NHTSA Complaint #11319764 — 2018 FORD ESCAPE

I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD THAT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR COOLANT TO INTRUDE INTO THE CYLINDER BORES. THEIR SOLUTION IS "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 19B37," WHICH PRESCRIBES THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE LETTER NOTES THAT IF I PAID FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING THE ENGINE BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND/OR HEAD GASKET BEFORE THE DATE OF THIS LETTER (JAN. 2020) I AM ENTITLED TO A REFUND. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE STRESS ON THE CYLINDER HEAD IS TO REDUCE ENGINE HORSEPOWER/TORQUE. I PURCHASED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL WITH TOWING PACKAGE. WON'T THE REDUCTION IN POWER INVALIDATE THE TOW RATING? THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A "SAFETY RECALL." YOU HAVE NO RECORD OF FORD INITIATING A RECALL. CAN ANYONE ASSURE ME THAT IF I AUTHORIZE THE SOFTWARE MANIPULATION THAT I WILL STILL HAVE A REASONABLY SAFE VEHICLE CAPABLE OF TOWING 2000 POUNDS? OR, HAS FORD DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND PUT THE LIABILITY ON ME DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND SAVE THEM THE EXPENSE OF A RECALL? ALSO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CHANGING THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL SPECS WOULD ALTER THE VEHICLE'S FUEL MILEAGE AND EMISSIONS CERTIFICATIONS.