NHTSA Complaint #10453702 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

WE BOUGHT OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE NEW. ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER, 2011 IT WAS PARKED IN OUR DOUBLE CAR ATTACHED GARAGE. MY SON CAME HOME AROUND 11:30 P.M. GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE AND DID NOT SEE OR SMELL ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I, HIS YOUNGEST SON WERE ASLEEP ALREADY FROM THE FUMES. WE HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF OUR BEDS BY MY OLDER STEP-SON. HE SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR GOING TO THE GARAGE. WE HE OPENED THE DOOR HE SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE ESCAPE. HE TRIED TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD TO GET MY DOG OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND ESCAPE THROUGH MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AS A RESULT THE WHOLE HOME WAS BURNED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SIMILAR INCIDENTS FROM OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. I FORGOT TO SAY THAT WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL ON JANUARY 31ST OF 2012. ABOUT A MONTH TOO LATE TO TELL US NOT TO PARK IT IN OR NEAR A DWELLING. THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST HORRIFIC THING I HAVE EVER GONE THROUGH AND BELIEVE ME, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE LOT IN MY LIFE. I WANT TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS THAT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS THE ONLY RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THIS. *TR