NHTSA Complaint #10565868 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

ON 2/20/14 I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON STATE ROUTE 219 IN BOSTON, NY, WHEN A LOUD BANGING NOISE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO OCCUR IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THIS NOISE SCARED ME AND FORCED ME TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE EXPRESSWAY TO INSPECT THE REAR AREA OF MY VEHICLE (WHILE TRAFFIC CONTINUED AT 65 MPH). I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME SO I SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY HUSBAND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR(PASSENGER) SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD BECOME TOTALLY DETACHED FROM THE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT INNER WHEEL WELL AND WAS PROTRUDING INTO THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. EXCESSIVE RUST COULD BE SEEN ALONG WITH SEVERAL HOLES THAT HAD ONCE BEEN PART OF THE WHEEL WELL. MY VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND IS TOO COSTLY TO FIX. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF 2005 FORD ESCAPE WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! FORTUNATELY, THIS DEFECT DID NOT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF MY VEHICLES SUSPENSION. THIS 'DEFECT' NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR BECOMES SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR