NHTSA Complaint #10491121 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

INNER AND OUTER WHEEL HOUSES, AND QUARTER PANELS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED/CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SHOCK WAS PUSHING THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. LOUD BANGING NOISES AND WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE LED TO INSPECTION BY PROFESSIONALS. VISIBLE HOLES IN THE WHEEL HOUSE AREA WERE DISCOVERED AT THIS TIME. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS REALIZED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WAS JUST AS BADLY RUSTED/CORRODED. ALL PARTS LISTED ABOVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS BOTH SHOCKS, WHICH WERE ALSO DAMAGED DUE TO THEIR DETACHMENT FROM THE RUSTED AREAS. ALL WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, IMMEDIATELY, DUE TO THE DANGER OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER, THUS AVOIDING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE EXPENSES WERE $3402.08. FORD WILL NOT COVER THESE EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES, AND IS OTHERWISE IN TOP CONDITION. THE DAMAGES SEEM EXCESSIVE AT THIS MILEAGE AND AGE. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER REPAIRS.