NHTSA Complaint #10747296 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

**THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES THE PANORAMIC ROOF GLASS/WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY BURSTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.** MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY WE HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION. IT STARTLED MY HUSBAND, HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SWERVED AS A RESULT OF HAVING THE ROOF TORN OPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS INCIDENT COULD CAUSE A SEVERE, LIFE-THREATENING INJURY. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE SAW THAT THE GLASS HAD BURST ALMOST COMPLETELY, LEAVING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 1.5" MARGINS OF SHATTERED GLASS AROUND THE EDGES. THE RUBBER BOND THAT SEALS THE GLASS ON ALL FOUR SIDES TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE BENT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS FLAILING ABOUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SHATTERED PIECES OF GLASS CHIPPED/SCRATCHED/DAMAGED THE ROOF RACK, REAR PANORAMIC ROOF GLASS (THE PANORAMIC ROOF ON THE THIS ESCAPE IS COMPRISED OF TWO GLASSES, ONE IN THE FRONT THAT SLIDES OPENED AND CLOSED, AND THE REAR ONE THAT REMAINS STATIONARY) AND THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IMPACTED THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THIS DAMAGE. THIS INCIDENT IS NOT A RESULT OF MISUSE OR ABUSE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR. WHILST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WE CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US TO SEND PICTURES. WE DID AND THEY SENT THEM TO FORD CORPORATE FOR APPROVAL. THEY ANSWERED THAT SINCE THEY CAN'T SEE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IN THE PICTURES, THEY CAN ASSUME SOMETHING IMPACTED THE GLASS AND THEREFORE THE INCIDENT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. I WAS QUOTED THAT THE REPAIRS COULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500USD. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AND PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT THAT I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE IF DEEMED HELPFUL TO MAKE MY CASE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY ESCAPE OWNERS. THERE WAS EVEN A RECALL IN 2014 REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE PANEL OF THE PANORAMIC ROOF.