NHTSA Complaint #10346286 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS TOWING THE VEHICLE WITH HIS 2009 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 35 FT. TRITON V10 ENGINE WITH A FORD CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION IN HIS FORD ESCAPED CAUGHT FIRE. HE STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE USERS MANUAL WHICH INDICATED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE KEY IN THE ACC POSITION AND TURN THE VEHICLE ON FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE HE BEGAN TOWING A VEHICLE. THE TOW BAR WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE RV. HE OBSERVED SMOKE IN BETWEEN THE RV AND THE FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE TWO MILES BEFORE HE COULD PULL OVER. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLES, HE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE FORD ESCAPE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO REPLACE OR REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PARTS WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,064.