TOWING 2012 FORD ESCAPE - RV-Dreams Community Forum

sallylynne · RV-Dreams Community Member

TOWING 2012 FORD ESCAPE

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Perhaps if you gave some more information on your Ford Escape, others could help you. Looking at the 2012 Dinghy Guide, it shows the Escape with the inline 4 cylinder as towable with either manual or automatic transmission. With the V-6, both regular and hybrid, it states that it can be if it is equipped with automatic transmission, but N/A with the manual.

So, which Ford Escape do you own?

Terry

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

The vehicle owners manual is your best source...look under "recreational towing" or similar.

sallylynne · RV-Dreams Community Member

We own the 4 cyl, front wheel drive and the manual does say it is towable. But now Motorcoach has come out with statements from Ford that it should no longer be towed. There is a blog on motorcoach.com of Ford replacing several transmissions in Escapes, but not coming up with a way to fix the problem from happening. And, our dealership (one of the largest in the country and with a stellar reputation) pleads ignorance of any problem.

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

There have been a lot of transmission failures on the Escape that led Ford to list it as untowable 4 down. Seems there is a plastic oil return line inside the transmission that melts due to the higher heat that is caused by 4 down towing, leading to trans failure.

However, Remco has a transmission lube pump that can be installed, certainly cheaper than selling the car and buying another.

Best Regards!

-- Edited by Old Snipe on Wednesday 8th of August 2012 10:10:20 AM

sallylynne · RV-Dreams Community Member

They told us installing the pump nullifies the warranty.

But, it's looking like we may be OK. The 2013 and the 2011 transmissions are entirely different, according to the service manager at Galpin Ford. The 2012's...some of each. They were able to see that ours is like the 2011, which the book still says is towable. The manual for the 2013 says not towable 4 wheels down. So, we're probably going to take our chances...we have a 7 year/100k mile warranty that does cover the transmission ie it comes to that.

Thanks for all the helpful comments!

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We purchased our 2012 Ford Escape AWD 6cyl. a year ago today (Aug. 8, 2011) On Oct. 12, with not quite 2000 miles on it, we fried the transmission while towing. We too had researched and had friends with a 2010 model who have many towed miles and love it. We had followed all precautions in the manual and had been towing other cars behind our RV for 11 years with no problems. We towed the car (now un-driveable) from El Paso, TX to Gilbert, AZ after an unfortunate experience with a Ford Dealer in El Paso. The dealer in Gilbert (San Tan Ford) was wonderful and unbelievably helpful. We were not their first fried transmission and they have multuple customers who tow behind their RVs. The transmission was replaced and a Remco transmission lube pump installed. We still follow the manual directions and have towed about 3500 miles on the new setup with no problems. We never got any notification from Ford about it no longer being towable but checked with the dealer in Gilbert when we read the article in Motorhome magazine in March. They confirmed that units now being sold were no longer towable, but claimed we are still covered. The dealer from whom we purchased the car in Ohio had absolutely no knowledge or experience with RV towing and still did not when we checked with them this spring. We have friends who lost their 2011 transmission and so far are doing okay with just a replacement. So far, so good....hope it stays that way!

Mary

-- Edited by mcw50 on Wednesday 8th of August 2012 10:00:55 PM

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Friends of ours tried the pump, twice with failure both times..... They ended up trading for a Jeep

sallylynne · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the input, Mary...not what we wanted to hear! Your car, judging from the date purchased, was also of the 2011 transmission. However, maybe the 6 cyl vs our 4 cyl makes a difference. We're still in a quandary but leaning toward just seeing what happens. In the forseeable future we will only be travelling within California and almost always at state parks in beach communities....wouldn't get stranded in the boonies should there be a problem. I'll update should we learn anything new.

sallylynne · RV-Dreams Community Member

Latest...Galpin Ford is willing TO PUT IN WRITING that our 2012 Escape IS TOWABLE 4 WHEELS DOWN so no other dealer could dispute the warranty coverage should we run into trouble away from home. End of matter, I hope!

JayKim-no regrets · RV-Dreams Family Member

sallylynne wrote:
Latest...Galpin Ford is willing TO PUT IN WRITING that our 2012 Escape IS TOWABLE 4 WHEELS DOWN so no other dealer could dispute the warranty coverage should we run into trouble away from home. End of matter, I hope!

Wish I had seen this thread earlier!! We have a 2010 Ford Escape, we were told by the RV dealer when we bought the RV that our car could NOT be towed 4 wheels down. Do you know if it is just the newer , 2011 and newer, that can't be towed 4 wheels down? or does the age not matter?

We have the opportunity this week, to buy a 3 month old Master tow dolly for just over $1000, from what we have seen of prices on these Dolly's, we are getting a great deal. We would still prefer to tow 4 wheels down though if we were able too.

Thank you for any info.

-- Edited by JayKim-no regrets on Friday 1st of February 2013 09:57:41 AM