NHTSA Complaint #10653569 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

2005 FORD FREESTYLE SEL FWD - 116K MILES, VERY GOOD CONDITION, 2ND OWNER. ON 11/1, I REQUESTED MECHANIC TO DO A FULL INSPECTION ON THE CAR, NO KNOW ISSUES, BUT JUST TO CHECK IT OVER BEFORE WINTER. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR, AND SAID CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ONLY THIS CRADLE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT RUST, IN FACT THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM IS STILL ON THE CAR (THAT IS MOST SHOCKING, THE EXHAUST OUT LASTED THIS SUBFRAME). AS I STATED THE CAR IS IN FANTASTIC SHAPE, AND RUNS GREAT. WE EITHER HAD TO FIX OR SCRAP THE CAR AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ESTIMATES FROM DEALERS TO REPLACE WERE AROUND $3000. WE ENDED UP USING A LOCAL BODY SHOP WE TRUST TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME WITH A USED / RUST FREE ONE FOR $1150. I RETAINED THE SUBFRAME AND CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH OVER 100K MILES ON IT, BUT GIVEN ITS GREAT CONDITION (IF YOU SAW PICTURES YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND) THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR A SUBFRAME, THAT HOLDS ALL THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR