NHTSA Complaint #10310892 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT BEFORE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. WHEN HE TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE LIGHT, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING A POSSIBLE REASON FOR FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPARTMENT AND THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO DESTROYED. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR, AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPARTMENT AND OTHER COMPONENTS (NOT KNOWN TO THE CONTACT) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE REPAIRS IF HE SIGNED A CONTRACT STATING THAT HE WOULD NO LONGER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000.