Ford ESCAPE 2021 Owner's Manual page 221

Driving In Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Shift to a lower gear and drive steadily
through the terrain. Apply the accelerator
slowly and avoid excessive wheel slip. Do
not drive your vehicle in deep sand for an
extended period of time. This will cause
the system to overheat. A message
appears in the information display. See
All-Wheel Drive – Information
Messages (page 220).
Note: If your vehicle gets stuck in sand, it
may be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature, as
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more
than a minute, as damage to the
transmission and tires may occur or the
engine may overheat.
Driving Through Mud and Water
Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even all-wheel drive vehicles can lose
traction in mud. If your vehicle does slide,
steer in the direction of the slide until you
regain control of your vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts can cause an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
Note: If your vehicle gets stuck in mud, it
may be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing
All-Wheel Drive
218
(If Equipped)
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature, as
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more
than a minute, as damage to the
transmission and tires may occur or the
engine may overheat.
Water
If you must drive through deep water, drive
slowly. The water could limit traction or
brake capability. See Driving Through
Shallow Water (page 311).
When driving through water, determine the
depth and avoid water higher than the
center of the wheel.
Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes will not stop your vehicle as
quickly as dry brakes. Apply light pressure
to the brake pedal while slowly moving the
vehicle to dry the brakes.
Note: Driving through deep water could
cause damage to the transmission. If the
front or rear axle is submerged in water, the
axle lubricant and power transfer unit
lubricant should be checked and changed
if necessary.
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Although natural obstacles could make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should try to drive
straight up or straight down.
Note: Avoid turning on steep slopes or
hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping
sideways and possible vehicle roll over.
Whenever driving on a hill, determine
beforehand the route you can use. Do not
drive over the crest of a hill without seeing
what conditions are on the other side. Do
not drive in reverse over a hill without the
aid of an observer.