NHTSA Complaint #10297763 — 2007 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT. AS WE TURNED AROUND IN THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND EXPLODED OUT. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE IN AN ARC PATTERN. ALL GLASS AND ONE OF THE HINGES FROM THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT OF THE CAR FROM THE EXPLOSION. THE CAR WAS WARMED AND WASN'T THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED THAT DAY. IT WAS RAINING, THERE WAS NO FROST OR ICE ON THE WINDOWS. THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS NOT ON AND THE REAR WIPER WAS NOT ON. WE WERE NOT MOVING AND NEITHER WERE ANY OF THE VEHICLES AROUND US BECAUSE OF THE RED LIGHT. SINCE ALL GLASS FELL OUT, WE KNEW THAT NOTHING HIT THE GLASS TO CAUSE IT TO SHATTER. I HAVE BEEN READING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST MONTH BUT IN ALL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO PUT IN A CLAIM BUT THERE IS A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. IF THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE THEN I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR MY EXPENSES BY FORD. *TR