NHTSA Complaint #10935184 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

THERE IS A REGIONAL RECALL #14S02 REF# 14V165000. THE RECALL IS FOR THE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERS. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CORROSION. THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS CONNECTED. I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. I WAS DOING A COMPLETE REPAIR MYSELF OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS TO REMEDY THE STEERING ISSUE AND IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR, I REPAIRED THE DRIVERS SIDE BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY ISSUES BUT WHEN I TOOK THE WHEEL OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE I SAW THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AT THE POINT I MENTIONED EARLIER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE RUST OUT LIKE THIS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VEHICLES MY WHOLE LIFE. WHEN I CALLED THE FORD RECALL HOTLINE, THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. BUT THE RECALL GOES FROM OCT. 1999 TO JAN 2004 AND I HAVE A 2003. THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE IS THAT THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY SOLD IN A STATE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? BUT I PURCHASED IT OFF SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN OHIO AND THEY DEFINATELY HAD IT UP HERE DUE TO THE RUST THAT HAS FORMED. PLEASE HELP ME!! THE ATTACHED PIC SHOWS THE RUSTED AREA, PIC #3 SHOWS WITH A NEW LOWER CONTROL ARM HELD IN PLACE TO GIVE AN IDEA OF THE AREA AFFECTED. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE AUTO PULLS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT IF TURNED A LITTLE BIT OR SHARPLY TO LEFT TURNING LEFT EASILY. MY NEW TIRES ARE ALSO WORN FROM THIS ISSUE.