NHTSA Complaint #10523458 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

WE HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID - AND JUST THIS MORNING, UPON HEARING AN ODD RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEN DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT THE LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, I INSPECTED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING AND DISCOVERED, TO MY SHOCK, THAT UNDER THE FACTORY BLACK INNER FENDER UNDERCOATING, WHICH WAS HANGING OFF, THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY PERFORATED WITH RUST, TO THE POINT THAT I COULD FEEL A FLOW OF COLD AIR FROM THE A/C EXITING THE CABIN THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS. I CALLED GANLEY FORD AS SOON AS THEY OPENED, BUT THE BODY SHOP WON'T BE OPEN UNTIL MONDAY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY CAR, AND WITH WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED, I'M RELUCTANT TO HAVE HER, OR ANYONE, DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM'S ADDRESSED - AND THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION IS ASTONISHING. WITH A 400++ POUND BATTERY LOCATED BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS, AND WITH THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION I JUST FOUND, I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED FOR THE LEFT REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNT AND BODY PAN INTEGRITY, AS WELL AS FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND BATTERY PACK. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET INTO IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH THE PROPER FORD ZONE REPRESENTATIVE TO GET A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - THIS IS A PREMIUM HYBRID SUV THAT I THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED BEFORE SELECTING TO PURCHASE, AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO EVEN MOVE IT FROM MY PARKING DECK AT THE OFFICE. THIS CAR, AND OTHER ESCAPES SUFFERING FROM THIS SAME ISSUE, ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF ESCAPES SUFFERING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD ASK SINCERELY THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE AND ACT QUICKLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR