NHTSA Complaint #10537787 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

I HAD THE ALTERNATOR GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN HIT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING 2 OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO MY BEING STOPPED. AN ALTERNATOR GOING OUT IS NOT NORMALLY SOMETHING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON. IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN 4 DAYS. OK, BAD ALTERNATOR, IT HAPPENS. I GET ON GOOGLE TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 ESCAPES AND IT'S LISTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I HAD NO ADVANCED WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING OUT. I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT, I AM FINANCIALLY IN BAD SHAPE DUE TO THE ECONOMY. I AM WORKING FULL TIME FOR THE SAME WAGES I MADE IN THE 1980'S I CAN'T AFFORD MULTIPLE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES AS MUCH TIME TO REPLACE AS THIS DOES. THE FRONT AXLE HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT SO IT IS NOT A CHEAP REPAIR. WHY WOULD A REPAIR SHOP WANT TO HONOR A FAULTY PART WHEN EVIDENTLY IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I SURE WOULDN'T!!! WHEN IS THIS ALTERNATOR DEFECT GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE'S KIDS GET KILLED. HAD I BEEN FARTHER INTO THE INTERSECTION, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.[XXX] LIKE I SAID, I HAD NO WARNING, IT JUST DIED. I HAVE 160,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THE FIRST ONE GOING OUT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 2ND 4 DAYS LATER? AND THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND FORD IS AWARE OF IT!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT