I drive a 2022 Escape 2.0 AWD and noticed that the front tires wear out faster than the back ones. This makes me think the AWD isn’t always active like in a Subaru. Maybe it’s more of an electronic setup that mainly uses FWD unless needed? I’ve read some stuff online, but it’s confusing. Does anyone know the details about how this AWD works?
Front tires always wear faster because they handle steering and a lot of weight.
Shawn said:
Front tires always wear faster because they handle steering and a lot of weight.
Yeah, they also handle most of the braking, which adds to the wear.
I have a 2022 Escape Titanium AWD. The AWD system kicks in automatically when the front wheels start slipping.
If you check the left-hand controls on your steering wheel, you should be able to see a small display that shows how the AWD is working. On my 2013 Escape, it lights up all four wheels when you start driving, but after a while, it only shows power to the front wheels. In winter, I leave it on that screen to see if AWD kicks in on icy roads. It’s mostly FWD until the system detects slipping, then it switches to AWD.
@Payne
I think they stopped showing AWD power on the newer models. My 2021 Escape Hybrid AWD has all the options, but I can’t find that display. Someone else said hybrids might show power changes in the center screen where you see battery charging and engine usage.
@Micah
I have a 2023 Escape with the 2.0 engine, and mine shows the power distribution on the dash.
Frost said:
@Micah
I have a 2023 Escape with the 2.0 engine, and mine shows the power distribution on the dash.
Weird! Maybe Ford swapped out that feature for the energy coach display on hybrids.
@Micah
That could be it. I usually keep my display on calm mode, so it just shows speed and range.
Ford’s AWD system mostly helps with acceleration and works at lower speeds. You can see it in action on the power distribution screen in hybrids.
Dallas said:
Ford’s AWD system mostly helps with acceleration and works at lower speeds. You can see it in action on the power distribution screen in hybrids.
If you put it in sport mode, the rear wheels stay engaged up to 7th gear or when the rear diff temp hits 220°F. It’s an electric AWD system that can disconnect the rear when not needed. It’s not like the old Subaru AWD systems. These newer setups save gas by only engaging the rear wheels when necessary.
Dallas said:
Ford’s AWD system mostly helps with acceleration and works at lower speeds. You can see it in action on the power distribution screen in hybrids.
Snow might need to know where you live if you’re asking about AWD.
I drive a 2020 Escape, and the power distribution screen shows that it cuts power to the rear wheels after about 20 mph when in normal mode.
Rotate your tires every oil change. Front tires deal with engine weight, braking, and cornering forces, so they wear out faster.
Modern AWD systems, including Ford’s, use an electronic coupler on the rear differential. This lets the computer quickly engage or disengage the rear wheels as needed. When accelerating from a stop, power is often 50-50 between the front and rear for smoother starts. At higher speeds, it sends power to the rear for stability. No modern AWD system drives all four wheels all the time—it’s inefficient and burns more gas. If you want permanent 50-50 power, you’d need an old-school 4WD system with a transfer case.
I think rotating tires every oil change might not be enough. Mine needed balancing sooner than I expected, around 20k miles.
I don’t think the AWD matters in this case.