NHTSA Complaint #10605338 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

FORD - COMPLETE AC FAILURE/ AC DRYER FAILURE WHEN I TURNED ON THE AC FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR IT MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THEN NEVER COOLED.TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR PROBLEM. CAR HAS 41400 MILES ON IT (LITTLE MORE THAN 5000 OVER THE 36000) BUT STILL HAS 6 MONTHS ON WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.(ROSELLE FORD)WHERE PURCHASED. EVEN THOUGH A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WAS PRESENT AND NO COLD AIR.. HE TOLD HER TO BRING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.. SHE DID, THEY VACUUMED &CHARGED. IT WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS THEN STOPPED. SHE BROUGHT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND HE SAID IT WOULD COST $2000 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM.. SHE WENT TO PICK IT UP AND HE TOLD HER HE REPLACED A RESISTER ON THE BLOWER SWITCH... I KNOW ITS NOT FIXED.. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.. BUT IF FORD REALLY WANTS TO BE OUR CAR COMPANY, THEN THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THAT'S A BIG REPAIR BILL FOR ONLY 41000 MILES. HERE IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR AND NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS FROM FORD. DEALER CALLED AND GAVE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ..."IN THE AC DRYER THERE IS A FILTER BAG WITH "LITTLE BLUE BALLS" OF DESICCANT. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THESE FILTER BAGS BURST AND FLOOD THE ENTIRE AC SYSTEM WITH THE BALLS (AKA "DEBRIS") WHICH CAUSES ALL THE PARTS TO FAIL AND OR CLOG. MANY OF THE PARTS CAN'T BE EFFECTIVELY FLUSHED SO THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED." THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AC SYSTEM (ALL VALVES, TUBES, HOSES, EVAPORATOR, COMPRESSOR, CONDENSER, ACCUMULATOR, DRYER, ETC.) CAME TO $2,022.65. THIS DRYER UNIT THAT IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS IS A NON-SERVICEABLE UNIT AND IS IN NO WAY AFFECTED BY REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A FAILURE. TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE IS THAT WHEN THEY DO REPLACE THE SYSTEM... THEY USE THE SAME DRYER AS THE ONE THAT FAILED. UNBELIEVABLE. *TR