Thinking about getting a 2014 Ford Escape SE Ecoboost 4WD with 90,000 miles. The seller is asking $8,000 cash. It’s through a friend of my cousin, who works at Ford as the head EV tech. He says the car has no problems, but honestly, that makes me a bit suspicious.
The car is in Massachusetts, and I’m in New Jersey. My cousin is checking it out for me in person. What should I have him look for or ask about when he inspects it? Any tips would be great. Thanks!
Absolutely not. This car will make your life miserable.
The biggest issue is coolant intrusion, and it’s a common problem with these. There are class action lawsuits about it. Even if you fix it, the repairs don’t hold up well over time.
Honestly, this engine is one of the worst designs ever. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
@Hale
I agree 100%. Doing repairs on this car is a nightmare. Even changing the battery requires a ton of effort. I ended up switching to an older RAV4, and when I popped the hood, I couldn’t believe how much simpler it was to work on.
@Hale
Yup, stay away from the 2013-2018 Escapes. They’re notorious for coolant intrusion and issues with the Ecoboost turbos. Plus, if you don’t use the exact right oil, you’ll face even more problems. If you want reliability, look at a 2012 or older Escape with a V6.
I have 138,000 miles on mine, and it hasn’t had any major problems.
But $8,000 is too high. That car should be closer to $5,000.
Uma said:
I have 138,000 miles on mine, and it hasn’t had any major problems.
But $8,000 is too high. That car should be closer to $5,000.
Mine’s at 218,987 miles. It’s holding up, but I’d recommend checking underneath, especially the frame near the skid plate. Mine has rust issues in a few spots. I still drive it locally, but I wouldn’t trust it for long trips anymore.
Don’t buy it. Honestly, just avoid any Ford Escape altogether.
I’ve got the same car with 270,000 kilometers on it. The coolant intrusion problem is real. My engine smokes daily because of it. Other than that, it’s been mostly regular maintenance like brakes and oil changes. But the coolant issue is a dealbreaker.
I used to own a 2014 Escape SE. Just sold it, and I couldn’t be happier to be rid of it. My advice? Don’t buy it.