NHTSA Complaint #10237790 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ALONG THE INSTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROLL SET AT 75 MPH. WE WERE GOING UP A SMALL HILL AND ABOUT TO GO INTO THE PASSING LANE. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED IN OVER DRIVE AND THE RPMS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR SERVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE. WE CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WERE HE THEN INFORMED US THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HE STATED THE THE CATALYTIC CONVERETED HAD GONE OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CAR ALSO WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX THIS IS AROUND $8000.00. I CONTACTED FORD TODAY TO TELL THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AT A FORD SERVICE STATION CONSISTANTLY SINCE THE CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VECHILE. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHERE EVER ONE HAS SEEMED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY SAY THE SAME THINGS TO THEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD SOME SMALLER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE LIKE THE ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON AND THE EMERGENCY BREAK LIGHT GOING ON AND BROUGHT THEM IN TO THE SHOP AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSORS. RIGHT NOW I AM NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE DUE TO FINICIAL REASONS.