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Ford Escape Mazda Tribute Maintenance and Repair

4133 messages,  Last post on Mar 24, 2013 at 5:59 AM

You are in the Ford Escape Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, SUV

    

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Messages Page 1 of 414

#1 of 4133 What problems affect these two vehicles? by bshap

Sep 24, 2000 (8:46 pm)

I know that the Tribute is made with only US and
Japanese parts due to Mazda's policy. The Escape
parts (yes they are different) come from the lowest
bidder in any country. Does the fuel line Escape
recall affect my Tribute? Also, what should I do
about the tires? (On my Tribute they are Wilderness
AT's.) Any other recalls that you know of?

#2 of 4133 Problems by paul1741

Sep 25, 2000 (3:37 am)

By the way, you really should have posted in one of the preexisting Tribute/Escape forums.


Anyway. The engine and drivetrain are the same, just badged differently. The only exterior part that is the same is the roof panel. Many of the parts are sourced from the same supplier, but are styled for each vehicle. (the seats, for instance.)


All of the main Escape recalls have affected the Tribute to this point. It is possible that some future problems will be vehicle specific.


The Tribute should come with Wilderness HT's. They are not part of the recall and I haven't found any Chicago-area dealer who would trade them out. You might have some luck switching them out at a Firestone dealer. Check out the following link and take a copy of it with you to the dealer:


http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com/news/consumer/news/00803a.html


Hope this helps.

#3 of 4133 RE: fuel line bshap by charleywb

Sep 27, 2000 (5:08 am)

The fuel line recall has nothing to so with quality. Some fuel lines may have been damaged during installation. The damage only becomes a problem when the fuel filter is replaced. Miata is the only Mazda that isn't loaded with Ford parts. As far as Japanese parts go, many are made by (lowest bid) jobbers, who contract with middlemen in Hong Kong and Taiwan, who contract the job out to sweatshops in third world countries where the police beat and jail striking workers.

#4 of 4133 Transmissions by oberfieldwebel

Sep 27, 2000 (11:39 am)

What about the transmissions, arn't they a potential problem or already a problem? An Escape owner reported that he (or she?) had to have the transmission replaced at 2,500 miles.


I believe that, from all I read, that the transmission is the weak link in these vehicles. No matter how nice a vehicle may look and feel, what good is it if a major component fails?

#5 of 4133 Fuel line by dyl2000

Sep 28, 2000 (3:40 pm)

I just got an XLT 4X4 V6 and am getting under well under 20mpg on the highway as opposed to the 24 stated. I know that the vehicle has to be broken in but all the other owners are claiming mileage close to the estimates at the early stages of the vehicles' lives. Could it have anything to do with the fuel line? My dealer told me the car was cleared to go.

#6 of 4133 Quality? by alexp

Sep 28, 2000 (9:49 pm)

Fuel lines have nothing to do with quality? "Some fuel lines may have been damaged during installation.." Installation does not requires quality? "As far as Japanese parts go, many are made by (lowest bid) jobbers..." where you get this stuff from? It is forbidden practice for the Japanese automakers to use any other parts but their own plus parts from the country where they build their cars! Toyota uses only Japanese or US parts! Mazda brings their own parts from Japan or local sources, same as Mitsubishi. Lowest bid? Look at the Ford practices (if you know anything about it) they bring anything from anywhere as long as price is right. Sweatshops? Striking workers? What are you talking about?
Escape will be a great car if Ford will let it be a great. Few more requests for the price cuts from their suppliers and there goes quality! Escape is already being redesigned (nothing big) for 2002 and it will go hybrid for 2003.

#7 of 4133 Transmission Problems? by wuky

Sep 29, 2000 (5:48 am)

Has anyone heard of transmission problems. We test drove the car today and like it but are concerned about reliability. Any comments?

#8 of 4133 oberfieldwebel; wuky by csapm3

Sep 29, 2000 (2:56 pm)

What are these rumors about trannys? I only heard of the one guy whose tranny failed - that doesn't mean there is a universal problem with them. A defective part from the factory was probably the problem . I put a new tranny in my 98 Grand Prix when it had 3500 miles and the new trnny has been fine ever since (knock wood). These forums are an incubator for rumors. I've read so much BS here from all these people expressing their opinions as fact without researching anything. If anyone has heard about anyone else besides this guy please post. My tranny shifts fine and smooth. I don't think I'll be replacing it every 2k miles. The Taurus is only about 150 lbs lighter than the Trib.; will that 150 lbs bust a tranny? I don';t think so.

#9 of 4133 it's not Taurus tranny... by kate5000

Sep 29, 2000 (7:53 pm)

the concern is that although both engine (Duratec V6) and transmission (same as Mazda 626 auto 4-cyl, not Taurus one!) have been around for a while, it's the combination of engine/tranny that's not been time-tested yet. And some think that mating this tranny to 6cyl engine may indeed put an undue stress to it.

#10 of 4133 Its the Contour Tranny by paul1741

Sep 29, 2000 (10:33 pm)

The transmission was also used in the Ford Contour.

Messages Page 1 of 414

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