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New Ford Escape Hybrid Owners - Give Us Your Report

149 messages,  Last post on Jul 14, 2011 at 8:28 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid

Messages Page 14 of 15

#130 of 149 Re: Ford Escape Hybrid Owners: Meet the Members [KarenS] by dgcarlson1

Mar 28, 2010 (3:09 pm)

Replying to: Karen@Edmunds (Jun 20, 2005 11:48 am)
I bought a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid in mid summer of 2007. The automobile has been great until now, March 2010. I have put 80,000 miles on it since I bought it 2.5 yrs ago. In the past two weeks the engine cuts off at high speed (60-70mph). A warning light comes on (looks like a red yield sign with an exclamation point) and dash display states "Stop slowly". There were no other warning signs or lights to indicate anything was wrong with the vehicle. I followed the instructions in the manual (turn the vehicle off for a minute and try restarting). I did this and made my way home - it cut off on me two more times that evening. The next day I checked all the fuses to make sure it was not a bad fuse.
 
The car functioned as normal until four days later when the same thing happened. I am taking it to the dealer I bought it from tomorrow. I am wondering if some of the wire coverings that have worn in the past 2.5 years (exposing more of the wire) may have triggered a sensor that shuts the engine off.
 
If anyone has had a similar experience I would like to hear about it.
 
Other than this the vehicle has been a pleasure to drive.

#131 of 149 Me too!! by malibusky

Mar 28, 2010 (5:45 pm)

I have a 2008, 88,000. Driving back in bumper-to-bumper traffic from Las Vegas to LA. Out in the middle of the desert and all of a sudden I feel like I have lost control...I was going about 30 MPH, looked down and see the "!". I pulled over, looked at the manual...waited about 5 minutes, re-started the car and it was fine. I did freak out thinking I was going to be stuck in the middle of the desert but made it back home.
 
I just did a 6 hour trip this weekend, a bit of traffic also...no problems since the initial incident.I though it may be related to the fact tha I had driven about 10 miles in traffic in mostly hybrid drive...but you were going faster...so I don't know!!
 
dgcarlson1...do you know what this is?

#132 of 149 Re: Me too!! [malibusky] by joad

May 04, 2010 (7:52 pm)

Replying to: malibusky (Mar 28, 2010 5:45 pm)
It's most likely the pump that circulates coolant to the high voltage inverter/electronics board in the engine compartment. This is a known issue and the new pump has been redesigned. You may not see the problem again for months, but it will happen again and usually at the most inoppurtune time. Also, check the coolant level in the the smaller tank...the one closest to the windshield in the engine compartment. It should be up to the marked line on the tank.

#133 of 149 Re: Me too!! [joad] by malibusky

May 05, 2010 (9:24 am)

Replying to: joad (May 04, 2010 7:52 pm)
Thanks for the info. It actually just happened again with local driving this last week. So, it is a coolant issue, is it a defect that will be replaced by Ford or now that my car is our of warranty...I am SOL? I will make sure my coolant level is checked and kept full...thanks so much.

#134 of 149 Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner by misaak

May 09, 2010 (9:37 pm)

My husband and I considering buying a car next month and came down to two choices in the SUV category. Ford Escape Hybird or a 2010 Toyota 4Runner.
We like the idea of a ford escape that has better gas mileage, smaller and easy to drive.
The 4Runner has more horsepower, larger, better to tow with and excellent in the snow.
Which is a better car to buy
Michelle

#135 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [misaak] by bow45

May 09, 2010 (11:17 pm)

Replying to: misaak (May 09, 2010 9:37 pm)
You might want to check out some issues about the FEH's High Voltage Battery on this forum. I own a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD and regret that I bought it. I'm concerned about the battery. If the battery dies I need to pay $8,000.00 to replace it. If I knew this, I wouldn't buy my FEH AWD.

#136 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bow45] by bdyment

May 10, 2010 (5:14 am)

Replying to: bow45 (May 09, 2010 11:17 pm)
The battery has a complete 8 year warranty.

#137 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [misaak] by russrdh

May 10, 2010 (5:33 am)

Replying to: misaak (May 09, 2010 9:37 pm)
I purchased a 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid in November of 2008. Purchased used, it had 14,000 miles on it and it now has 50,000 miles. This car is GREAT! I did my research on the battery system before purchasing it and I would direct you to the articles on the Ford Escape Hybrid taxis used in San Francisco (Key words San Francisco Hybrid Taxis) look for the LA times article.
 
Here's a quote: "The Ford Escape is the first American hybrid. When it was unveiled five years ago, customers feared that the batteries wouldn't last and would be expensive to replace, said Gil Portalatin, hybrid systems application manager at Ford Motor Co.
 
San Francisco's experience, he said, showed that "these things are tougher than nails. . . . We warranty the batteries for 150,000 miles and here you have cabs going out of service at 300,000 -- because that's the law, not because the cab's used up."
 
The retiring hybrid cabs also have shown that, even on San Francisco's notorious hills, the regenerative brake system's brake pads last far longer than nonhybrid brakes.
 
With a regenerative braking system, brake pads are not used to slow the car in stop-and-go traffic. Instead, when the brake pedal is depressed, it sends a signal to the electric motor, which slows the vehicle and also charges the car's high-voltage battery. The brake pads are used only at the very end of the stopping cycle.
 
Yellow Cab is awaiting the arrival of 10 new Ford Fusion sedans, which promise even better gas mileage than the Escapes. The company has had the Nissans only a couple of months, so it's still evaluating their performance."
 
I typically get 34-38 mpg in town and 32-34 on the highway. My personal best on a single tank of gas was 42.3 mpg of in town and highway combined. On a trip from Flagstaff, Az to Ogden, Ut via Highway 89 I averaged 52 mpg from Flag to the turnoff to Tuba City. By the time I got to Page, Az I was still at 45 mpg as I started the climb into Utah. I pulled into the Fast Gas in Nephi showing an average 39 mpg. From there to my driveway in Ogden I still managed a reasonable 36 mpg.
 
Don't expect to tow with any hybrid with a constant velocity transmission. For our 12 foot/1,700 pound pop-up camper trailer we use a 2002 Volvo V70XC Cross Country. It is the perfect vehicle for small trailer towing. All wheel drive, powerful, comfortable, 20 mpg with the trailer and 30 without and of course, Volvo's stellar reputation for reliability and durability. I'd look at the original cross-over vehicle before plunking my money down on a 17mpg (Usually less) SUV. I know, I had a wonderful Chevy Tahoe for towing but the first $120 fill-up in 2005 scared me to the point where I dumped it just in time for the real run-up in gas prices. We're going to see that again.

#138 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bow45] by bow45

May 10, 2010 (9:40 am)

Replying to: bow45 (May 09, 2010 11:17 pm)
My FEH AWD has 72,000 miles on it which means only 28,000 miles left until the hybrid component warranty dries up. Even if my FEH AWD has lower miles, I don’t think my 2008 FEH AWD holds up the value of $8,000 in 2016. If the High Voltage Battery dies after the warranty expired, I don’t think I’m going to fix it.
 
The point I want to make here is new High Voltage Battery is way too expensive. New Prius batteries price was about $2,300 in 2009 (Car and Driver, May 09, Vol. 54, No.11).

#139 of 149 A Canadian perspective by sksuh

May 11, 2010 (8:47 am)

My 2008 FEH AWD has worked flawlessly in all seasons including Canadian winters up here on the Alberta side of the Rocky Mountains.
 
No battery worries, winter woes or any other issues whatsoever. Absolutely no regrets with this vehicle.

Messages Page 14 of 15

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