NHTSA Complaint #11193893 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR (ON A COOL FALL DAY) A WARNING CAME ON THE DASH SAYING "STOP IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE OVERHEATING". THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LIMIT MY ABILITY TO DRIVE THEREFORE I HAD O SLOWLY STOP AT CURBSIDE OF HIGHWAY. I CHECKED THE COOLANT WHICH WAS BASICALLY GONE. WHICH DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR TWO MONTHS PRIOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE WASN'T SMOKING OR VISIBLY SHOWING SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES. THERE WERE NO POOLS OF LIQUID UNDERNEATH THE CAR THAT WOULD INDICATE A LEAK. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE GOT WORSE AND I HAVE HAD TO FILL THE COOLANT TANK EVERY OTHER WEEK. TOOK THE ESCAPE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A HOSE LEAK AND THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED FOR 800 DOLLARS. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, SO TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP. THAT SHOP RAN TESTS BUT COULDN'T FIND A LEAK IN THE HOSING SYSTEM NOR COULD THEY SEE SIGNS OF COOLANT ON OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE. MY CAR CONTINUED TO SUCK DOWN COOLANT FOR NO APPARENT REASON UNTIL FINALLY THE TIMING BELT BROKE.