antonin

I'm in exactly the same situation - transmission leak, need "golden bolt" and nobody can find that bolt. If I get the Escape back this weekend, then it will have been in the shop two solid weeks. And this vehicle was purchased last August so again similar to your situation, this is after less than one year of ownership. I'm always concerned about long-term impact of problems like this. There were no warning lights on the dash that pointed to anything being amiss. I just found out once we started to notice tell-tale stains being left on pavement where we'd parked the Escape. Did I catch the problem soon enough? As a first-time Ford owner (previous vehicles were Honda), I can't say that this has been a positive experience.

A week ago, my 2008 Escape Limited developed a serious fluid leak, which my dealer diagnosed as a failed transmission fluid cooler. Apparently, a TSB exists where this failure can occur due to "extreme temperature change". I am now told that a special bolt is required to fasten the new cooler to the vehicle, and it will take several weeks for this item to arrive, although the order is in emergency status. A couple of questions to the group... - How common is this cooler failure? - Is it reasonable to have to wait several weeks to ship a simple bolt? Could they not ship one from the factory where the Escape is manufactured? This has been my first domestic vehicle purchase - most of my previous vehicles have been Hondas. While parts are more expensive on Hondas, I don't remember ever having to endure such a long wait.