NHTSA Complaint #10512279 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON MAY 7, DROVE 10 MILES AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE. ON MAY 11, I NOTED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL UNDER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FOLLOWING WAS NOTED: OIL LEAK DIAGNOSIS TIMING PEG PLUG MISSING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK. THE RIGHT HALF AXLE SHAFT AND BEARING BRACKET WERE REMOVED, THE PLUG HOLE WAS CLEANED AND THREADS TAPPED USING M10 X 1.5 TAP. INSTALLED NEW TIMING PLUG TIGHTENED TO SPEC. NEW OIL AND FILTER INSTALLED. THE ORIGIN OF THE LEAK COULD NOT BE SEEN BY OWNER VISUAL INSPECTION. EITHER THE PLUG WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY OR IT WAS NOT TIGHTENED AND FELL OUT. EITHER WAY, HAD IT NOT BEEN NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY LOST INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ENGINE DAMAGE. FURTHER OIL COVERED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE GOTTEN ON TO BRAKES COMPROMISING SAFETY. NOT SURE IF THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FIRE. *TR