NHTSA Complaint #10520473 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I PURCHASED A USED 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN SUMMER OF 2010. MAY OF 2013 PAINT BEGAN TO CHIP AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELLS EXPOSING RUST THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR WHAT HAD TO HAVE BEEN A LOT LONGER THAN JUST THE PREVIOUS WINTER. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY TO GET THIS RESPONSE (SHORTENED FOR SPACE): AFTER REVIEWING MY RESOURCES, THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES OR PROGRAMS IN EFFECT THAT WOULD PROVIDE COVERAGE OF YOUR CURRENT CONCERN. I HAVE ALSO VERIFIED THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OPEN RECALL PROGRAMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF YOUR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) WORK TOGETHER TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AREAS OF CONCERN THROUGH INVESTIGATION OF CONSUMER AND DEALER FEEDBACK. DURING AN INVESTIGATION FORD COOPERATES FULLY WITH NHTSA. DUE TO OUR RIGOROUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND CONSTANT TESTING, NOT ALL ISSUES RESULT IN RECALL OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS. IF A PROGRAM IS ANNOUNCED ON A SPECIFIC COMPONENT, FORD WILL NOTIFY YOU BY MAIL. IT WAS FURTHER EXPLAINED TO ME VIA PHONE THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED 6/2007 IT WAS OUT OF A 5 YEAR WARRANTY AND FURTHER SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. UPON DOING RESEARCH BEFORE CONTACTING FORD I FOUND THIS WAS AN ISSUE AS EARLY AS THE 2005 MODEL ESCAPE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A COMPANY TO CONTINUE TO SELL A VEHICLE WITH AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS. I AM FORTUNATE THAT FINANCIALLY I AM IN A POSITION WHERE GETTING A BETTER CAR WAS POSSIBLE AND HAS BEEN DONE, BUT WHO RESOLVES THIS FOR OTHER OWNERS WHOM COULD NOT SEE THE ISSUE UNTIL PAINT CHIPS, LIKE ME AND THEN ARE TOLD, FORD WHOM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT WILL NOT BE? *TR