NHTSA Complaint #10995616 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE

MY DAUGHTER WAS ALERTED TO A PROBLEM WHEN LOUD BANGING NOISES STARTED RECENTLY WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELLS BODY PARTS AND SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE. OUR VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURE'S SCHEDULE AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF A POTENTIAL ISSUE BEFORE DURING PREVIOUS TIRE REPLACEMENTS, SHOCK REPLACEMENTS, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL IS SO BAD THAT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND REFERRED US TO THEIR BODY SHOP. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE CABIN IS NOW EXPOSED. I ALSO HAVE AN AUDIO RECORDING OF THE NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO CAUTIONED BY THE MECHANIC ABOUT AN IMMINENT FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. THERE WAS A RECALL BY FORD FOR 2001-2004 FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MODEL. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE. BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND THE ISSUES REPORTED BY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FOR LATER MODEL YEARS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ACTION BY FORD TO REPAIR THESE LATER YEAR MODELS SUCH AS OURS AS WELL.