NHTSA Complaint #10393101 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

THE REAR HATCH WINDOW ON MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE EXPLODED OUTWARDLY WHILE PARKED IN THE LOT WHERE I WORK. GLASS BLEW OUT IN A RADIUM OF 15-20 FEET AND IT WAS JUST LUCK THAT NO VEHICLES WERE PARKED BEHIND MINE OR THAT ANYONE WAS WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW BLEW OUT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT DAMAGED THE INTERIOR AND THE HATCH ITSELF AND REQUIRED THAT INTERIOR PANELS BE REPLACED AND THE HATCH REPAINTED IN ADDITION TO REPLACING THE GLASS. THE GLASS SHOP WHERE I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR NOTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS FOR 2004-2006 ESCAPES. THANKFULLY, MY INSURANCE CARRIER PAID FOR ALL REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT MINUS THE DEDUCTIBLE. HOWEVER, THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR REPORTS AND A TV STATION IN MY CITY DID A REPORT ON A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON AN ESCAPE PARKED IN A GARAGE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY WINDOW BLEW. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE. IT IS AMAZING THAT NO ONE HAS OF YET BEEN REPORTED INJURED FROM FLYING GLASS. *TR