I spent a lot of time not driving this car.
“Never buy a grey car” is what my wise 90-year-old uncle said to me when I told him I purchased a grey Ford Escape, “they are nothing but problems.” Well, I should have listened to his advice.
2022 brought many changes for my wife and me. The biggest change was my wife and I both changed jobs two weeks apart from each other in February. This was totally unintended. She had been in the process of trying to find a different job, and during her searches, she happened to find the perfect job for me. I applied, and to my surprise, I ended up with a new job before she did. We were both nervous about bringing that much change to our household at once, but now almost a year later, the transition was smooth and the right move for both of us.
The change in employment meant that we both would be doing a lot more driving than we used to. Previously, we both worked within five minutes from home, with my commute being 2.2 miles round trip every day. Now she would be commuting 40 miles round trip every day, and I would be closer to 20 miles. Within a week of our new commutes, I was beginning to wonder if our car situation needed some addressing for all the additional miles and gas we would be consuming. My Ranger gets an earth-shattering 14 MPG, and my wife’s CX-5, our “good” car, was soon racking up mileage faster than I would have liked. Soon I found myself scouring the internet for the perfect “cheap work car” for us. Unfortunately, this happened to be the worst time to purchase a used car. Junk cars were going for stupid money. However, a trip to my parent’s house one late winter weekend sparked an idea. I found the perfect “cheap work car.”
My parents have lived in the same neighborhood since 1997. My parent’s next-door neighbors are great people who I have known almost my whole life. Since the beginning of Covid, every time I would go to Iowa City to visit my parents, I would see my parent’s neighbor’s 2011 Ford Escape parked alongside their garage, stationary, never showing signs of being driven. I asked my dad about the story of the Escape. It developed a problem where within a matter of hours, the battery would go dead after being parked. No mechanics could figure it out. The car was a spare car for them, so it just sat. Coming from a manufacturing background, there is “never one ant,” meaning, if one issue happens, it has bound to be repeated elsewhere. This convinced me that all those failed mechanic visits were really the results of mechanics who did not really know what they were doing. I had convinced myself that the depths of the internet had seen this issue and that I could have this car fixed in little time. Boy was I wrong.
I spent a lot of time cleaning all the Iowa gravel dust out of this vehicle. When I was done, it was probably the cleanest Escape of it’s age on the road.
Soon my parent’s neighbors and I were in talks about the Escape. I had convinced my wife that we could purchase it and share it as a “work” car for the two of us. This would put fewer miles on our “good car,” as well as save on our fuel bill. She trusted my judgment, so I discussed the price of the Escape with my parent’s neighbors. We discussed the battery issue, and they had another mechanic who looked at it. He concluded it was a bad battery. So, a day before the car changed ownership, a new battery was installed in the car. It did not fix the issue. They were apprehensive about the sale, but I was not concerned. A couple of days later, I was the proud owner of a 2011 Ford Escape that would go dead in a matter of hours.
The Escape was a 2011 XLT. It was equipped with the 2.5L MZR (Mazda engine) four-cylinder mated to the 6-speed Ford-designed 6F35 transmission driving the front wheels. It had 138,000 miles on it and was previously owned by my parent’s neighbor’s son, who lived in Northern Florida. The car made its way to Iowa just a couple of years ago. Up until the battery issue, they had no issues with the car. I had done a bunch of research and had concluded the Ford-Mazda 2.5L engines were very reliable. I also learned the 6F35 transmissions had a tendency to leak fluid from the output seals, which would ruin them. However, the internet seemed to prove these were decent used cars.
What you dear reader need to know, is I owned this Escape for five months and spent way too much time and money fixing each and every nagging issue on this car before I escaped from ownership. Shortly after I got the car, I made an appointment with my local mechanic who diagnosed the white Ranger’s failed PCM in a matter of an hour and is known in my area for being the best with electrical issues. After waiting two weeks to get an appointment, the Escape was dropped off. After four days, he called me to say in 30 years he had never seen an electrical issue on a car he could not figure out. He was determined to figure this out and was willing to do so without charging me for all of his time. He had gone through every module/computer on the vehicle and could not figure out why the battery would go dead. The issue with the car was after 2 to 3 hours of being parked, it would start to intermittently draw 5 to 15 amps and drain the battery. On day 16, the mechanic called me to say he figured out the issue. The alternator had a failed bridge rectifier and was intermittently drawing current. Being intermittent, the issue would not present itself every time. He happened to catch the issue when he was rechecking everything. True to his word, he only charged me for parts and four hours of labor. After a new alternator, the charging issue was completely fixed. I thought all would be well with my grey headache Escape.
The 2.5L Mazda engine is a good motor. Not very powerful, but they are known to be reliable. There is a lot of room in this engine bay, which made working on it very easy.
Shortly after I got the car back, I spent the summer slowly fixing this problem and that problem with the car. It felt like after one problem was fixed, another would pop up about a week later. Brakes and tires were the first items I addressed. I knew this at the time of purchase and the price reflected this. After that, the car needed a complete rebuild of the front suspension, ball joints, struts, and tie rod ends. $400 later and a weekend’s worth of my time, I had the suspension fixed. Shortly after that, the original spark plugs needed replacing. Easy, yeah? Nope. The spark plugs would not budge from the aluminum head. After much PB blaster, time, and much prayer, they came out without breaking anything. A couple of weeks later, I got a check engine light and transmission warning. Some diagnosing found a faulty throttle body. Had to wait a week for one to be shipped to me. It felt like the whole summer I spent working on this car in my free time. I am sure my neighbors thought I was crazy for constantly working on this thing in my driveway.
I spent a lot of time on the internet learning more about this generation of Escape than I wanted to. All the common problems on this generation of car seemed to prove themself true for me. One common problem on these cars is the key ignition tumbler failing. You go to turn the key to start the car and nothing happens. A small piece of plastic breaks inside the tumbler causing it to fail. Mine suffered from this issue as well. Youtube made this look to be an easy job. It was, minus me breaking the clock spring on the steering wheel when I removed it. An extra $100 later and that was fixed. Sigh…
Our driveway was like playing a lifesize game of Tetris in getting all the vehicles to fit without breaking the local township ordinance of overhanging onto the sidewalk.
By the end of September, the Escape had become a thorn in my side. It never left me stranded. It was not a bad car purse; it just was requiring more love than I expected. I left for a week-long work trip in Germany. When I got home, I went to go drive the car and found the carpet squishy. It turns out we had gotten a lot of rain while I was gone. The car had a sunroof, and investigation found the sunroof drains were plugged. I spent the weekend pulling the seats and carpet out (easier than you’d expect) and letting everything dry. I was not very happy about that. The interior did get a thorough detailing.
My birthday is in October. By the middle of September, I was beginning to question if I wanted to renew the registration on this. Between that, and having four cars in our driveway, I knew something had to be sold. I listed the car at the beginning of October and gave myself two weeks. Between all the work I had done on the car, and the new tires, it was the nicest used 2011 Escape for sale in west Michigan. When I sold the car, every issue I knew was wrong with it was fixed. Should I have kept it and just driven it, maybe, but I was ready to move on. Because it was FWD, no one was interested in it. I started to get worried, but two days before my birthday, the title was transferred, and money was deposited in my account. Not counting my time, I almost broke even on it.
As I said, the car was not a bad car, it just gave me too much grief. I did set the bar too high on expecting too much from it, but then again, I also did not expect to be nickeled and dimed on so many issues. So did we save on mileage and gas by buying this “work car?” Nope. Not one bit. With my mileage going up and the age of the Ranger, I still knew we needed something more fuel efficient…and I knew exactly what I wanted to replace the Ranger with.
My truck was ordered in Atlas blue, a new color for 2023.
On September 21st, I secured an order for a 2023 Ford Maverick XLT 2.0l EcoBoost FWD. I have always said, if they come out with a car that can haul a sheet of plywood, four adults, and get 40 mpg, I’ll buy one. Ford did, and since the Maverick’s introduction, I have been following the truck closely and decided I wanted one. I wanted to wait a couple of model years for all the quirks to be worked out, which is why I did not purchase one sooner. I really wanted a hybrid, but Ford stopped taking hybrid orders on 9/20 at 5:00 PM EST, which I learned at approximately 6:00 PM EST. This forced my decision to go with the EcoBoost. At first, I was not sure about the EcoBoost, but Ford has been having quality issues with the hybrid, so I am confident in my decision now. The EcoBoost makes allmost too much power for this truck, so it will be fun to have something that is quick. I still have not received a build confirmation, so it is anyone’s guess on when the truck will get built. My dealer tells me the truck should be an easy build, as it has no constraining features. I have sat in a Maverick at a couple of car events, but I have not even driven one yet. No dealer around me has had any to test drive. I really debated about ordering it, as I am partial to Mazdas, but Mazda does not sell a truck in the States. I am sure a small SUV would be sufficient, but there is something about having a truck. In addition, this fall my wife and I found out we are pregnant with our first child. This also made the decision for us that we will need a larger vehicle than the Ranger next year. There is a joke on the Maverick forums on what comes first, building a house, having a baby, or having your Maverick built. My guess is our child will be born before the Maverick is delivered.
This is not my last COAL chapter. Next week I will tell you about the “fun” car that has followed me around for many, many years.
Another day, another new word (or name) ” alternator bridge rectifier”.
I don’t do my own wrenching, but if I ever see a car with a similar problem, I’ll be ready with my friendly shade tree advice to check the damn alternator bridge rectifier, you know, the one way doohickey that converts AC to DC current.
The Escape was a logical choice; I’m surprised that after ministering to the electrical and the various wear items you did not reach a moment where the need for repairs would fade out. But one never knows when one reaches that point.
Now, the [waiting-to-be built] blue Ranger… Wow! That looks great.
Way back in ’85, I had a short in one of the diodes (bridge rectifier uses 4 diodes) on my ’78 Scirocco, such that the alternator light on the dash went on when I turned the car off (no key in ignition). I couldn’t get the parts right away and the battery still had some charge so I risked driving the car the next day, but I had to take the positive battery cable off whenever I left it parked. It started fine, but the charging system wasn’t working till I got replacement parts later in the day. Maybe I’d have done better if my car had a generator rather than an alternator, not many of those around these days.
Back when I worked as a transporter for Hertz, we sometimes drove cars with problems (most of the time the cars were serviced well, but things happened), one time had to drive car with bad charging system, trying to preserve what battery power it had, driving at night to get it to destination before the battery died.
The ’78 did have fuel injection, but no computers. Cars used to be more forgiving about power but computers really aren’t, so putting them in cars makes them less forgiving about power too.
Never had an SUV nor crossover, but likely that’s where I’ll be herded to for my next car as fewer hatchbacks are available. I don’t go off road nor live in regularly slippery conditions so FWD has been fine for me, sounds like that’s less common where you live. I’d prefer a larger 4 to a turbo, but other than maybe Mazda not many offer that anymore, and my next car will be an automatic (like just about everyone’s) but I’d prefer gears to CVT.
I’ve had my current car for more than 22 years, so I’m probably due…but also in denial, don’t want to give up my manual, not that I’m so great driving it but it’s all I’ve had since I bought the Scirocco and I like the control it provides. Also morn the passing of cars, I don’t really need an SUV, but that doesn’t seem to be the right answer, the market wants to sell you what’s most common, and cars don’t seem to be on that list. I’ve had a few big problems with my current car, including the power steering rack going bad, as well as the shift cables (had to go under the hood to put the selector shaft in 2nd gear to nurse it home when it went). Also got stranded with similarly my ignition lock cylinder switch went bad, at the grocery store after I’d filled the car with food (but didn’t have tools to crack into the steering column to try to bypass the switch till I could get replacement). Other than that, it’s been nuisance stuff like power window regulators and power locks stopping working
I’ve got a ’12 Escape with the V6 and 140k miles. Yep, I too had the ignition key issue. My resolution was to exert extra pressure on the key as I inserted it into the tumblers to get the car started. Worked for 5 years. Would fool every auto repair and oil change tech until the dealership got pissed and fixed it while resolving a bad #5 fuel injector. Other issue was one of the dual fans next to the radiator had a crack in it. Made a howling sound when engaging the A/C.
Glad you got the electrical issue fixed, but the rest of the issues are no different than any other car. As my Dad would say, “Its the privilege of owning a car, something is always broke”!
Good luck on the Maverick…..
Sounds like a real lemon; what a bummer.
You got lucky with that conscientious mechanic. This is going to sound awful, but I live in a smallish town with perhaps half a dozen mechanics who are always booked solid. If a job involves more diagnosis than plugging in an OBD-II scanner to read a code, they don’t want to be bothered. Time is at a premium for mechanics, so trying to deduce and chase a gremlin can be a really tough and expensive proposition.
I’ve had a series of VW vans that have nickeled and dimed me to death, but these have always been my projects, and I’ve gone into them with the expectation that a midlife vehicle that had not been well maintained is often the most expensive kind of car you can purchase, whatever your buy-in price.
I’ve never had a new car. Most new cars and trucks are so ugly that it takes me a decade to soften enough to actually want one. Good luck with the new truck – glad this experience didn’t sour you on the brand and its more contemporary output.
I’m sorry to learn of the Escape’s troubles, though I’ll make mental note of the alternator/rectifier problem—’cause ours of the same generation (2009) has the same powertrain, and not too many more miles (no leaks or letdowns yet). My goal is to see if I can get it to twenty years (2029), and thence do a COAL writeup!
Happy New Maverick—-those look very tempting, and might be our next new car….
“never buy a gray car”… well then a lot of people are in trouble these days!
That looks like a Wheeler Dealer episode gone awry. At times I get the itch to take on a challenge like that. But it’s less risky to pick up a leaf blower left at the curb to see if I get it running again.
Auto electric problems can be particular hard on the noggin’. There is a YouTube channel that illustrates it very well: https://www.youtube.com/@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics
Love these Mavericks. I’ve been tempted to place an order as well. Though we just had our first as well, so now my paycheck goes to daycare and the like. That’s life!
Anyway, best of luck with the new adventures that await you guys.
The “don’t buy a gray car” comment reminds me of a car I was trying to sell. It was a light gray Chrysler LeBaron. Three older adults came to look at it. The husband looked it over and went on a test drive while the other two women stayed in their car. After the drive, he proclaimed interest in buying it and went to get the other folks. His wife just looked at him and said “NO GRAY CARS” in a loud and commanding voice. After she repeated it again, he thanked me for my time and departed.
My ” baby ” sister had one of these, she traded a turbo charged Subaru to get something more reliable. It was, pretty much, until a year ago when her mechanic refused to issue a new Pennsylvania inspection sticker for it. She thought it needed a new muffler but when he jacked up her Escape to get at the exhaust the jack punched through the Escape’s badly rusted floorpan.
She now drives a Jeep, a Cherokee, I think. To me the newer Jeeps all look alike.
My “southern” Escape was much rustier than I would have liked. These generation of Escapes are (unfortunately) rust prone vehicles.
I’m sorry Fierorunner that you had that much trouble with the Escape, but I guess fortunately you only had it for a short time.
I will say though that it seems a bit unusual that it took as long as it did to figure out that the discharging problem was connected to the alternator. In my experience, fwiw, changing the alternator is on the relative short list of solutions related to charging and discharging. True, that’s perhaps part of the “parts cannon” method of throwing parts at solving a problem, but changing out the alternator is generally an easy and relatively inexpensive thing that happens pretty soon with most mechanics. Whether they knew what they were doing or not, it seems that someone early on would have changed the alternator and fixed the problem.
That was one of the first things I thought of, but the alternator would test “fine” every time myself or a mechanic looked at it. It was very intermittent on when it would test bad.
At least you had the sense to ‘escape’ from your 2011 grey car when you did, my history is to just keep throwing money & time at them until too late is back there someplace. We also got in an order for a 2023 Maverick on 9/20, ours is Area 51 w/EcoBoost 4 AWD. Ford sent an acknowledgement that day & we’ve since received two further boiler-plate emails but there is no estimated TOA, it’s TBA…
I’m a little baffled why it’s taking so long to get a confirmation of build. My Ford dealer claims it has to do with me getting me order in at the very last minute, but I read online of Ford having capacity to build 60% EB and only received 30%, and I scratch my head…
Having ordered a Maverick Lariat hybrid with all the toys on 9/16, I fully expect I have a 50/50 chance of getting it before October. You Ecoboost boys shouldn’t have an issue getting delivery by this summer. During the 5 day ordering window Ford expected 65/35 Ecoboost/Hybrid orders (their build capacity), and the opposite happened. They’ve even offered to let hybrid orders switch to Ecoboost for free.
Thankfully when I ordered I knew my current whip (2013 Outback with 200k miles) would have to last 10-12 more months of daily driver punishment and so I planned accordingly. My Plan B if the Maverick doesn’t come to fruition is the new CR-V Hybrid.
I miss the old days of test drives, mulling, and finally buying a car after decent negotiations.
I had to laugh when you mentioned the Iowa gravel dust as one of my kids lived outside of Fairfield for several years. Every time she came home to Grand Rapids, the Escape had tons of gravel dust on, in and around the car. When it was run through a car wash, it “bled” that gravel dust muck out of every seam and drain hole on the body for what seemed like three days.
My kid’s 2008(?) Escape was much like yours. Four banger, FWD, grey with cloth interior, Limited trim. It was a good little car for her and it handled all of her needs easily. She had few real issues with the car, other than rust. Her ex convinced her to trade it for a GMC Acadia that she hated. She really liked the size and the economy of the Escape (plus she didn’t have payments!). That episode was one of the nails in the coffin of their relationship.
Coincidentally, we’re looking at replacing our main driver, too. My wife was interested in the Maverick also, but none of the Ford dealers in GR seem to have stock and I’m not totally convinced she’ll like a pickup. I’ve been hearing about the 2024 Chevy Trax (which is substantially different than the outgoing one) and an equally low price on that vehicle. It looks like a mini Blazer and is expected to retail between $20-25K, depending upon version. I want to see one up close to see what Korean Chevies look like before making a decision.
Keep us updated on the Maverick and if the kid shows up before the truck!
Oh, how familiar I am with the “If I just fix this one problem everything will be fine” syndrome. Sometimes all of the defective/deficient parts just wind up on one car. But I never knew about the gray car rule.
My Ford Club Wagon would drain the battery every three days if not driven, and my mechanic could not find it, but then asked me how long since the radio had quit working (it showed “bad” on the LED display. He removed the radio and that solved my problem. I hate electrical problems.
Every time I start thinking about trying another US-brand car, I hear/read a story like this and I decide I like the odds of sticking with Asian manufacturers. And I hate that.
I’ve never heard that “no gray cars” comment. thankfully that has not applied to my family as we’ve had several gray cars and they’ve worked well. Two were Honda’s and one was a silver Lincoln, but I don’t know if silver counts? My brother currently has a 2017 Accord Touring and it’s been a very good car.
At the start of your post, I was going to file this with that thing where Chinese people refuse to take a particular medication if the pill is an “inauspicious colour”. I hadn’t got halfway through the post before I was firmly onside with your uncle. Boy, did thing put you through the wringer!
Oooowow. Not only is that a super-difficult problem to find, but it also sounds to me as though you’re lucky the damn thing didn’t catch on fire. 15 amps flowing through small components without cooling air flowing past is enough current to heat things up very, very hot.
Thank you for this. Didn’t know I needed it, but I did.
Your Maverick-to-be sounds like a nice truck. Let us hope Ford are doing a job on these more like your Ranger and less like the Escape!
I am sitting in my 2012 V6 Escape Limited. 210,000 pretty much trouble free miles. Yes, the ignition thing happened (that was a Ford issue, not just an Escape issue.) I have had the typical wear and tear issues…injectors (the E85 is murder on them), AC condenser and downstream O2 sensor, but other than that…she has been so reliable I bought a second one (also a 2012 Limited). There is a reason the second generation costs more used than the 2013 – 2019 third generation.