NHTSA Complaint #10549289 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

DURING A BASIC OIL CHANGE, WE WERE INFORMED THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE THREADS FOR THE PLUG WERE STRIPPED. THE SERVICE MANAGER, I AM BASING THIS ON WHAT WE WERE TOLD BY TRAINED FORD TECHNICIANS, STATED "THE OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND IT HAS STRIPPED OUT." WHEN ASKED WHAT THE PLUG WAS MADE OF HE SAID, " STEAL.". SO NOW WE HAVE A CAR THAT HAS AN OIL PLUG THAT COULD COME OPEN AT ANY TIME BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME UNSAFE DUE TO STEAL ON ALUMINUM CREATING A HOLE LARGER THAN WAS DESIGNED. WE HAVE A PIECE OF THE PAN THAT HAS BEEN STRIPPED BY THE PLUG. SO, I AM GOING 75 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE PLUG COMES OUT BECAUSE IT NO LONGER FITS CORRECTLY. SUDDENLY MY ENGINES FREEZES UP. I'LL BE LUCKY TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ENGINE ISSUE DUE TO THE ENGINEERING OF THE OIL PAN/PLUG. AS OF NOW THEY WANT US TO PAY $485 FOR ANEW OIL PAN THAT WAS POORLY ENGINEERED. A STEAL PLUG ON AN ALUMINUM PAN IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. WE REQUEST FORD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE PANS WITH STEAL ONES. *TR