NHTSA Complaint #11053981 — 2008 FORD EDGE

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, WE DROVE OVER A STANDARD MANHOLE COVER AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE BANGING NOISE ABOVE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AND THE SECTION OF THE HOOD CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD WAS PUSHED UP ABOUT 6 INCHES. WE PULLED OVER AND COULD SEE THE STRUT PRESSING UP AGAINST THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THE ENTIRE STRUT TOWER HAD BROKEN THROUGH THE STRUT SUPPORT DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SPOT WELDS THAT WERE CONNECTING THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT CAP TO THE VEHICLE BODY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOR THE MECHANIC HAD EVER SEEN THIS KIND OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, AND WE ARE EAGER FOR THE ISSUE TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT OF THE 2008 FORD EDGE THAT COULD FURTHER AFFECT OUR OR OTHER FAMILIES' VEHICLE SAFETY.