The escape has a cd4e tranny, so there isn't a filter persay but a stainless non service ( accoriding to ford) screen thing.You don't drop the pan on this style tranny, there is a 3/8 style pipe plug on the side of the tranny. The real problem with a drain and fill is that you don't get the converter. The dealer doesn't just drain & fill they unhook the tranny lines from the radiator and hook them up to a tranny flush machine, the machine flushes the entire tarnny & conveter, they then add anti corrosive additives then the machine refills with fresh fluid. The machine service is by the far the best tranny service method out there for getting the entire tranny. That said I have never paid a Ford dealer $200 for this service on my taurus or explorer so shop around.