NHTSA Complaint #10839910 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY REGARDING A USED 2010 FORD ESCAPE THAT WE BOUGHT (FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP) YESTERDAY. I RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE & LEARNED THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY" (ETB) IN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE FORD CSR THAT THERE A "REDESIGNED" ETB PART THAT IS USED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAIL SUDDENLY. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE ETB WHICH ACCORDING TO FORD IS PRONE TO FAIL COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN STALLING AND/OR REDUCED POWER TO THE CAR.... WHICH COULD PLACE THE DRIVE (MY 16YO SON, NEW DRIVER) IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND/OR LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. THE FORD CSR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, AND EVEN AFTER HE REPORTEDLY DISCUSSED MY CONCERN WITH HIS "MANAGER", INFORMED ME THAT FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE PART "...AFTER IT FAILS". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME AS A CONSUMER & FATHER OF MY SON WHO WILL BE DRIVING THIS CAR. APPARENTLY, FORD IS WILLING TO "GAMBLE" ON MY SON'S (AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD) SAFETY & HEALTH. I CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THE COST OF REPLACING THE (PRONE TO FAULT) ECB WITH THE "REDESIGNED" ETB WAS $386 (=$210 LABOR + $176 PART). IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THAT FORD WILL NOT, UPON REQUEST OF A FORD ESCAPE OWNER, REPLACE AT FORD'S COST FORD'S ACKNOWLEDGED PRONE-TO-FAIL ETB WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY PUT MY SON'S LIFE AT RISK. THIS FAR EXCEEDS ABYSMAL CUSTOMER SERVICE... APPARENTLY FORD IS WILLING TO TAKE A "KNOWN RISK & GAMBLE" ON THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF THOSE WHO PURCHASE/DRIVE OF THEIR VEHICLES.