NHTSA Complaint #10894250 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE

THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON FORD ESCAPE 2006 VEHICLES. WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE USED ONE YEAR AGO, 117K MILES ON IT AND THE WHEEL WELLS/SHOCK TOWERS LOOKED FINE. AFTER ONE WINTER THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THROUGH (THERE IS LITERALLY A RUST HOLE) AND THE DRIVER IS ALMOST AS BAD. WE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO PURCHASING IT A YEAR AGO - THEY DIDN'T EVEN POINT OUT ANY CORROSION. MEANING, WITHIN A YEAR IT CORRODED SO BAD IT NEEDED $1300 WORTH OR REPAIR. OUR LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD US THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ISSUE, BUT SEARCHING ONLINE AND ASKING OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WE DISCOVERED THERE WASN'T. THIS ISN'T THE TYPE OF COSMETIC RUST OF THE BODY, BUT RUST OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT WHOEVER ENGINEERED THE BODY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF. I CAN FIND RECALLS ONLINE FOR 2001 -2004 ESCAPES FOR SIMILAR STRUCTURAL RUST, SO WHY ISN'T FORD RECALLING 2006 ESCAPES WHEN THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING? THE FORD DEALER TOLD US, KEEP THE REPAIR RECEIPT IN CASE FORD ISSUES A RECALL, THEN WE COULD BE REIMBURSED. THIS RUST ISN'T JUST AND EYESORE, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE.