[shorod]

Well for now I'd say you should be happy none of the places you took the car told you that you need (insert expensive part here) right away and if you don't replace it now, you might crash. It sounds like the shops you've taken it are not trying to sell you something you don't need. And it's quite difficult to diagnose if they're unable to get it to act up and there are no diagnostic codes to hint at an area that could match the symptoms. For example, I was suspecting that you actually have a misfire which was causing your Escape to go into limp home mode, but that definitely should have triggered a diagnostic code or more.

Do you now which engine your Escape has, or at least if it's a 4 cylinder or V6?

-Rod