2004 Ford Escape Review: Not the Best Compact SUV of 2004, but Maybe the Best at This Price

The 2004 Ford Escape is a pretty good compact SUV at an even better price. You can make a strong case that the Honda CR-V is the better vehicle overall, but it costs almost twice as much without being twice as good as the 2004 Escape.

Is the 2004 Ford Escape a Good Used SUV?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – On its own merits, the 2004 Ford Escape is a pretty good SUV, if not exactly stunning in any way.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Step inside and you’ll find it hard to believe this is a compact SUV. The spacious interior and generous cargo space give many mid-sizes a run for their money.
• Reliability 7/10 – You can pass 250,000 miles on the odometer with regular maintenance, but the Escape doesn’t hold up well to skipped oil changes, and there may be a lot of little fixes you need to make along the way.
• Safety 7/10 – Good crash test ratings, outdated safety technology. It’s safe enough for a twenty year old SUV but we’ve come a long way since then.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – The V6 model averages 19/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway, which is really good for a 2004 compact SUV.
• Value 8/10 – The 2004 Ford Escape might be a bit basic in many ways, but for under $3,500 it’s a steal.

What Do Critics Say About the 2004 Ford Escape?

Consumer Reports praise the 2004 Escape’s roomy interior, stating that it defies the classification of “compact” SUV. The powerful V6 engine and sharp handling earned the SUV high marks, as well.

Kelley Blue Book users praise the Escape as reliable, powerful, and stylish. They do note that there will be a lot of little here-and-there repairs to worry about with the SUV reaching an advanced age, and the engine runs a bit loud.

Edmunds liked the powerful V6 engine, but not the base inline-four. They liked the comfortable interior and car-like handling, but not the bland interior design or the small gas tank, carrying just 16 gallons of fuel.

What Common Problems Does the 2004 Ford Escape Have?

Premature corrosion has been a leading concern for 2004 Ford Escape owners. 154 of the SUV’s 495 total National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints being filed under suspension, and 137 under structure, and most of these point to excessive rust in the undercarriage and frame. This can be prevented with a coating of anti-rust spray, but it’s hardly worth the expense and effort to fix once it settles in.

A handful of drivers have reported total loss of control while in motion. The steering wheel and brakes both become unresponsive, and the driver is forced to use the parking brake or crash. A recall was issued in 2012 for this problem, but there have been a number of complaints since.

Powertrain issues are scarce, but when the tranmission does start to go the first sign will usually be trinding noises and transmission slip.

The 2004 Ford Escape has 8 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which is about average for an SUV of this age.

How Long Will the 2004 Ford Escape Last?

Many drivers have reported hitting 250,000 miles on the Escape’s original transmission and engine, but just as many have reported that the SUV was scrap metal at half that mileage. The Escape can go the distance with regular maintenance it just doesn’t hold up well to skipped oil changes. If it’s passed 125,000 without incident, it’ll probably reach 250,000.

RepairPal report an annual maintenance cost of around $600, which is about what you expect for a compact SUV. The most expensive common fix is a new air conditioning receiver drier assembly, starting at around $466.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is good for a 2004 compact SUV. You get a CD player in the entry level trims, and the Limited comes with a 6-disc CD changer. The 2004 Escape is from a time when MP3 players weren’t a given and phone connectivity was still years away, so it’s not a bad package considering its age.

Safety technology is, likewise, decent for such an old SUV. The higher trims include anti-lock brakes, and that’s about as high-tech as it gets here. Crash test scores are decent, though.

Is the 2004 Ford Escape a Good Value?

The 2004 Ford Escape is a pretty good value. The entry-level XLS trim typically lists for around $3,188 while a high-end Limited sells for around $4,561.

There are better compact SUVs out there than the 2004 Escape, but most of them cost two, three thousand dollars more, without always delivering enough extra value to justify the higher price.

What are the Different Models of the 2004 Ford Escape?

The 2004 Ford Escape is available in three trims, from the entry level XLS to the high-end Limited.

The base XLS features:

• CD player
• Cloth seating
• Manual air conditioner
• Remote keyless entry
• Power windows and door locks
• Power side mirrors

With the mid-range XLT you’re adding:

• Fog lights
• Premium cloth seating
• 6-way power adjust driver seat
• 6-disc CD changer
• Anti-lock brakes

At the top of the line, the Limited adds:

• Leather seating
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Full side impact airbags

What Engines Come In the 2004 Ford Escape?

• The base engine in the 2004 Ford Escape is a 2.0L inline-four Zetec. This engine delivers 127 horsepower and 135 lb.-ft. of torque, averaging 23/28 miles to the gallon, city/highway. This is configured in front wheel drive and paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
• If you want a little more power behind the pedal, you can get a 3.0L DOHC V6 engine delivering 196 lb.-ft. of torque and 201 hosepower. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic and can be configured in four wheel drive, averaging 19/25 miles to the gallon.

What Colors Does the 2004 Ford Escape Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2004 Ford Escape?

The 2004 Escape is roomier than you’d guess from the outside, with 53.4 inches of hip room in the back. The ride is smooth, but the SUV does have a history of suspension issues owing to premature corrosion. Of course, if you’re experiencing that much rust you’ve got bigger problems than a rough ride ahead of you.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2004 Ford Escape Have?

The back end of the 2004 Escape can pack 33.1 cubic feet of storage space, and if you fold the seats down you can go up to 69.2 cubic feet. Forget suitcases, you could fit four or five full size storage trunks back there. Basically, there’s enough storage space here that you’ll wonder why anyone bothers buying full-size SUVs.

Your payload capacity taps out at 1,174 pounds, which won’t be an issue for most hauling jobs, but if you’re using the Escape as a moving van you’ll probably want to spread your big boxes of books and workout equipment over multiple trips.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2004 Ford Escape was the fourth model year for the nameplate’s 1st Generation, running from 2001 to 2007.

2002: The Limited trim level debuted in 2002.

2003: The interior was remodeled for 2003, and they added two-tone color schemes as an option for the cabin.

2004: New safety tech included refreshed airbags and seatbelts, and the front bumper got a new look.

2005: i4 models got automatic transmission options, and the Hybrid model made its debut in 2005.

2006: The i4 engine was made available in the mid-range XLT for 2006.

2007: Ford was already phasing out the first gen by this point, but they did add a few new appearance packages for the 2007 model.

How Does the 2004 Ford Escape Compare to the Competition?

A Subaru Forester is a more fuel-efficient alternative to the Ford Escape, averaging 22/28 miles to the gallon, to the Escape’s 19/25. But, that comes at a cost of 46 horsepower, as the Forester doesn’t have anything to compete with the Escape’s V6.

The Honda CR-V might be the best compact SUV of 2004 overall, with excellent reliability ratings, a comfortable interior, and tight Civic-like handling (because it’s literally a Civic with an SUV body slapped on top). But, typically listing at over $6,000, it might cost you twice as much as an Escape without delivering twice the value.

There were a lot of great compact SUVs released in 2004, and the Escape is up against some stiff competition. But if you’re looking for the best value for your dollar it’s hard to beat.

Do Owners Recommend the 2004 Ford Escape?