NHTSA Complaint #10192861 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON JUNE 2,2007. MY DAUGHTER IS ACTUALLY COOWNER/DRIVER. SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE ON WED, JUNE 6 AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START IT, IT WAS LOCKED UP. NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE STEERING, ETC. TO WORK. SHE SAID IT WAS LOCKED IN ADVANTRAC MODE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, WHERE SHE WORKS. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE, AND IT TOOK THEM 2 1/2 DAYS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAY PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILAABLE UNTIL JULY 5, 2007, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. HER CAR PAYMENT IS DUE BEFORE THEN, AND SHE HAS ONLY DRIVEN 240+ MILES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, OR IT WAS NOT INSPECTED PROPERLY BEFORE BEING SOLD. THEY SAY THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN THEY WILL ADMIT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD CANCEL OUR PURCHASE, AND TAKE THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT WANT TO WORRY ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT LOCKING UP, CAUSING A ROLLOVER,ETC. I THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP IT . WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET HELP, I WILL PROBABLY CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA TOMORROW. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS HAPPENING, AND FEEL THAT WE GOT CONNED INTO BUYING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, SO WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR TROUBLE, AND RELEASED FROM THIS PURCHASE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU.