NHTSA Complaint #10680459 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

DAUGHTER DRIVING HER VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK NOTICED SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT OF VEHICLE AND GRADUAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING. FOLLOWING DAY, VEHICLE BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKEN. DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A MASSIVE RECALL FOR EXACT ISSUE. REMEDY SAID TO BE SUPPORT BRACE/CROSS MEMBER. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. RECALL DEVICE INSTALLED, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP FAILED TO ADVISE VEHICLE OWNER OF ROTTING SUB FRAME IN RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AFTER INSTALL AND SEVERE ROTTING AND STRUCTURAL DEFECTS FOUND IN RIGHT FRONT SUB FRAME. SUPPORT BRACE SUPPLIED BY RECALL ESSENTIALLY USELESS AS IT BOLTS IN TO ROTTING SUB FRAME. INDEPENDENT SHOP ADVISES THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO SERIOUS LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS OF CONTROL. NOTE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON SAME ISSUE. ALSO NOTE THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, (OVER 50%), OF THESE COMPLAINTS REVEAL SEVERE ROTTING AND STRUCTURAL FAILURE TO RIGHT FRONT SUB FRAME. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT SUB FRAME ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP. ADVISED TO EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER WORKMANSHIP! FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT CROSS MEMBER JUST FINE. BUT THEY BOLTED IT TO A RUSTED DEFECTED SUB FRAME!! COME ON PEOPLE. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOME YOUNG UNSUSPECTING MOTHER WITH A CAR LOAD OF KIDS LOSES CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE AND HITS A TREE, OR A POLE, OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE THE REAL ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LAWSUITS!! CERTAINLY HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE FOR A CLASS ACTION.