issues with Ford Escapes just limited to the automatic transmissions?

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decaturbob

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Oct 31, 2015
Posts
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Location
central Illinois
We are starting to look at dingys to pull and have narrowed down selections and further research has indicated massive issues with Ford automatic transmission failures in the Ford Escapes, at least being reported on 2010, 2011 and 2012 models. The disappointment with the dingy guides not being update to indicate such issues is a problem.  So looking at Escapes 2010 model year with manual transmissions, are these problematic? I wouldn;t think so but then again the problems are not indicated with automatic transmissions in 2010 Escapes.

We also checking on a Hyundia Tuscon 2011 with manual transmission and find no issues with flat towing during the google search and forum reviews.
 
The dinghy guides go by the vehicle manufacturer's towing recommendations (to avoid any liability to the guide author), so as long as Ford says it is towable, that's what they list in the guide. 

Is the 2WD Escape a front wheel drive?  Some front wheel drive manual transmissions aren't towable either - a manual transaxle is quite a different animal than the tradition rear drive manual tranny.  I'm not saying that's the case with a 2010 Escape, but you should verify it. But if Ford was wrong when they said the auto version was towable, they could have made a mistake with the manual as well...

As I understand it, the Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year and used a different platform, so problems with 2010-2012 trannys may not apply in 2012 2013.
 
From the 2013 Escape owner's manual:
Note:
Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering the vehicle.  See
Climate Control
(page
113
).
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational (RV) towing. An example
of recreational towing would be towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines are designed to ensure that your
transmission is not damaged.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
CANNOT
be flat-towed (all wheels on the
ground) as vehicle or transmission damage
may occur. The front wheels must be
placed on a two-wheel tow dolly. If you
are using a tow dolly, follow the
instructions specified by the equipment
provider..
Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles
CANNOT
be flat-towed (all wheels on the
ground), as vehicle or transmission
damage may occur. It is recommended to
tow your vehicle with all four (4) wheels
off the ground such as when using a
car-hauling trailer. Otherwise, no
recreational towing is permitted.
 
Well, that pretty much answers for  the 2013 Escape.

For the record, there is no inherent reason why a FWD can't be 4-down towable - both GM and Ford have FWD models that are capable of that. It just costs a bit more to design and build that way, so mostly the do not.
 
Do like everyone else ...buy a Jeep ...

Not all Jeep models are towable either. And then there are the latest Jeep models with the "death wobble" problem that requires mods for safe 4-down towing. Modern vehicles have too many variables to generalize about towing any year, make or model.

...or a tow dolly.
Only works for front drive vehicles.
 
We bought a new 2010 Mazda Tribute ( same as a Ford Escape ) back in 2011  because it was flat towable. It was a four cylinder, all wheel drive auto tranny. First trip we towed from Central AZ to Moab, UT and the transmission was gone/toasted. Drug it back home and Ford replaced the transmission under warranty. But they did come up with a few modifications to the towing rules, take a hour long break after a few hours of towing which we had done anyway as we had a lunch break at Kayenta.
Anyway  we never towed it again and went to a different tow vehicle after that and finally sold the Tribute.
Yes we talked to others in Ford Escapes who also had transmission failures.
 
In reading several threads in ford forums, the automatic fwd tranny in 2009-2012 Escapes had issues with flat tow and appears not to effect manual transmissions in Ford Escapes. The problem still exist but aftermarket fixes are available which may render OEM warranty. Unfortunately the dingy guides not updated as a series of Addenda were issued concerning this specific issue.
 
Remco industries provide aftermarket pumps which many toads need to prevent automatic transmissions from blowing up.  They have a selection guide which informs on specific years, makes and models with more concise and updated info than the dingy guides.
 
Btw, just bought a 2010 Ford Escape with a manual transmission under 55,000 miles and under $7,000.  Mint condition one owner.  No jeep can be had anywhere near that price, year or miles.
 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
As I understand it, the Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year and used a different platform, so problems with 2010-2012 trannys may not apply in 2012.
Completely redesigned the only thing that was carried over was the nameplate at least as far as I know.
Production was moved from Kansas city to Louisville.

I have a 2014 1nd will need to dolly tow. 
 
Ford no longer allows flat towing on 2014 and later escapes automatics (no longer offer manual trans?) as they recognize the transmission even with remco pump will not sustain it.
 

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