 Note: We ordered the SE model with the 2.0L engine because the 1.6L engine had the fire recall. This car is 5 years old w/ 65, xxx miles. (We are the original owners.) (The vehicle is always serviced at the Ford dealer and the dealer changes the oil at the recommended 5,000 mile mark.) This car is in no way abused and it is lightly driven. >Pros: 1.) Useful Features: Keypad entry (You'll never be locked out of your car again!) Why don't other manufacturers have this feature?, Microsoft Sync, automatic headlights, fog lights, capless fuel-filler neck, built-in blind-spot mirrors, dashboard tray, automatic hatch2.) Well Designed: solid feel, quiet & smooth ride, responsive steering feel, spacious interior, good looks  >Cons: 1.) Rough engine idle: Occasionally, while sitting at a stop light, the RPM needle bounces and fluctuates below 1,000 RPM and the car sputters and vibrates, sometimes violently, as if it's going to stall. This problem often occurs after fueling. There have also been problems with smoke upon startup. A puff of blue, gray or white smoke sometimes comes out of the exhaust when the car is started after sitting for a day. I explained, to the dealer, that this most likely indicates transmission fluid and/or oil is leaking into the engine/exhaust. (Dealer could not duplicate it, and was very rude saying that it is impossible.)  2.) Quality control: The amount of recalls is ridiculous. When we first got this vehicle, the molding around the USB/Aux port inside the center console came out, then the front bumper molding came out from under the car, on its own. The left steering wheel navigation button (arrows) had to be replaced. The hatch has never had proper alignment: a finger can be placed in the gap on one side of the hatch, but not in the gap on the other side. The rear seat plastic moldings near the floor have sheared off , costing $50 each to repair. The CD player recently stopped feeding disks and the dealer claims that the vehicle has to be sent somewhere else for repair, as they do not deal with audio repairs.  8/7/17: The horn stopped working at 66,100 miles. The horn would not sound when using the steering wheel button or when using the key fob lock button. The horn is a safety feature, it should never fail!!! It was repaired at our expense for abut $200.  Things that should last the life of the car have failed on this vehicle. 3.)Recalls: There have been about 12 recalls. Getting recalls repaired is an inconvenience. Recalls indicate that the vehicle wasn't manufactured properly the first time.4.)Radio: Changing radio stations is difficult: there is no tune knob. The left and right arrows are used to tune, but they do not respond quickly, there are also  confusing sub menus that have to be selected for the different bands: (FM1, FM2, AM1, AM2 etc.) Luckily, a tuning knob has been added in the newer models.5.)It is difficult to find a comfortable seating position. (Front seats need better lumbar support.)6.)Ford no longer offers Escape Hybrid.>Overall, I may still buy a Ford in the future, there are so many convenient features on this vehicle that I cannot live without now. I hope that the issues have been ironed out on the new Escapes, as this is a first year vehicle.  This car does get me where I need to go safely. I have considered buying a Ford C-MAX Hybrid as my next vehicle. Hopefully that won't be for quite awhile.70, 000 Update: Vehicle has been performing very well and has not had it's sputtering or smoke problem for quite awhile. Fingers crossed the good performance continues.