NHTSA Complaint #10089078 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

9-1-04 MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OF MY HOME WHERE I BEGAN TO BACK UP. THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION IN MY DRIVEWAY SO I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND PULLED 1/2 WAY INTO THE GARAGE TO CLEAR THE WAY. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, OPENED MY DOOR, TOOK OFF MY SEATBELT AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR WALKING TOWARDS THE REAR. SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE KNOCKING ME DOWN BECAUSE OF THE OPEN DOOR. I JUMPED INTO THE CAR (WHERE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT) TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK-IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLING FAST. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HELP OF THE OPEN DOOR JAMMING ALONG SIDE THE GARAGE WALL. THE END RESULT WAS SHOULDER AND COLLAR BONE DAMAGE AS WELL AS SEVER BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE OPEN DOOR. IF THE DOOR HAD NOT BEEN OPEN, MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BEEN HIT HEAD ON. I AM POSITIVE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS NEW CAR, YET THE GALPIN VAN NUYS FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO INSPECT IT FOR SAFETY. THEY INSISTED THAT I FIRST FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE CARRIER, WHICH I DID AND STILL HAVE BEEN REFUSED THE SAFETY INSPECTION BY FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL AND THE CORPORATE LEVEL. I WANT TO ENSURE I AM DRIVING A SAFE CAR AND THIS PROBLEM WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK