NHTSA Complaint #10669521 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

I HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR AREA OF MY CAR. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH, WAS DISMAYED TO SEE THE BODY OF THE CAR BY THE TIRE CRUMBLING WITH RUST. APPARENTLY THE BANGING IS FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBER HAVING BROKEN THRU THE WHEEL WELL, AND IS NOW HITTING THE BACK HATCH AREA. ALSO, DURING AN OIL CHANGE, THE SERVICE COMPANY REMOVED A BRACKET THAT HOLDS MY EXHAUST IN PLACE. UPON INSPECTING THAT BRACKET THAT WAS JUST HANGING THERE AND RATTLING, SAW A CHUNK OF CAR ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET. THEY SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CARE HAD NOT BEEN SPRAYED WITH RUSTPROOFING WHEN MANUFACTURED. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO EXCHANGE CHARGE OR GET REPAIRED. HAVE HAD FORD CARS MOST OF MY LIFE, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2005 MODELS. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR, SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT SAFE. LUCKILY, I ONLY HAVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO TRAVEL TO WORK. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS POOR DESIGN. *JS