Model has transmission that has no provision to override automatic transmission allowing engagement of lower gears to utilizing engine braking. This ability is essential for safe mountain driving where downhill grades, including sharp curves, go on for miles. Full dependence on wheel brakes, which will overheat, is a safety issue. Co-efficient of friction decreases with increasing brake pad temperatures. Having driven this make/model as a rental for ~2,500 miles in the mountainous states of AZ, ut, and co I speak from first hand experience. As a retired engineer from the U.S. dept. Of energy I ask please look into this as a design safety issue.

- St. Charles, IL, USA

Have new 2017 Ford Escape 1.5 ecoboost SE 4WD. Only 800 miles on the car. When turning tight turns, hearing a loud grinding sound from rear of vehicle that is not present when test driving other new 2017 Escapes on the lot with 4WD. Only does it from a stop and barely moving, then sound goes away. Called Ford detroit, they said it was normal. Went to 3 different dealerships, said the same thing. Have a friend who got the same car but different color. Has 1000 miles on his and it does not make this noise. Sounds like axle binding and wheel hop but not feeling good about this since the noise is not being duplicated in other cars like mine. Sound goes away after vehicle speeds up and starts to travel in a straight line.

- London, KY, USA