NHTSA Complaint #10918588 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

I PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE JULY 2015 AND FOR THE YEAR I HAD IT I WAS FAIRLY PLEASED. I HAD HEARD THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THESE CARS CATCHING FIRE AND WAS AWARE OF THE RECALLS. I HAD BEEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BACK IN JUNE FOR A TUNE-UP AND ASSURED ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE, I HAD BOUGHT IT USED BUT FORD WAS ABLE TO SEARCH THE INFORMATION FROM THE VIN, OR SO THEY SAID. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON THE I-5 NORTH FAST LANE, WHEN THE CAR HAD A WARNING LIGHT SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT MY 4WHEEL DRIVE. THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME UP FROM RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER, THANKFULLY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I COULD SEE THE SMOKE REPLACED WITH FLAMES AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT ON THE DASH. I GRABBED WHAT I COULD AND MY DOG AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET TO US THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. ALTHOUGH PERSONAL ITEMS, AND MY FIRST CAR I PURCHASED ON MY OWN, WAS LOST MY DOG AND I MADE IT OUT ALIVE. AS THE PROCESS OF DEALING WITH INSURANCE BEGAN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FORDS ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. I AM NOW THE 14TH PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. AFTER MORE DIGGING AND NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS TO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS ONLY A HANDFUL OF THEM TOLD ME TO GET THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY TO A SHOP BECAUSE OF FIRE RISK. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE, AND ONE DEALERSHIP EVEN GAVE ME A SHOP NAME THAT THE RECALLS HAD SUPPOSEDLY BEEN DONE AT. I CALLED AND THE SHOP HAD NO RECORDS OF EVEN SEEING THE VEHICLE. I AM AWAITING A LETTER FROM FORDS LEGAL DEPARTMENT BUT THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE. I WALK BUY THE VEHICLES EVERYDAY, SOME WITH BABY SEATS IN THE BACK, AND IT HORRIFIES ME. **ALSO TRYING TO UPLOAD PICTURES BUT IT'S NOT ALLOWING ME. *TR