NHTSA Complaint #10398680 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2010, COMPLAINED OF NOISE IN FRONT END, HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, AND WITHIN 5 MONTHS, THE FRAME BUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT AND MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THAT IT WAS IN THE GARAGE AND THEY INSPECTED THE NOISE CHANGED PARTS ON THAT SIDE AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF THE FRAME BEING COMPROMISED, AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A COMPLETE BREAK IN THE FRAME . EVERY MECHANIC I CALLED CANT BELIEVE IT. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS TOTALED AND THREE YEARS TO PAY ON IT. I ALSO HAD A YEARLY INSPECTION JUST TWO MONTHS PREVIOUSLY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FRAME OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE? I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE FRAME BUSTED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A TURN AND NOT DRIVING 55MPH AS SHE WAS JUST PREVIOUSLY OR WITH MY BEAUTIFUL 2 GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE SHE ESCAPED DEATH. THIS VEHICLE IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE OF WHICH I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHERS CHILDREN TO GAMES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATING OUTCOME. I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THE FRAME WORK AND CONDUCT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS 2001 FORD ESCAPE WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES. *TR