NHTSA Complaint #10578970 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

MY 2005 ESCAPE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF DISINTEGRATION AND THE SHOCK IS CLOSE TO COLLAPSING WHICH WILL ALLOW THE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE INTO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. IF THAT HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE I FEEL SURE IT WILL CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, IT HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT.I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 05 ESCAPES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS SEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. BOTH THE LOCAL FORD BODY SHOP AND INDEPENDENT BODY SHOPS AGREE THAT THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADMITS THE DEFECT. *TR