Does the 2004 ford escape have a timing belt or chain?

Your 2004 Ford Escape comes factory installed using a timing chain. Though timing chains can yield increased noise that people find annoying, the reliability of them should make up for it and You'll usually not have to replace them at all for the life of the vehicle. Ford uses these for all trim levels of the 2004 Escape, whether it's the two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, 2.3 L4, 3.0 V6, or whatever engine. If for some reason You do need to replace the timing chain in Your Escape, they can range anywhere from $40 to $120 in price, based on what brand (if any) part You buy. Symptoms of a timing chain failure include a rattling sound from the engine as well as bits of metal in Your oil; if You encounter these, consider takeng Your vehicle in for service as soon as You can.