NHTSA Complaint #11458457 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

The passenger rear panel paint is bubbling and has rust under the bubbled paint. This is a defect noticed on all the Ford Escapes that I see in parking lots and pre owned vehicle lots. This is a factory defect that I and a lot of other Escape owners feel the manufacturer should take responsibility for and recall the issue so we can get our vehicles fixed. The cost to do it is not covered under my insurance. The safety of others is if you have small kids that are near the vehicle can get rust in their mouth if they touch the area that the bubbled paint has fallen off. The child could touch the bubble, the paint comes off the vehicle and they put it in their mouth. The chips of paint if they try to swallow them could cut their throat trying to swallow the paint chip. The bubble was noticed after owning the vehicle for a year. When I asked at a dealership they mentioned that this is a flaw with the Escapes and nothing can be done about it other than taking it to a body shop and have them remove the rust and paint the quarter panel. That is very expensive.