Community Forums

crslls · 11-17-2012, 05:58 PM

The transmission went out the first time we towed the Escape. Ford replaced it but strongly advised we get the pump kit. At their "advice" we had the kit installed, $3,400. We have since towed the car several thousand mile with no problem. We are now asking Ford to reimburse us for the cost of the kit.
Calling all others that have had problems with the Escape drop me a quick note about what happened. crgramps@yahoo.com

at no time will any personal information (email address) be given to anyone.

Hookum · 11-17-2012, 07:17 PM

I was under the impression that the Escape was not towable without adding additional pumps or disconnects? That is why I went with the Explorer. Did your owners manual authorize 4-down towing? What the salesman says does not count.

SMRDNR · 11-17-2012, 07:23 PM

we have a 2012 Escape and our dealer said we could tow it 4 down without a pump or anything else added (he ran the VIN number)- if you read the owners manual it also states it can be towed 4 down - will agree that Ford should reimburse you for the pump because they do say it is towable 4 down - I saved the dealers emails, we will find out next year!

EDALLSAILS · 11-17-2012, 07:27 PM

I thought FORD revised their towing recomendations. Specifically stating None of thier SUV are towable. Period. Might want to check with MH mag and FMCA & good sams as I read that from one of them. good luck. ed

Arch Hoagland · 11-17-2012, 07:46 PM

Bought a brand new 2006 Honda Pilot. We had the sales manger go over the owners manual before we bought it to ensure it was towable four down as the manual stated.

A couple months later Honda changed their mind and said don't tow four down. Contacted our dealer and they refunded the full amount we paid with no hassle even after we had put several thousand miles on the car.

Made me a fan of that dealership!

EDALLSAILS · 11-17-2012, 08:15 PM

Very interesting. the orginal 2011 Mh mag towing guide said that the EDGE is/ was towable in AWD or FWD. then the suplement that came out later in thenyr has NO mention of the EDGE at all. We had the same problem with our HONDA ELEMENT. Our owners manual said it was towable and had specific instructions for towing. Then we were told that HONDA doesn't recomend towing at all. Check your owners manual, it is GOLD for you. If it says it is towable then FORD owns the warrenty if you have a problem. Doesn't matter what the dealer says ( we all know they lie anyway, if it will help sell a car). The MH mag towing guide is just a guide, MFG may or may not support what is printed. good luck ed

Mr_D · 11-17-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Bought a brand new 2006 Honda Pilot. We had the sales manger go over the owners manual before we bought it to ensure it was towable four down as the manual stated.

A couple months later Honda changed their mind and said don't tow four down. Contacted our dealer and they refunded the full amount we paid with no hassle even after we had put several thousand miles on the car.

Made me a fan of that dealership!

Actually, the 2005 Pilot and any later ones weren't towable either. Honda legal dept. says that any manuals that say otherwise are misprints.
We contacted Honda in Sept 2004 about towing the 2005 Odyssey, they sent us a letter on Honda letterhead stating that it was towable four down. We bought it in Dec 2004 and had it set up to tow. Only towed it about 300 miles before I started seeing on the internet that Honda was now saying it wasn't towable.
After involving the OR and CA AG's office we did get them to pay for the towing gear and we used that to buy a dolly. Could have held out and gotten a full buyback but we needed the van anyway. Still have it too, it's a good rig, just not towable four down (according to Honda anyway).

Davdeb1 · 11-17-2012, 08:34 PM

You did not mention the year of your Ford escape. I bought a Ford Focus in 2012 because Ford did not recommend flat towing the Escape. I have a 2008 Escape that I know can't be towed.

CampDaven · 11-18-2012, 06:36 AM

Wrangler. 4 down. Xfer case in N, trans in P, lock and go. And then go off-road to see what regular tourists do not.
Just sayin....

jauguston · 11-18-2012, 10:37 AM

Suzuki Samurai. 2150 pounds. Transfer case in neutral and transmission in second gear and away you go. Towed ours 35,000 miles so far.

Jim

crslls · 11-18-2012, 11:51 AM

Book, salesman and sales manager all said yes BUT the instruction in the manual must be followed. Stop every 200 miles and run the engine for 30 minutes do not go over 60 MPH. Followed the rules and still cooked the transission.

jesilvas · 11-18-2012, 12:11 PM

You expect Ford to pay for a kit that you chose to install because you chose to tow it behind an RV that you chose to use.

Pusherman · 11-18-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMRDNR

we have a 2012 Escape and our dealer said we could tow it 4 down without a pump or anything else added (he ran the VIN number)- if you read the owners manual it also states it can be towed 4 down - will agree that Ford should reimburse you for the pump because they do say it is towable 4 down - I saved the dealers emails, we will find out next year!

We also have a 2012 Ford Escape which was purchased Oct '11. At the time, the car was rated towable 4-down. Ford has since retracted this approval. Too many tranny's burning up from towing, irregardless of what level the transmission oil was set at.

You may still get Ford to warrant the transmission if and when it burns up, but you're still out the time the unit is down for repair, and the hassle. And they may not warrant it a second time, because they will have then told you it's no longer towable 4-down. Not worth the hassle.

Luckily, we do not tow this car 4-down. We have a Chevy HHR which we tow. Sweet toad.

Arch Hoagland · 11-18-2012, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Actually, the 2005 Pilot and any later ones weren't towable either. Honda legal dept. says that any manuals that say otherwise are misprints.
We contacted Honda in Sept 2004 about towing the 2005 Odyssey, they sent us a letter on Honda letterhead stating that it was towable four down. We bought it in Dec 2004 and had it set up to tow. Only towed it about 300 miles before I started seeing on the internet that Honda was now saying it wasn't towable.
After involving the OR and CA AG's office we did get them to pay for the towing gear and we used that to buy a dolly. Could have held out and gotten a full buyback but we needed the van anyway. Still have it too, it's a good rig, just not towable four down (according to Honda anyway).

Maybe it was because of your actions that Honda didn't hassle me at all. We actually then bought a 2005 Honda Pilot, which they said was towable 4 down. They shipped the 2005 out of Los Angeles to Fresno on a truck. Only had 20 miles on it.