounds good for a 3.0 I just hope that the pipes don't indicate a hard driver.
• I think a girl owned it 'cause the was an air freshener clipped to the air vent...ha ha.

Anyway, what do I need to to to keep it young? What may need P.M. attention at this mileage to stay ahead of potential issues?

Thanks in advance for your comments

[DoctorCAD]

Trannies are the weak link.
Get the fluid changed, often.

[tojoski]

Sent you a PM..

My wife drives an 01 to work and back every day, 105,000 with no major issues..

Like others say.. the tranny is the weak link, but I've come to the conclusion that if the tranny dies, it will still be cheaper to replace that to buy a new small SUV of some sort..

Joe

[kw5413]

Thanks guys...If I don't find a semi-recent tranny flush in the documentation I got...I reckon that will be next on my maintenance list.

[tcesni]

At 139,000 miles in our V6 '02, the only issue we have had was a persistent check engine light/check gas cap light at 135,000. This took some time to sort out and required the replacement of the fuel filler neck, fuel tank vapor pressure sensor, and an exhaust sensor. It wasn't cheap, but it was also the first and only time the vehicle was in for repair.

[hingabo]

I bought my '01 3.0 XLT at 94,000. I put some new ball joints, sway bar links, & brakes on it then. I'm at 142,000 now and replaced spark plugs last week. I may have to do the sway bar links before too long. Other than that, it's been a gem.

[cc322]

Just got my wifes 2002 back from the tranny shop 2,139 later for a rebuild, it has 103,000 replaced one coil over and all the plugs, not cheap, around 500 or so. Moon roof has never ever worked correctyl and seemed to never get fixed by the dealer, also the thing shut off on the freeway as my wife was driving home from work a while back, it was out of warranty but i raised a stink and they seemed to have fixed it now. She has not been real happy with hers, and now we are looking at a new car for her just not sure what, she really likes that Lexus is????