NHTSA Complaint #10915737 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

THE BACK REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SHOCK WENT THROUGH THE "FLOOR" AND PANEL OF THE SUV. I BOUGHT THIS WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS 89,000 AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT AND NO ONE WILL FIX IT. I PAID $8500. FOR A SUV THAT I ONLY DROVE FOR 11/2 YEARS. I DRIVING AND HEARD A THUMPING SOUND SO I STOPPED AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DROVE 1/2 MILE TO MY HOUSE AND THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD, I LOOKED AGAIN TO SEE THAT THE SHOCK BROKE THROUGH THE PANEL AND NOT ANY OF IT IS CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. I GOT ON A COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME SPOT ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE SUV MY HUSBAND GOT ON HIS BACK AND LOOKED AT THE UNDERCOATING AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE MUFFLER BROKE AND THE MECHANIC HAD MY HUSBAND TO LOOK UNDER THE SUV AND EVERYTHING IS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE UNDERCOAT WAS FAULTY AND TRAPPED MOISTURE BETWEEN IT AND THE BODY OF THE SUV. THIS THING IS FALLING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME. THE LEFT REAR IS RUSTED OUT AND THIS ONLY STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. EVERYWHERE THERE IS A SEAM, RUST IS FORMING. I BLAMED IN ON THE DEALER FOR SELLING ME A FLOOD CAR, UNTIL I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY DID THEY KEEP DOING THE SAME THING? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS IS MY TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT, HOPEFULLY I WON'T KILL MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE WHEN IT FALLS APART ON THE ROAD.