NHTSA Complaint #11130870 — 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS RUST COVERING THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I NEVER NOTICED IT UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I NOTICED SOME RUST UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR I WAS HORRIFIED. THE RUST IS REALLY BAD AND IT'S EATING THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSELY I SAW RUST UNDER BOTH SEATS ON THE BRACKETS. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CARPET I CAN SEE THAT IT'S AFFECTING THE INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF RUST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS SIX YEARS OLD. I THINK IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CHECKED AROUND ONLINE LAST NIGHT AND IT WILL LIKELY COST A LOT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED AT ALL. LAST YEAR I DID NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS HUMID ON THE INSIDE BUT I DIDN'T THINK TO LOOK FOR RUST ON A CAR THIS NEW. THE PART THAT REALLY ANGERS ME IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I PLANNED TO DRIVE IT FOR YEARS. IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND SERVICE CONTRACT WITH FORD. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR. I REALLY THINK IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. SHOULD I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THEY WON'T FIX IT? WHAT SHOULD I DO? I WILL TAKE SOME PHOTOS IN THE DAYLIGHT AND ADD THEM TO THIS REPORT.