We are mixed on Fords. ‘86 Explorer Eddie Bauer was fantastic. Our daughter’s ‘04 Explorer was fantastic. My ‘03 Expedition was fantastic. My ‘14 Expedition (current car Is good except for a $3,000 sun roof track failure. I fought tooth and nail to get the extended warranty to cover that.
Then our daughters bought ‘12 and ‘14 Escapes based on the family experience with Ford products. Both have been rotten — transmissions, ignition modules, spark plugs, cooling fans, throttle bodies, stumbling and hesitation. You name it. Dealers trying to rip the young women off until Dad got on the phone with the service managers. They both HATE them and want to get rid of them. Neither of them will buy a Ford product again.
Our son bought a newer ‘17 Escape and so far, so good.
I have a 05 Escape and just love it the only problem I have had EVER was a broken serpentine belt!!! Best car I have ever had 13 years can’t believe how wonderful the car is!!! I am in CA. so cars do seem to hold up longer with no salt on roads from snow ect. !!!!!