Ford Escape Cylinder Heads and Vehicle History

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Categories: Cylinder Head Tips, Top Sellers

History of The Ford Escape

 This popular Ford vehicle was initially designed and made in conjunction with Mazda of Japan. The Ford Escape is a crossover SUV (CSUV) – sometimes referred to as a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) – and was released in 2000 for the 2001 model year. Around that time at the turn of the century other SUVs used smaller unibody designs with solid rear axles which Ford took note of. Ford and Mazda opted for a car-like, unibody design with a fully independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. This version was not made with a focus on off-roading, but it was a capable vehicle for the daily commute in the U.S. market.

The Ford Escape second generation was released in 2008 and offered some improvements upon the first model. The exterior design was changed, the interior upgraded, and a navigation system was added. This generation was also the first vehicle to feature Ford’s pull-drift steering mode.

Currently, the Ford Escape is in its fourth generation. It has four new engine-transmission combinations and a plug-in hybrid model. The engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder, makes 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

Many consumers are excited with the improvements in this generation and are excited to see what Ford does next. If you’re interested to see why consumers are getting excited about the improvements, the video below does an excellent job of honestly walking viewers through all the new features of the new 2020 Ford Escape.

 

 

Ford Escape Awards and Recognitions

In the short 20 years that the Ford Escape has been in production, Ford has earned the following awards for this high quality vehicle:

  • Winner Of D. Power APEAL Award
  • WardsAuto’s coveted 2020 Wards 10 Best User Experiences list
  • Highest Ranked Compact SUV in Initial Quality for the JD Power Award

 

Ford Escape Historical Sales in the United States                                   

2000                42,635

2001                164,184

2002                145,471

2003                167,678

2004                183,430

2005                165,122

2006               157,395

2007                165,596

2008                156,544

2009                173,044

2010                191,026

2011                254,293

2012                261,008

2013                295,993

2014                306,212

2015                306,492

2016                307,069

2017                308,296

2018                272,228

2019               241,388

Total:              4,422,499 (138,146 Hybrid)           

 

High Mileage Ford Escape Stories

With the Ford Escape now being about 20 years old, it isn’t uncommon to find consumers that have maintained their vehicle to the point of reaching very high mileage. In fact, the Ford Escape is known for its high mileage and durability with numbers going well above 200,000 miles for those who take the time to care for the SUV.

You can easily find forums online where like-minded Escape drivers boast about their high mileage. For example, on this forum, a poster describes their 100,000 mileage Ford Escape and questions the longevity going forward. Many reply saying as long as they keep up with fluid changes 200,000 miles would be no problem with one poster noting that they reached 245,000 miles no problem.

This man documents in this video that his beloved Ford Escape that has racked up 179K miles!

 

Celebs Who Drive a Ford Escape 

There’s no surprise that celebrities who may make lots of money stick with the Ford Escape. The SUV is reliable and many people become loyal to the line because of how dependable they are. Some celebrity names you may recognize that own a Ford Escape are:

  • Selena Gomez
  • Carrie Underwood
  • President Barack Obama

 

Ford Escape Error Codes and Warning Signs 

If your check engine light comes on, Ford Escapes have specific codes built into them, along with the OBDII codes that are standard in all vehicles made after 1996. Specific to Fords, the Error code P1299 means that your vehicle is detecting overheating in your Cylinder Head. Occasionally, this could be a simple error with the sensors themselves. However, in the event that your vehicle’s cylinder head is overheating, this could lead to cracks in your cylinder head that could lead to other engine issues.

If your cylinder head is cracked, fluids could potentially leak into other parts of the engine and cause more severe engine failure or even an engine fire. For this reason, it is important to take these error codes seriously and have your vehicle inspected immediately to fix the source of the error and any issues that may have arisen as a result. If you don’t have access to your car’s error codes or are unable to read them, we’ve compiled some possible symptoms / signs of an overheated vehicle below:

  • The smell of heat coming from your air conditioning vents. This clue may sound strange but often you can notice a strange odor coming from the parts of your engine overheating.
  • Thumping, ticking or other unusual sounds coming from the engine.
  • Coolant on the ground where you parked. If you find coolant on the ground where you parked your car, then make sure to have your vehicle inspected immediately. Also, be sure to clean up your coolant spill immediately as this chemical could potentially be harmful if children or animals get into it.
  • Engine is steaming. If you notice steam coming from your hood while you are driving, then pull over immediately and have your vehicle towed for inspection.
  • Engine is stalling or slowing. Your vehicle should be able to accelerate at a normal rate and not stall out.
  • The hood of your vehicle is too hot to safely touch.
  • The temperature gauge is indicating an above normal temperature or is in the red zone.

 

Replacement Cylinder Heads for the Ford Escape 

As with any vehicle, the Ford Escape needs to be properly maintained, Regardless of maintenance schedule, parts can deteriorate, and engines can overheat, especially when consistently driving your vehicle in extreme climates. If you have an issue with a cylinder head crack, it’s important to resolve that issue as quickly as possible.

Clearwater Cylinder Head has plenty of head replacement options for different Ford Escape models to check out such as this one or this one. With pages of cylinder head options online, you will find what you need when searching for a new cylinder head for your Ford Escape.

FORD ESCAPE 1.6 DOHC CYLINDER HEAD CASTING# RFBM5G 2013 REBUILT

FORD ESCAPE FOCUS ZX3 MILAN 2.3 DOHC DURATEC CYLINDER HEAD 03-06 REMAN

FORD CONTOUR FOCUS MYSTIQUE 2.0 DOHC 16V CYLINDER HEAD CAST# RFYS4E ONLY REBUILT

 

Ford Escape Cylinder Heads | Buy Online or Call to Order 

If you notice overheating, smoke when starting the vehicle, excessive oil consumption, or poor fuel economy, then you may be in need of a cylinder head replacement. Since a cylinder head can be challenging to replace on a Ford Escape, Clearwater Cylinder Head Inc. would be more than happy to assist you (or your mechanic) and get you back on the road with our selection of replacements.

With over 25 years of experience and a massive catalog of heads, we are your best option for getting your Escape back on the road. Clearwater Cylinder Head is dedicated to providing professional and friendly support for all of your cylinder head needs. Feel free to call Clearwater Cylinder Head Inc. toll-free at 1-800-572-1963. We look forward to serving you.