NHTSA Complaint #11230697 — 2007 FORD ESCAPE

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A 2ND HAND DEALER AND AFTER 2 MONTHS I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RUST ON THE UNDER PENDING OF THIS CAR WAS HAZARDOUS. THE WHOLE BODY UNDERNEATH WAS CORRODED. ONE OF THE SHOCKS WAS BARELY HOLDING ON. IF IT HAS COMPLETELY SNAPPED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT TO ME AND MY 2 YEAR GREAT NIECE, AND INJURED SOMEONE ELSE. FIRST NOTICE OF THIS, I TOOK TO THE DEALER. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND WAS GOING TO FIND A WELDER. A WEEK LATER IS WHEN THE PART CAME LOOSE MORE AND THE WELDER SAID IT WAS UNSAFE AND BEYOND PATCHING UP. A CALL WAS MADE TO THE DEALER TO INFORM THEM THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SHOCK BUT THE UNDER PENDING WAS RUSTED OUT. ANOTHER MECHANIC PRIOR NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD RUSTED OUT AND CRUMBLED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE DUST PLATE. IT CRUMBLED AND SOME OF THE PIECES ALONG WITH SCREWS WERE CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE DRUMS BEHIND ROTER. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER VEHICLE TO TRADE, ONE I REALLY DIDN'T WANT. THEY GAVE ME NO CHOICE. THIS VEHICLE HAD NO AIR, THE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN, AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITHOUT A CAR DUE TO MULTIPLE UPCOMING DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. THEY WERE AWARE OF A RARE CONDITION I HAVE THAT PREVENTS ME FROM BEING IN THE HEAT BUT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME ANYTHING ELSE. IF SO I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS. THE FORD ESCAPE WAS PAID IN CASH ALL UP FRONT. I FEEL CHEATED AND HAD THEIR BEEN AN ACCIDENT I AM SURE MORE MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM THIS DEALER FOR THE SUFFERING OF MY FAMILY HAD IT BEEN FATAL. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER TO INFORM THEM OF THE SHOCK ABOUT TO FALL OFF, THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT TO THE WELDER. AFTER THE WELDER TOLD THEM HOW UNSAFE IT WAS, INSTEAD OF THEM HAVING IT TOWED, THEY HAD ME DRIVE IT AND HOUR AND A HALF TO THEM. I WAS SCARED.