I just picked up an '09 Escape with the Nav/Sync system.
In the narrow upper display where the temperature indicators are I noticed the Time and Date display lights up momentarily when you start the car, then disappears. The only thing left is temp, direction and bluetooth - or a real informative 'pm' indicator.
Is there a way to keep the time displayed? I don't want to keep going back to the Nav system to get the clock displayed because then all other functions are not visible if you display the clock there.

 

I'm having the same problem! I'm taking it in tomorrow to get looked at. Were you able to get yours fixed?