NHTSA Complaint #10678315 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

I HAD TAKEN MY SUV IN FOR A ROUTINE, ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES AS I HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ON THE CAR IN ADDITION TO TAKING IT BACK TO FORD TO FIX THE VARIOUS RECALL/SAFETY ITEMS, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS < 6 MONTHS PRIOR. MY MECHANIC CALLED TO ELL ME THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND AT THE POINT OF DISINTEGRATION; THE CAR NOT ONLY WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT A COSTLY REPAIR ($1419.08) BUT PRESENTED AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD TO DRIVE EVEN 2 BLOCKS BACK TO MY HOUSE OR A FEW MILES TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC FURTHER ADVISED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE HE HAS SEEN REPEATEDLY WITH FORDS AT ABOUT THE 5 MARK. HE FURTHER SHARED THAT IN THE LAST CASE WHICH HE HAD TO REPAIR, THE PARTS HAD DISINTEGRATED WHILE THE OWNER WAS DRIVING AND BLEW OUT HIS TIRES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE DRIVER WAS INJURED OR IF THE VEHICLE CRASHED. I DO KNOW THAT I AM VERY GLAD MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE ISSUE IDENTIFIED BEFORE I MET WITH THE SAME FATE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT AT THE DEALER LEVEL, THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BY PHONE AND HAVE EMAILED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (GENERAL AS WELL AS REGIONAL) AND HAVE ONLY HAD ONE GROUP POINT THE FINGER AT THE OTHER IN TERMS OF WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. BEYOND THE COST OF REPAIRS, I SEE THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE I HOPE SOMEONE WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF POOR QUALITY PARTS. I AM 53 YEARS OLD; I DO NOT NOR HAVE I EVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. IF THERE IS SNOW, I DO NOT DRIVE AN WORK FROM HOME. I DO NOT RECALL THE LAST TIME I WAS WITHIN 50 MILES OF AN OCEAN IN THE SUV SO I AM NOT CERTAIN WHAT WOULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF SUCH MAGNITUDE ASIDE FROM POOR QUALITY. *TR