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I've been a long time Escort radar detector customer. Started with the original Escort, then their first Passport, onto the 8500 and now the 8500 X50. The first two seemed like they could withstand an atom bomb. The first 8500 is still going after 3 years. The X50's (I bought two, one for a buddy) both failed within 3 months of ownership. Started getting regular "recalibrate" messages then finally "service required". For the record both units were in use here in Texas as have my other Escort units.
I sent the first one in a week ago then my friend called and said his did the same thing so I'm sending it in today. So I called the CS dept. again to get a return authorization. The lady on the phone says, "Well, we've seen a lot of this lately. Seems like all it is is that it is getting overheated and if you'll wait for it to cool down, it will probably work fine. Would you try that first?" My response was, No, now can you give me my RA# please?
She went on to tell me that they think the problem is that they are being left in the sun and/or left on too long. I was almost speechless (but quickly recovered ) "So you're telling me not to leave a device designed to operate on the windshield, in the sun?!?"
As I mentioned to them, my days of being a loyal Escort fan are past. I tried the V1 but didn't like the radar type indicator lights as they're not backlit so it's hard to tell radar types at night unless you have no stereo and windnoise. Although with the Stealth install working on your display I imagine I would have liked it better. Though without that available now, I'm not sure where to go.
Escort's received the first detector on 9/19 and said, "They've received it in the repair department and have started working on it." A quote.
Called them today to see what they've found. "Oh that just means we've started received them at the repair house, it will take 2-3 weeks before we have any more information."
In the good old Escort/Passport days, you'd send in your detector and get a new one back in about a week. Now they try and patch yours back together and you're lucky if it takes less than a month, but more than likely 6 weeks without a detector.
I am officially 'done' with Escort. Not a penny more of my bidness.
Just got my 'repaired' X50 blue back from Escort today.
Works for 15 minutes on way to work and then it fails again giving the EXACT same error as before, "Self Calibration" flashes four times then "Service Required" comes up.
I've left a message for the customer service manager expressing my disappointment.
Their first response is that there's something wrong with my car causing it. I replied asking why my red Escort 8500 works fine in the same car, as I used it for the 3 weeks they were 'fixing' my blue X50 detector. Hmmmmm, they don't know.
Again, I would strongly encourage everyone to steer clear of Escort brand radar detectors these days. Their original units were first class and built to last. Current day units are total garbage and even Escort cannot keep them working or even repair them for that matter.
) "So you're telling me not to leave a device designed to operate on the windshield, in the sun?!?" 
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