NHTSA Complaint #11352517 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE HAD BEEN LEAKING OUT OF HIS ENGINE AS HIS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TWICE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS GIVEN VARIOUS REPORTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CONWAY HEATON INC. (810 N 3RD ST, BARDSTOWN, KY 40004) WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND STATED THAT HE HAD LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH INCLUDED VIN. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO HIM OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RETURNED TO THE CONTACT AND THE RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD BEEN RISING INDICATING THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL HE VEHICLE OVER, THE ENGINE FAULT SERVICE ENGINE NOW WARNING LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS THE CONTACT EXITED HIS VEHICLE, HE OPENED HIS HOOD AND SAW A FLAME ARISE IN HIS ENGINE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE AUTHORITIES AND AFTER 15 MINUTES OF WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. ONCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL POLICE STATION WERE IN REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE VEHICLE, THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.