NHTSA Complaint #10137153 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT I PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 19,2005. I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SALESMAN AT FUTURE FORD OF ROSEVILLE(WHICH IS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) TOLD MY HUSBAND AND I THAT THE CAR HAD A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WOULD TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IF SOME ONE FIFTY POUNDS OR LESS WAS IN THE VEHICLE. NOW HAVING KIDS THAT REALLY PEAKED OUR INTEREST. WENT ON TO PURCHASE THE CAR. NOT SOLEY BASED ON THIS FEATURE BUT IT WAS A DECIDING FACTOR. EVER SINCE WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THE LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG HAS TURNED OFF COMES ON EVEN WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE SEAT AND I WEIGH OVER 120 LBS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE WITNESSED THE PROBLEM THEM SELVES SEVERAL TIMES. THE COMPANY HAS EVEN CALLED OUT AN ENGINEER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND HE SEEN THE PROBLEM HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. HOWEVER THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS DOING THIS BECAUSE THE FACTORY TESTS THAT THEY RUN ARE SOWING THAT THE CAR IS WORKING PROPERLY. IT IS OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE LIGHT COMES ON AS SOON AS I SIT IN THE SEAT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD PUT ME INTO ANOTHER CAR AND TAKE BACK THE ESCAPE. I CHOSE A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHICH HAS THE SAME SAFETY FEATURE BUT IT WORKS WHEN I AM IN THE SEAT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER THREE WEEKS AND NOW THEY HAVE CALLED US AND SAID THAT WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THEY CANT FIND US SOMEONE TO FINANCE US DUE TO THE NEGATIVE EQUITY FROM THE ESCAPE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE IN THIS CASE. THEY WANT US TO RETURN THE VAN AND I AM REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE TOP TAKE BACK THE ESCAPE WHICH IS THE VERY CAR THAT I AM NOT SAFE IN. TWO OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ESCAPE AND THE EXPLORER BEFORE. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NM