NHTSA Complaint #10865873 — 2007 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT AND DRIVER HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ODOR. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND NERVE DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM RIB PAIN AND SMOKE INHALATION. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.