NHTSA Complaint #11088820 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

ON MARCH 3, 2018, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. THE TIRE HAD COME OFF OF THE CAR AND THE RIM HAD TOTALLY SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS - FRONT AND BACK. HER FRIEND'S HUSBAND PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND SHE DROVE IT HOME - APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES. WE TOOK THE RIM TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO INFORMED US IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE EDGE OF THE RIM HAD ABOUT A 1-2 INCH DENT IN IT CAUSED BY HITTING A POT HOLE. NONE OF THE DRIVERS (MY DAUGHTER, MY HUSBAND, OR MYSELF) OF THE CAR RECALL HITTING AN OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY LARGE POT HOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND IT WAS NOT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I REPORTED THE DAMAGE TO FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND RECEIVED A LEGAL CLAIM NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GET SOMETHING IN THE MAIL WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 18 DAYS AND I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING. I CALLED THEM AGAIN YESTERDAY INFORMING THEM THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR. I AM ASKING FOR ALL FOUR RIMS TO BE REPLACED (I HAVE REPLACED THE DAMAGED ONE). IT ALSO RUINED THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGED THE STRUTS. IT COST $25 TO HAVE THE TIRE PUT BACK ON THE CAR AND BALANCING CHECKED. I BELIEVE SINCE THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THE RIM WAS FAULTY, THAT I SHOULD NOT BE OUT A PENNY IN REPAIRS.