NHTSA Complaint #11018997 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW COOLANT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLANT WAS REFILLED. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THICK, BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL LEAKS WERE A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V551000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 12V336000 (FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.