NHTSA Complaint #10402567 — 2007 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

I HAVE THIS 2007 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT WORKED FINE UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF AT THE LIGHT STOP AFTER A MESSAGE OF "STOP SAFELY NOW" DISPLAYED ON BOARD. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARKING AND TURN ON THE ENGINE BEFORE I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A CHECK UP AND IT TURNED OUT THAT A SMALL STONE MAD A SMALL HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. WE FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IT SEEMED TO WORK WELL UNTIL 3 MONTHS LATER WHEN IT BEGAN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, ONLY THIS TIME THE DISPLAY SHOWED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS TO FIND A WAY TO STOP SAFELY BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AFTER THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. IT IS SCARY SINCE IT HAPPENS EVERY FEW MILES NOW. WE SWITCHED TO DIFFERENT GAS BRANDS, MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE, CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER ON TIME. THE OWNER'S MANUAL MENTIONS THAT THE STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE COULD BE AN INDICATION OF HYBRID COMPONENTS FAILURE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND READ FORUM DISCUSSIONS AND I FOUND OUT THAT MANY ESCAPE HYBRID OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT TO ME. IT IS TOO COMMON TO BE JUST AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. YESTERDAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, OUR 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT AND SHE REPORTED FEELING UNSAFE AND SCARED. WE WERE DRIVING FROM WINDSOR TO CHATHAM AND DURING THE 70 MILES DRIVE ALONE, MY DAUGHTER COUNTED 7 OCCURRENCES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. IS IT A DEATH OR MORE THAT WILL PROMPT INSPECTORS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES? I HOPE IT IS NOT US. *TR