NHTSA Complaint #10485002 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

MY FAMILY WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE ON A TRIP, MY WIFE CLOSED THE REAR TRUNK OF OUR 2010 FORD ESCAPE, AND THE WINDOW ON THE REAR TRUNK SHATTERED COMPLETELY. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OBSTRUCTION; THE WINDOW EXPLODED ON IMPACT. BROKEN GLASS FELL IN ALL DIRECTIONS: IN THE CAR, IN THE PARKING LOT, ON MY WIFE, AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORING CARS. WE CLEANED UP THE GLASS ON THE GROUND AND DROVE THE CAR TO OUR DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE A FULL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY, BUT WERE TOLD THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IS "UNWARRANTABLE." AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, ANY INSTANCE IN WHICH A WINDOW SHATTERS COMPLETELY AND GLASS SHARDS FALL INSIDE THE CAR, FORD CONCLUDES THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN OBSTRUCTION AND DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE SAID THEY COULD NOT OVERTURN THE SERVICEMAN'S CONCLUSION UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART IN QUESTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ABUSE. THE WINDOW IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE: I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS AND NEVER WITNESSED A WINDOW EXPLODE AS THIS ONE DID, AND THEN I FIND THAT AT LEAST 18 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA FOR THE SAME ISSUE. TO INSIST THAT A PART MUST BE UNDER RECALL BEFORE THEY HONOR A WARRANTY IS AN UNREALISTIC HURDLE THAT FORD PUTS IN PLACE. *TR