NHTSA Complaint #10985939 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

MODEL HAS TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NO PROVISION TO OVERRIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALLOWING ENGAGEMENT OF LOWER GEARS TO UTILIZING ENGINE BRAKING. THIS ABILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE MOUNTAIN DRIVING WHERE DOWNHILL GRADES, INCLUDING SHARP CURVES, GO ON FOR MILES. FULL DEPENDENCE ON WHEEL BRAKES, WHICH WILL OVERHEAT, IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CO-EFFICIENT OF FRICTION DECREASES WITH INCREASING BRAKE PAD TEMPERATURES. HAVING DRIVEN THIS MAKE/MODEL AS A RENTAL FOR ~2,500 MILES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS STATES OF AZ, UT, AND CO I SPEAK FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. AS A RETIRED ENGINEER FROM THE U.S. DEPT. OF ENERGY I ASK PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS A DESIGN SAFETY ISSUE.