NHTSA Complaint #11109880 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. THERE IS DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER REQUIRING THE OPERATOR TO HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN, OFTEN WITH GREAT PRESSURE, THEN TWIST THE KEY TO GET THE CAR TO START. EVENTUALLY THE IGNITION MECHANISM WILL FAIL COMPLETELY REQUIRING THE ENTIRE IGNITION HOUSING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED AND AT GREAT EXPENSE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. REPAIRS COST OVER $500. THE PROBLEM NEVER AFFECTED ME DURING NORMAL DRIVING, ONLY WHEN THE CAR NEEDED TO BE STARTED. A SIMPLE SEARCH REVEALED MANY OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS REPORT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE SO IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM OR THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR. INDEED, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED BY FORD. HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE, AS HAPPENED TO ME, THE CAR CAN AND WILL LEAVE THE DRIVER STRANDED WHICH, IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, IS NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT ALSO A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY FORD. SINCE I ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR I THINK IT ONLY FAIR THAT FORD REIMBURSE ME THE COSTS.