NHTSA Complaint #10507370 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

I HEARD UNUSUAL ROAD NOISE AND EXPERIENCED LOOSENESS NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, I DETERMINED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL HAD CORRODED THROUGH, COMPROMISING THE REAR STRUT. THE HOLE EXTENDS NEARLY 12 INCHES, EXPOSING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION WAS NOT APPARENT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE THE WHEEL WELL COATING COVERED THE DEFECT. AFTER LOCATING THIS CORROSION, A FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS EXHIBIT SIMILAR CORROSION. DUE TO THE SEVERE CORROSION OF THIS BODY PANEL, THE CAR CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN BECAUSE THE REAR STRUT IS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY ONLY A TINY PORTION OF THE STRUCTURAL PANEL. IF I HAD NOT LOCATED THIS DEFECT IN TIME, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE STRUT WOULD HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR