NHTSA Complaint #10610860 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

2014 FORD ESCAPE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 03/2013 & 12/2013 HAVE A BODY CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE/HARDWARE BUG IN WHICH THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER DOES NOT RETAIN ITS MANUAL DIMMER SETTINGS. AFTER 20-30 MINUTES WITH THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIMMER SETTING REVERTS TO MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS AUTOMATICALLY. MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE, THIS BUG IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IF A DRIVER PERCEIVES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO BE TOO BRIGHT, THE DRIVER MUST MANUALLY DIM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVERY TIME IT IS DARK ENOUGH THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED TO DRIVE. FORD HAS FIXED THE BUG IN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 12/1/2014 BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE 4/2014 DEALER NOTICE INSTRUCTS THE DEALER NOT TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR. "4791 - 2014 ESCAPE 2014 FOCUS - ILLUMINATION DIMMER SETTING REVERTS BACK TO BRIGHT SOME 2014 ESCAPE VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 12/01/2013 AND 2014 FOCUS VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 12/08/2013 MAY EXHIBIT THE ILLUMINATION DIMMER SETTING REVERTING BACK TO BRIGHT AFTER A KEY CYCLE. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS CONDITION THROUGH THE QUICKER SERVICE FIX (QSF) PROCESS. UNTIL A NEW SERVICE PROCEDURE AND/OR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, DO NOT ATTEMPT REPAIR. MONITOR OASIS FOR UPDATES." THE FIX HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN FOUND AS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 12/1/2013 DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS NO INTENTION OF PROVIDING A REMEDY FOR THE OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR