Used 2008 Ford Escape Consumer Reviews
First and LAST Ford
I have owned my Escape for just over 2 years now. I purchased it new. I have had to have it towed 3 times in two years. Bad sensors, bad transmission cooler, and possibly the transmission now. I have loved the look and comfort of this vehicle, but absolutely cannot depend on it. I don't have any issues with my dealership, they have always worked with me. But, I am truly dissatisfied with the vehicle, as I put many miles on it, and need to have reliability that it will get me from point A to point B. Will not buy a Ford again.
Poor Quality Parts!
Poor quality parts. All four window regulators failed within six months, and failed multiple times again after the warranty expired.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
- XLT 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,99539 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,965271 mi away
- XLT 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,000289 mi away
Can't go wrong with this one!
I have been in the automobile industry for over 30 years and after living in three continents and after owning Hillmans, Opels, Fiats, Citroëns, Toyotas, Hondas, Hyundais, Mopars (Chryslers), GMs, and Fords, I can say that this SUV is the most satisfying vehicle I have owned so far. It meets all my current needs almost perfectly. It is the right size for me, fit and finish are great, it is quiet, performance, for a 4 cyl SUV, is brilliant, it has all the right features and it averages 24 MPG in the city and 29 MPG in the highway. If you are on the market for a small SUV, go ahead and test drive them all, you cannot go wrong with this one!
Can't Cruise Around All You Want
I love this SUV! This is my first vehicle purchase. I was driving a '93 Suburban, and this is a great improvement! Great gas mileage, love the interior. Only problems I have had, was, I wasn't aware you needed to ask if a vehicle came with cruise control, I just thought it was a standard feature. I mean, it came with the Stability Control System, but no cruise control. That would have been a selling point for me. Also I was sold the vehicle as a 6 CD player, but it is only a single, no biggie, but why the need for a load button if you can only do one CD at a time?
Very useful little suv
I have 42,000 miles and no problems except for the trans leak recall. I do mixed driving and average 21 mpg with the 3 liter v/6. Twice a year I tow about 3000 lbs of boat, and trailor. The 3500 lbs tow rating is maxed. The newer 3.5 v/6 may tow better, due to more power. I do like the vehicle.
Escape after 2 years.
Purchased in April 07, 3.0L Limited model with all options except Nav package. An exhaust manifold stud broke off in early 09, very lucky to find it on the garage floor! No mechanical problems with it so far at 38k. Brakes and tires will be replaced soon. I did buy an extended warranty for this vehicle, since my faith in Ford was not that good. They probably will never be able to match Honda, Toyota reliability/quality. Too bad. Interior quality like most US brands is poor, leather is paper thin and painted surfaces are not durable at all. Replaced battery with an Optima for security since my wife drives this car. If the powertrain lasts until 125k I will be very happy....
Put it on your short list.
Needed something that could haul stuff and get me to work in New England winters, fit small family for road trips, and get reasonable fuel economy. The Ford Escape fit the bill. It is the first new domestic car my wife has owned! She drives it more then I do. We got the FWD modal. I am impressed with the traction on very icy and heavy snow covered roads. It is very quit on the highway. We have some good friends that almost bought a Honda CRV, (but decided on a GTI). They thought the Escape is a better buy. I would highly recommend this car.
Best all around SUV
I don't understand why all the bad reviews, I bought this used in Nov 08. My oil cooler lines also went, I was told at the time that it's a common problem with the Escapes, but mine was fixed under warranty in a day. Lots of room for 4 people, great gas milage, enough pep for me for an SUV, these are not made to win races. I did add a K&N air filter and got more horsepower and better milage.
Needs a few minor changes
Overall a nice little SUV. Tends to be a little more top heavy than on other SUV's I have driven. I do like the fact that it feels bigger on the road than it really is. Visibility is good in it. Feels solid when you driving. My mileage is around 23 on the highway and goes from 17 to 20 in town. Not great but for an SUV, it's adequate.
Tons of Fun
I intended to buy a used 2006 Escape, but Hubby saw this one and was hooked. Has every available option from Ford. Very happy with that. Quick and snappy, can park anywhere. Just a lot of fun to drive. Great sound system. We looked at mid-sized SUV's but decided we wanted something smaller and this fits the bill. Lots of power. Weather has been bad nearly since purchase and I drive in AWD a lot, plus with zero degree weather or below, longer warm up periods are required so I am not seeing the great fuel mileage people are talking about. (17 mpg) I hope that chances with the weather conditions. Overall very pleased.
My Dream vehicle!
I love this vehicle! I traded in my '04 Escape 2WD base vehicle that I absolutely came to hate after 2 winters. Don't buy a 2wd Escape if you get snow or ice weather! Spend the money and get the 4WD/AWD, you won't regret it. Since purchasing this vehicle, I have driven in snow storms with confidence (not over-confidence) and it handles amazing. It grips the road and snow and sticks and I even tried to make the tires spin! It handles very smooth, quiet on the highway, is peppy. I find it comfy to sit in and drive. The gas mileage is good for an SUV and handles much like a car. The control panel takes a little getting used to since there are a lot of buttons, but you get used to it.
Diggin' the Escape
Wanted to move into the SUV market from driving a Chevy Malibu. Drove the Mariner, CR-V, RAV 4, & others. The Mariner seemed to cost more just for the Mercury label. The CR-V had a tight suspension and hit every bump hard. The RAV-4 had a cramped ride for everyone. After driving the Escape,I was comparing all the other vehicles to it. So Escape was my choice. 4WD wheel drive was a must for me with MI winters. The combination of that with the stability control, and traction control make me feel safe and more in control of my own destiny. I am paying the same per fill up as I did with the Malibu, but instead of going once every two weeks, I am going once a week. So it doubled.
All show, no go.
I also still own a 02 Escape XLT, so i feel my review is based on that. I have only owned the car since July new off the lot, so my experince so far is good. Compared to the 02 model, the exterior and interior are from two different worlds, but the engine is still the same. It's real slow of the line, feels like I need to press gas pedal down further to get going. Can hear the engine a little too much, much not that bad with the free 6 month Sirius subscription they give you, I can deal with it. Ford really made this one more manly to drive than the previous models.
Brakes that go "pop"
I bought my Escape in June and have 17000 miles on it already. I love the style and all the features outside and in. But.... the brakes make this awful popping noise every time they get hot. I have taken it to the shop 5 times for repairs. The shop had replaced every bit of the back end, yet they still pop. We brought it to the attention of the manufacturer and the engineers said this "was a normal variation of the vehicle and it does not affect braking performance". Funny thing, they can't identify what is making the noise so how they know it's not affecting brake performance? .your guess is as good as mine. This is my first and last Ford. It's cute and roomy but I can't trust it will last.
love it!
i own a limited 08 escape and i am very pleased with it so far. It is surprisingly more roomy than you would think. the ride is a little rough but thats understandable with a suv. navigation works waaay better than any tomtom or garmin i've used. haven't tested it out in the snow with the 4wd but im expecting great things from it. the gas milage is great for a vehicle this size and with a v6.
I Love the 2008 Escape
I looked at several other Ford options including the Edge and opted for the 2008 Escape because of the overall lighter vehicle weight and somewhat smaller duratec 4 valve engine. This CUV is really excellent. Great new IP and we have the Sun and Sound package with satellite radio and a plug-in for my iPod. It is awesome. There is loads of places to put things with the Rear Cargo Convenience package. The center console has a drop-in insert that holds audio/cell phone stuff. When you remove this insert you can put lesser used items in the space just below the insert. Maps fit very well in map pockets. It handles very well and has RSC, roll stability standard.
2008 Ford Escape XLT
Opted for the Escape over the RAV4 based on exterior design - looks more SUV like and handsome. Although the RAV4 has a stronger engine and better gas mileage. Always been a fan of Ford. First domestic I have bought in some years, let's see if the brand has improved.
Ford Again
After 185K miles on my Taurus I decided to go Ford again, Even though I had GM card and accululated $2K I bought the Escape after my first test drive. Love the look of it, love the interior. I do not like SUV's with shift on the dashboard - looks silly, love it on the Escape.
Great Little SUV
My wife and I needed something that was more fuel efficient than the Tahoe we traded in. This little SUV has plenty of room inside for the two and some of the grandkids plus it's got plenty of pep when you press the gas. And it stills gets close to 21 MPG driving in town. We're very pleased with it.
Fun
I purchased the Limited edition less than a month ago and just reached 1000 miles. So far I think it is a fun little SUV to drive. We had out first winter storm in Alaska and it handled very well on the ice and snow. I kept my 2000 GMC truck for bad winter days but now feel confident in driving the Escape too.
No dissapointment here
I've had my Escape for two years and am suprised at the negative reviews. I haven't had one problem with mine. I was actually involved in a serious accident last year and the Escape protected me. I was not injured. I do agree that they should not have put in a 4 speed tranny or used drum brakes but other than that I still love my Escape. I've had Fords all my life and only regret that I can't buy a new one every year.
Happy with my Ford Escape
I went from a Toyota Camry XLE to the Ford Escape XLT. It was a little bit of an adjustment going from a luxury vehicle to a rugged one. However, pleased with the style, color and overall design. The pickup on my 4 cyl Escape could be a little better, since the Camry was also 4 cyl and never felt the difference with acceleration. The interior is a nice Stone color and I love how the cupholders are positioned. Almost like I have 4 of them to use.The purchase of the Escape was wonderful. The best process I have ever encountered purchasing an SUV. I received below invoice pricing based on my company discount and was treated like anyone else. The Escape does suit my needs at this time.
Perfect Work Vehicle
After gas prices went over $3.00 a gallon, it was time to trade in the 2006 F150 V8 (16-18mpg) for something with better mpg. I use my vehicle for work and travel quite a bit so gas prices are very important. My 2008 Escape is getting 23-26 mpg and is saving me a bundle on gas.
Seats
I am having problems with my front seats. They are spotting and turning from black to gray. The dealership says they have had complaints, but there is nothing they can do except clean them. They won't replace them, only clean them. I've had my Escape since March and have had to have them cleaned already! I did some research and found out these seats are made from some type of recycled material. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. Other than that, I love my Escape.
Transmission Cooler
Ford knows that the transmission coolers on this particular SUV are failing prematurely. If you are lucky, it fails before 36k miles. If not, you are stuck with the bill. They will not recall. They will not stand behind the product. No more Fords for me.
Very satisfied
This is my first SUV, upsized from the Taurus (had 2 previously). This is the vehicle I always looked at but until the new look came they just weren't what i was looking for, but now I have my "lil truck" and I couldn't be happier. It's a bit smaller seating wise compared to my Taurus but this is can be overlooked as this is a second vehicle. There is a bit less storage than in my car but plenty of room for groceries and shopping. Its comfy and smooth ride. It's cheaper on gas than my car was also, which to everyone these days is a must! I love my Escape.
Very satisfied
4 months of owership now and am quite pleased with the car. In my review in 06/08 I mentioned I went from a Focus hatchback to the Escape since Ford discontinued the hatch, why? ask Ford, it was a great auto. The 4 cyl. is not for you if you like 0-60 in record time. It will get you to interstate speeds but not in a hurry, just fine for me. Cruises along very nicely. Cruise control smooth. Electric PS great. Lots of storage, cavernous with the back seat flat. 24+ MPG around town with AC. Seats I had described as a bit hard are now quite comfortable. Still miss a telescoping steering wheel but power driver seat gives a satisfactory position. All controls illuminated in blue at night, excellent.
Sharp and fun to drive
I have owned this Escape for almost a month. It is very stylish and fun to drive. We live in a rural area and we average 23 mpg. I think it is also quieter than the 2005 Escape that we owned before. Overall I am very satisified with this vehicle.
I have a lemon
I bought my 2008 For Escape in Jan 2008. First 2000 miles was good I had no complaints. Then a rattle started in the back hatch. The rattle would get worse until the back hatch would work its way loose and the light indicator on the dash would come on that I had a door open.wWuld stop the vehicle get out shut the hatch. I've had it to the dealership 11 times for this. Now it leaks when it rains in the front drivers floorboard. I've had it back 3 times for the leak, still none of the problems are fixed.
A Few Disappointments
I researched this vehicle thoroughly, and was so happy when I finally purchased it. About a week after purchase, a white residue began showing up on the cloth seats when exposed to moisture (I made my purchase in December, in the mountains where snow is abundant). The transmission cooler went out about a mother after purchase. About a month after that, the exterior paint began chipping on the window moldings. All of the exterior moldings needed to be replaced.
Rate highly
This is a fleet car that I have been able to drive for close to two years. 33K since Nov 2007. I have had to bring it in to FORD Dealers fr oscheduled maintenance per fleet terms and have had only one issue with a wire that needed to be replaced for the AWD ESC sensors. Other than that no mechanical issues. Great in the winter snow. Good visibility. A pleasure to drive.
Best SUV I've ever owned!
I've been driving my Escape for about 3 months and I can tell you this. This is the best buy with your money. This is the true money saver. Very quiet interior and the fit and finish is second to none. My kids like the cool exterior design, although I don't like the grille much, but overall it's a strong SUV with a very good feul economy and cargo space. The new instrument panel over the old model is greatly improved and the price is virtually unchanged. The driving is so much fun between my work and home. I should have bought this earlier. Ford seems to find out what customers really want except 5 speed auto.
Very Pleased
I've had my Escape 3 weeks know. Traded in a 2 door coupe for more room and more comfortable seating. The Escape has plenty of room and the seating is very comfortable. I very happy with the MPG so far - 27.4 MPG (mostly highway driving). Love it!
Got a lemon
I got a lemon. My Escape was great for the first 6 months and now it seems to be in the shop every week. Back hatch mechanism failed twice, had to replace condenser motor because of a transmission leak. My temperature and door lock options on the convience package change on there own and ford has no fix yet. Fog lights are filling up with water and shorting out.
the lemon
I purchased my 08 Escape new. I loved my escape from the time I test drove it. With 7,500 miles on my car, it broke down on a 4 lane hwy in Taos, NM. the transmission was shot. We had trouble recovering any compensation for our vacation or the cost incurrred for hauling the lemon back to AR. We continue to have problems with the transmission and are in the process of purchasing a new vehicle and selling my once loved Escape.
My 1st SUV
My first Certified Used car purchase was to be my daily driver for Winter. The weekend I brought her home, Winter reared it's ugly head. Day two we had an ice storm and from that point forward, it was lots of snow, 25 below zero temps and the worst winter Chicago has seen in 25 years. My Escape handled the snow very well, started right up in the way below zero temps and was very reliable. I have had her only 7 months now, no problems and 26K on the speedometer. I'll be back next year for an update.
One Hot SUV!
This was an anniversary gift for my wife and she can be picky. She is in love with this little SUV. The leather interior is up there with the best I've seen in Audi or Volvo. The power is up there with the V8 in my Grand Marquis. Glass moonroof is awesome. Sound system is incredible. I'm not trying to exaggerate the review but this has been the best car we have ever purchased and I have owned 15 or so.
Scaring me
I bought my Escape in June of 2008. I drove to Daytona Beach, Florida from Mechanicsville, Virginia and was ecstatic. Drove beautifully and the radio (Sirius) was great until they (Sirius) changed the channel lineup. However, I have had the vehicle in the shop 3 or 4 times for a rattle in the back of the car. The dealer cannot find the problem and keeps giving it back to me and it keeps rattling. Other than that I am pleased with it. Does any body else have any rattles they cannot get rid of?
2008 Ford Escape - Excellent Value
It is with pleasure that I drive an SUV that is fuel efficient. I drove for 12 hours in one day and did not feel uncomfortable at all as the interior seats provide good support for my back and there is plenty of leg room in this vehicle. The Sirius satellite radio is very enjoyable. The size of the moonroof that Ford is using is excellent and makes a driver feel that they can actually enjoy having a vehicle with a moonroof. The Escape is excellent value for the dollar on both the vehicle's price, equipment, and the fuel economy a driver will get.
Intercooler/transmission
I purchased my 08 Escape new. I love my Escape but noticed that it was having a hard time taking off so it reved up and then slammed into take off mode. I took it in today and they told me that there was a leak in the intercooler leaking transmission fluid. And now I've read other reviews that say they have had the same problem....should there be a total recall, should we all get new cars to replace these that are defective. I've only had my car 1yr and a half!!!!!
Buy one
I have not owned this vehicle very long but, so far, it is the best SUV I have owned. I live in Minnesota and snow is a big thing. This little baby just scoots through the snow. I even tested it against a Jeep in the snow, and it out performed it like nothing. Ride is a little rough but fun to drive.
Fun car with a lot of problems
Bought this car in July '08. Replaced an '06 Ford Escape. Have had nothing but problems. I love the car design, comfort, features. So far I have had it in the shop 4 times, in 4 months! Starting with a steering problem. The left boot shaft keeps slipping. Ford has informed me that they have 'no fix' and to just keep bringing it back in. replaced shocks, struts, set toe, recalibrated steering wheel, caster camber,alingment etc. all within 3,000 miles. Now at 8,000 miles, I have taken it in for a right front half shaft leak, cv boot, which leaked on and blew the engine sensor. Replaced the engine sensor, oxygen sensor, instrument panel. Now the steering is sloppy again and taking it back again!
Bad Tranny Coolers in '08 Escapes
I just had my Escape repaired yesterday for Bad Tranny Cooler from the dealer that I purchased it from. No questions asked, they fixed at no cost stating it was under warranty. No complains on this end.
After 6 months still pleased
I bought my 2008 Ford Escape in Feb of this year. I traded in an 2001 2 door Chevy Cavalier for my Escape. At first I was a little hesitant about purchasing a larger vehicle, but I must say after 6 months of drving my Escape, I love it more and more every day. On average I am getting 23.9 milles a gallon(not highway)Highway mileage is around 26 mpg. I have the light sage and it's just such a cute car to drive. It's roomy without being overwhelming, and it handles great.
Extreme commute in comfort
I have owned this Escape for about six months and have put 19500 miles on it already. My commute is 120+ miles a day and I feel like it is five. There is no vibration, road noise is minimal and I can see without blind spots even with teenagers in the backseat. I am a 5'9" woman and have no difficulty with seat positioning or steering and love the fact that it turns on a dime. Turns so smooth- Just like my old 76 Bronco from high school. Also have a toddler and the carseat latch features are so easy. Plenty of 'kick' room for her legs too. Perfect height for placement of little ones, she can see out and I have no more back aches from the bend and stretch of buckling her.
The Best Compact SUV So Far
I owned a Honda CRV but didn't like the driving. So, I checked out Ford Escape and loved it during the test drive. The driving was completely different from my old CRV. I felt I was so miserable driving the CRV. Now I'm more than happy with my Escape. The fuel economy is as good as CRV. I don't know why people say Japanese cars have better fuel economy than domestics. The fit and finish is awesome, too. I'm 6'2", but still snug enough in my Escape. Oh, by the way, it's much much quieter than the old CRV, and even my friend's new CRV or RAV4 I've driven. My friends envy me and tells me as soon as their CRV, RAV4 lease expires, they buy Escape
2nd Time Around
This is my second Escape, the first being a 2002 Ltd. I returned my Volvo XC90 at the end of its Lease. Decided to do some economizing. Get away from premium gas and buy something with better mpg. The improvements/features over my 2002 are substantial. Most things have been improved greatly, some things fall under "if it ain't broke why did you try to fix it...but made it worse?" Parking brake release and twist locks on roof rake. Though, 5-6 speed trans would be nice. The 4 speed shifts very smooth compared to the 6 speed in my Volvo. But, with all that I am enjoying the truck!
Different
Turned in 05 Focus 4dr hatch w/12000 miles. Would have gotten another but Ford discontinued hatch. Need a vehicle to lug around all sorts of stuff (Home Depot) etc. The Escape XLT 4cyl auto. was all that was left for my budget. Stayed with Ford for great discount. Car is different. The 4cyl auto is not as snappy as the Focus but adequate. Like the driving height but miss the telescoping wheel. Electric power steering is great as is the handling. It has a very solid feel when driving. Seats a bit hard but may improve with use. 4 speed auto should be 5 and is not as smooth shifting as the Focus. Cruise control fine. Interior satisfactory.
Good Small SUV
I purchased an 2008 Escape because I need something with a little more and still got good gas mileage and I found it. My mom has an 06 and I liked that it wasn't so big and seemed fairly easy to drive. I am a woman I don't need some massvie thing and it is my first SUV. It took $25 to fill it up last week and when gas prices were higher I only paid $40 to fill it up. I have had no problems. Very happy with my purchase.
Ford can't get my parts for 3 months!
2008 Ford Escape On 10/5/09 I took my leased Ford Escape to the dealership for repair. The truck would not shift and I was told that the catalytic converter is the culprit. On 10/22/09, after a delay of seventeen (17) days, I was told that the parts needed to fix my truck will not be available from Ford until the end of 2009 at the earliest. I have spoken to Ford India. I keep playing phone tag with the Ford Philadelphia Area Rep...no parts!!! I can't speak to anyone else and they expect you to pay Ford Credit for your loaded Escape while you live in a rental car not worth half the payment FOR 3 MONTHS MINIMUM. I am very dissatisfied and personally crushed that Ford has treated a very