NHTSA Complaint #11073435 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (JONES WEST FORD IN RENO NV) FOR RECALL 17V-209 WHICH IS RELATED TO OVERHEATING THAT CAN CAUSE THE CYLINDER HEAD TO CRACK AND MAY RESULT IN FIRE. THE SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD BASED ON THEIR EXPERTISE, LOW COOLANT AND AMOUNT OF HYDROCARBONS WHEN TESTED. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW MOTOR. WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, HE QUICKLY SAID IT WAS NOT AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE $8,000.00. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR FURTHER REVIEW. DURING THE SAME SERVICE VISIT, THE TECH PERFORMED RECALL 16S30 ON ALL DOOR LATCHES. THE NEXT DAY I FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW TO NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY. KNOWING THAT THE TECH HAD TO ACCESS THE REPAIR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL, I ASKED THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF THE WINDOW. WHILE IN THE SERVICE SHOP FOR THE WINDOW, THE SERVICE ADVISER TOOK THE LIBERTY OF CHECKING THE MOTOR AGAIN. THIS TIME HE CLAIMS THE "MASTER MECHANIC" DIAGNOSED IT AND EVERYTHING IS FINE. THEY INSTALLED THE PART AFFECTED BY THE RECALL AND THIS TIME THEY TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT. I SUSPECT THE REASON FOR TAKING ANOTHER LOOK IS BASED ON MY COMPLAINT TO THE MOTOR COMPANY. I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THE HEAD IS CRACKED OR NOT. THEY DIDN'T REMOVE IT FOR PROPER TESTING. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON GETTING INVOLVED IN SUCH AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. THE DEALER EVEN FAILED AT THE DOOR LATCH. THEY SAID THE WINDOW FAILURE IS A COINCIDENCE AND TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY. THE WINDOW IS STILL NOT WORKING. I WOULD HAVE DECLINED THE DOOR LATCH RECALL IF I KNEW I WOULD END UP WITH A WINDOW THAT DOESN'T WORK. IT WAS FINE BEFORE THEY OPENED THE DOOR PANEL TO INSTALL A NEW LATCH. I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HOLD THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING PER THE INTENTION OF THE SAFETY RECALL.