NHTSA Complaint #11151476 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

ON 10/28/2018 AROUND 10:30AM I WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WITH MY FAMILY. WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION OF NORTH ROUTE 88 AND 837 IN MONONGAHELA, PA, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HEATING VENTS. THEN AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR SHUT DOWN. SO, I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER I EVACUATED MY FAMILY FROM THE CAR, I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE SMOKE PROGRESSED TO A FIRE, WHICH I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED IT. THEN A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND TOWED MY VEHICLE TO LENZI SERVICE STATION IN MONONGAHELA, PA. AFTER REPORTING THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AN EXHAUST FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO AN UNSEEN OIL LEAK. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD ON 10/29/2018, BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH IS USAA, HAS AGREED TO BUY OUT THE REST OF MY PAYMENT AND TOLD ME THAT I CAN GO AND BUY A NEW CAR.