NHTSA Complaint #10521436 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

WAS DRIVING ON A HWY ON A SUMMER NIGHT, GOING 60 MPH, WHEN A LIGHT CAME ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID'S DASHBOARD THAT SAID "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. I COASTED TO A SHOULDER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED, AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS GONE, SO I DROVE ON. NOTICED ENGINE WAS RUNNING LOUDER THAN NORMAL AND TRANSITION BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC MODES SEEMED CLUNKY. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND DOZENS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS - SAYING IT WAS A FAULTY COOLING PUMP (PART NUMBER 5M6Z-8C419-A) CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. REPAIR COST $632.00. NOT COVERED UNDER THE HYBRID WARRANTY. (WE WERE TOLD IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE HYBRID ENGINE TO FUNCTION, BUT IT'S NOT CONSIDERED A HYBRID PART.) DUG FURTHER, SAW THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NOV. 20, 2008) TO DEALERSHIPS: "TSB 08-24-5 STATES THAT SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION." FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY EXPRESSWAY, OR IF SOMEONE IS BEING TAILGATED, ETC. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, PEOPLE WILL GET KILLED, IF SOME HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY. WE CALLED THE FORD OWNER RELATIONS NUMBER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET A RECALL ISSUED IS TO SUBMIT THESE COMPLAINTS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF? FORD MOTOR COMPANY - IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT PROFITS AND THE BOTTOM LINE - HOW MUCH REPEAT BUSINESS WILL YOU GET ONCE YOU KILL OFF YOUR CUSTOMER BASE? *TR