NHTSA Complaint #10578620 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

DRIVING ALONG OVER MINOR BUMP IN ROAD WHEN LOUD BANG OCCURRED ON RIGHT REAR SIDE OF VEHICLE. LOOKED AND FOUND RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY NEAR SHOCK TOWER. NOISE IS SO LOUD SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING INTO THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO COLLISION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME TO FIX IT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $1000 TO START BUT MAY BE HIGHER WHEN ACTUALLY INVESTIGATED. PARTS AT FORD ARE ON BACK ORDER SO COLLISION SHOP CAN'T DO WORK UNTIL AVAILABLE WHICH THEY SAY REQUIRES WELDING. NOT SURE WHEN OR IF PARTS ARE COMING IN TO FIX. THERE SEEMS TO BE EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON THE VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND TAKEN CARE OF. IT WAS UNDERCOATED AS WELL. HAD ANOTHER MAKE/MODEL THAT A FRIEND HAS AND IT IS 19 YEARS OLD WITH BETTER RUST PROTECTION THAT THIS CAR. NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL TAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR ON LEFT REAR AS IT IS SHOWING RUST SIGNS TOO BUT NOT AS EXTENSIVE AS THE RIGHT. I USE THIS VEHICLE TO TOW A CAMPER IN SUMMER AND NOT SO SURE THIS WILL BE SAFE TO DO SO EVEN IF FIXED. I DID NOT TAKE CAR IN TO FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WOULD BE WAITING FOR PARTS THERE TOO! I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WONDER IF FIXED IF IT WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAD PLANNED ON DRIVING THIS CAR TILL THE MOTOR STOPPED...LOOKS LIKE THE FRAME IS GOING TO RUST OUT BEFORE THAT. *TR