For 2009 they adopted the 6 speed, which I assume is the one they did jointly with GM at a cost of over $1 billion. They initially said it was not towable in other Ford/Lincoln units in 2008. I even phoned them and pointed out that their engineers said, in a technical article, that is was towable flat. Someone later got to the right level and they changed all their manuals (I would have purchased a Lincoln MkX but because they said NO I got a Tahoe).
This morning a package of material arrived on the Escape from Ford. Now I read these problems. Certainly will have to look at the new Terrain (updated Equinox) now.
Don