NHTSA Complaint #758324 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

THE OVERHEAD MAP LIGHTS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DO NOT COME ON WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS OPENED. THE CENTER AND BACK DOME LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN FADE, HOWEVER, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH LIGHT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE TO PUT THE KEY IN WITHOUT MANUALLY TURNING ON THE MAP LIGHT. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME YEAR MODEL, AND THEIR MAP LIGHTS COME UP. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, HE SAID A CHANGE IN WIRING WAS MADE TO THEIR VEHICLES AND WOULD GLADLY CHARGE ME $300 TO FIX MINE. I LIVE IN ALASKA WHERE 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR IT'S DARK AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HARZARD IN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING ADEQUATE LIGHTING TO SEE TO PUT THE KEY IN. WE'VE TALKED TO THE SEVICE MANAGER AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR US. THEY HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR WASTING MY TIME, AND LEAVING ME SIT IN THEIR WAITING AREA FOR 8 HOURS AND THEN ANNOUNCING THEY "FORGOT" ABOUT ME. WHEN TOLD IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDTIONAL 3 1/2 HOURS TO FIX, AND COST ME $300, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME LEFT IN THE DAY TO COMPLETE THE JOB IF I CHOSE TO SPEND THE MONEY AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME. I FEEL THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I CAN'T SEE TO PUT THE KEY IN AND START THE VEHICLE UP.*AK