NHTSA Complaint #10694966 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

HAD MY 2003 ESCAPE IN TO THE DEALER FOR A WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM, WHILE IT WAS IN THE SHOP THEY DID THE OPEN RECALL 14S02 SUB FRAME BRACE INSTALLATION. DROVE THE CAR 2 TIMES. THE WIFE DECIDED TO DRIVE TO THE STORE ON A 3RD TIME AND CALLED ME TO SAY CAR WAS PULLING HARD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I REMOVE THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE THINKING THAT WE HAD A STICKING BRAKE CALIPER AND COULD SEE RIGHT AWAY THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD RIPPED APART RIGHT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS UP. AFTER MORE INVESTIGATION AND MANY PHOTOS IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE BOLT THAT WAS USED TO INSTALL THE BRACE PER THE RECALL HAS CAUSE THE UPPER PART OF THE FRAME TO RIP APART FROM THE LOWER PART (SPLIT IT OPEN) THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE FRAME BUT THIS REALLY LOOKS LIKE THE BANDAID CAUSED A BIGGER PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID TO CALL FORD, I CALLED FORD THEY SAID TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT. BUT AFTER READING COMMENTS HERE I DECIDED AGAINST THAT AND WILL PROBABLY JUST HAUL IT TO SCRAP YARD. WHAT A WASTE. *TR