NHTSA Complaint #10167416 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE FROM MINNESOTA TO IDAHO WHEN, I'VE BEEN TOLD, A CONNECTOR BELT BROKE AND BROKE THROUGH THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. I WAS PULLING A 5 X 8 TRAILER WITH A CLASS 3 HITCH AND I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE TRAILER DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BREAKDOWN. AS THE VEHICLE CLEARED A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND SPRAYING LIQUID AND SMOKE. WHEN WE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE OIL HAD COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE OIL RESERVOIR (I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE OIL CAP WAS FIRMLY IN PLACE AND DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCIDENT). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF RECEIVING A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND "METAL PARTS IN THE ENGINE." I'VE ASKED ABOUT WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW. WHEN I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WILL BE SENT TO FORD FOR ANALYSIS BUT THE FINDINGS WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH ME. MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS BREAKDOWN IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND NEW FORD VEHICLE I'VE PURCHASED WHERE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THIS CURRENT VEHICLE HAS 35,552 MILES AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 6/14/06. *NM