NHTSA Complaint #10726014 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS, VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM SOUNDED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRYING TO START ENGINE. ALARM HORN EVENTUALLY DEACTIVATED AFTER PUSHING KEY BUTTON DURING SEVERAL STARTING ATTEMPTS. DROVE VEHICLE OUT OF PARKING LOT SLOWING FOR STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. RESTARTED ENGINE AND GAUGES SWING MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM CONTINUALLY WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THEFT LIGHT ON. GAUGES WORKED ALTERNATELY DURING MIN-MAX SWINGS, THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. DAY AFTER OCCURENCE, NEW BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED AND WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN TRYING TO CHARGE BATTERY, VECHICLE HAD CLICKING SOUND IN GAUGE CONSOLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AUTO ELECTRICAL MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME IT IS A FAULTY DASH CONSOLE AND NOT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER AND DASH GAUGE CONSOLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A NEW PART COST OF $700. REPLACING DASH GAUGE CONSOLE WITH A NEW ONE TO FIND IF THIS FIXES VEHICLE PROBLEMS. MAJOR CONSERN IF ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING.