NHTSA Complaint #10678182 — 2004 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE DRIVING TO MY HOME WENT OVER A SMALL DIP IN ROAD AND SUV MADE A VERY LOAD CLUNKING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR SECTION OF VEHICLE AND STARTED HANDLING POORLY GOT IT TO MY PARENTS HOME WHICH IS ONLY FEW MINUTES FROM INCIDENT,FATHER LOOKED AT AND FOUND RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT AND WHEEL TUB RUSTED OUT UNDER A THICK LAYER OF SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL APPLIED AT FACTORY MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE UNTIL IT BREAKS FREE, FATHER HAS BEEN A MECHANIC ALL HIS LIFE AND TRIED TO GET PIECES AT LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS TO REPAIR BUT FOUND ALL IN A 50 MILE RADIUS AT SALVAGE YARDS FROM YEARS 2001-2007 TO BE IN AS BAD OR WORSE CONDITION AND IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR PARTS ON LINE OUT OF THE RUSTBELT ,I BELIEVE IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A TWISTY ROAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BIGGER PROBLEM FORTUNATELY IT WAS A FAIRLY LEVEL STRAIGHT ROAD I CAN ONLY ASSUME THERE ISN'T AN INVESTIGATION ON THESE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T NOW WHERE TO GO TO FILE A COMPLAINT I ONLY NEW TO GO HERE BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME TOO,AS HE BELIEVES IT TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT MAY OR COULD LEAD TO INJURIES *TR