NHTSA Complaint #10640306 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAS A SAFETY ISSUE SO BAD THAT IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE RIGHT REAR FENDER WELL HAS RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT, READY TO BREAK FREE. [XXX] HAS A CO-WORKER WHO DRIVES A 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND WHEN THEY TOOK A LOOK IN HIS FENDER, THEY FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. [XXX] HAS A CO-WORKER THAT HAS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND IT HAS THE START OF THE HOLE. WE HAVE TALKED TO FORD, THERE IS NO RECALL OR REPAIR CAMPAIGN FOR IT. THEY OFFERED US AN X PLAN TO TRADE IT IN OR THEY WOULD FIX IT AT FULL PRICE. WE HAVE SENT PICTURES TO THE FORD FACTORY REP. HE TOLD US THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE INSTALLED TWO NEW PROCESSES ON THE PRODUCT LINE TO FIX IT. HE SHOWED THE PICTURE TO THE ESCAPE ENGINEERS AND THEY AGREED THAT IT IS A DESIGN FAULT AND FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNSAFE STATE THAT IT'S IN. UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THEM WILL PUT IT IN WRITING, IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. WE ALSO WROTE AN EMAIL TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON DC AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. WE GOT QUOTES FROM DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS IN THE AREA, BOTH AT $1200.00. AND THEY HAVE REPAIRED OTHER FORD ESCAPES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. THE REPAIR HAS TO BE DONE FROM THE INSIDE TO REPLACE THE FENDER WELL. THUS ALL THE INTERIOR TRIM HAS TO BE REMOVED AND WELDING BLANKET USED SO THEY DON'T BURN YOUR VEHICLE UP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR