Autoblog

Couple sues Ford because Escape lemon replacement is wrong color [w/poll]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Ford

The self-proclaimed "King of Lemon Laws" strikes again. This time with a couple in Wisconsin whose 2010 Ford Escape was in the shop for more than 30 days within the first year of ownership due to transmission problems. The couple hired Vince Megna after Ford replaced their Sangria Red Escape (shown above) with a stone-colored interior with a Steel Blue 2012 model with a darker charcoal-colored interior.

Ford claims that it properly followed the procedure of the Wisconsin lemon law, which Ford's lawyer argues requires automakers to replace the lemon with a similar vehicle, not an exact replacement. The judge presiding over the case compared this color issue to a black Cadillac versus a Mary Kay-pink Cadillac. If the Porters win the lawsuit, they will be able to receive as much as double the price of the $25,000 Escape in compensation as well as any attorney's fees.

Let us know what you think of this case in the poll below.

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Couple sues Ford because Escape lemon replacement is wrong color [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA probing Ford Escape over throttle issue

Chris Paukert — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Crossover, Ford

According to the Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is training its gaze on 2005-2012 Ford Escape. According to the report, the federal safety agency has opened a probe at the behest of the North Carolina Consumers Council, which petitioned for an investigation following a pair of complaints related to throttle issues.

The council noted in its petition that Ford has previously acknowledged a problem with hesitation and stalling in Escape models, as it has issued a series of technical service bulletins to its dealer body to deal with the issue.

The NHTSA inquiry is not a full-blown investigation at this time and there is no recall pending. No crashes or injuries have been reported due to the problem, but up to 1.6 million examples of the popular crossover could be affected if NHTSA's study does trigger a recall.

NHTSA probing Ford Escape over throttle issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner under investigation for rear glass that shatters

Chris Shunk — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Ford

2010 Ford Escape - Click above for high-res image gallery

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating 2010 and 2011 Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners due to several complaints of shattering rear glass. According to The Detroit News, there have been 18 reported complaints of the glass braking "simultaneously" while opening or closing the liftgate, and one of the incidents reportedly resulted in the vehicle owner and a 10-year-old child receiving cuts from the glass.

The NHTSA investigation adds that Ford issued a technical service bulletin to dealers last November for 2010-2011 Escape and Mariner models. The TSB states that the incidents tend to occur in colder temperatures, and instructs technicians to inspect the glass for signs of impact or external damage, followed by glass replacement.

The investigation covers 200,000 vehicles built on or before October 15, 2010, but that total pales in comparison to a Ford recall that has already been issued for the same problem. In 2004, Ford recalled 955,000 2002 and 2003 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers for liftgate glass issues. Ford received more than 5,000 complaints for that recall - far and above what NHTSA has received for this latest issue.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Shunk / AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner under investigation for rear glass that shatters originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Escape puts Ford back atop Cash For Clunkers sales pileup

Chris Shunk — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Ford

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery

In America, we like our sports and love to keep score. Even when it comes to car-buying subsidies, we want to know which model is selling best. The government says the Ford Focus is the top seller under Cash for Clunkers, but Edmunds has a different winner: the Ford Escape. The discrepancy stems from the government's old-school way of counting model sales. The feds consider each model variant a separate vehicle, while Edmunds counts vehicle sales as a whole. In the case of the Escape, the Environmental Protection Agency counts the crossover as six separate models; including FWD, AWD and Hybrid versions.

While the government's list of C4C top sellers contains mainly small cars, the Edmunds list tells a different story. Since the feds count each truck configuration (GM and Ford trucks each have five) as a different model, no pickups made the cut. That was a surprise to many, considering the fact that 83% of the vehicles turned in were trucks, and large pickups have lower fuel economy requirements to work under C4C. On the Edmunds list, the Ford F-150 comes in at number five, while the Silverado sits at seven.

There's been plenty of healthy discussion regarding C4C, and it appears even counting methods are up for debate. With a fresh $2 billion getting dumped into the program's coffers, it looks like we'll be able to keep talking straight through Labor Day. Hit the jump to look over Edmunds' Top Clunker Buys, and chime in with your comments after the fold.

[Source: CNN Money]

Continue reading REPORT: Escape puts Ford back atop Cash For Clunkers sales pileup

REPORT: Escape puts Ford back atop Cash For Clunkers sales pileup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner gets more safety gear for 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Crossover, Ford

Ford Escape - Click above for high-res gallery

Ford is continuing to leverage the development dollars it spends on new technology while also keeping products fresh by expanding new features to more vehicles. The latest example is the 2010 Escape and Mercury Mariner. After a body redesign in 2008 and new powertrains for '09, this year brings additional safety enhancements. Ford's compact CUVs now have integrated blind-spot mirrors and the MyKey system as standard equipment, with several other features optional. MyKey lets the owner program keys for things like stereo volume, speed limiting and warning beeps at certain speed thresholds, which ought to be very handy when turning over the car to a teenager.

New options for the Escape and Mariner include the Active Park Assist feature we saw demonstrated recently on the Lincoln MKS, a rear view camera with LCD display in the rear mirror and updated SYNC features.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford Escape

Continue reading Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner gets more safety gear for 2010

Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner gets more safety gear for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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