NHTSA Complaint #769727 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

MY ESCAPE WAS STILL NEW WHEN I FIRST EXPERIENCED A TOTAL STALL. I WAS ON A DOWNHILL EXIT RAMP FROM THE INTERSTATE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A VERY BUSY ONE WAY STREET THROUGH AN EVEN BUSIER INTERSECTION. I COASTED AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH DOWN TO MAKE MY TURN AND REALIZED THAT I HAD NO STEERING OR POWER AT ALL. I HAD TO FIGHT TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN AND GET TO THE CURB. THE EXPERIENCE LEFT ME SHAKING IN SHOCK AND FEAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I HAD NO TROUBLE RESTARTING IT AFTER I REGAINED MY COMPOSURE. I TOOK IT TO THE INITIAL POINT OF SALE AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS. THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". I HAVE HAD THREE ADDITIONAL STALLS, A DIFFERENT DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE, AIR INTAKE. ANOTHER STALL. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THE CD PLAYER HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWICE (THE DASH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SERVICE TECH SCRATCHED IT CONSIDERABLY), THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW ROLLS UP OUT OF THE TRACK AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DOOR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX THE LOCK ASSEMBLY CONSEQUENTLY THE INTERIOR DOOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE TORN OFF TO GET TO THE LOCK. CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, THE REAR WIPER DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, THE FRONT END MAKES NOISES WHEN TURNED, NOT TO MENTION A RATTLE IN THE BACK THAT WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY AND A MUSTY SMELL. AS IF THIS WEREN'T ENOUGH, THIS MORNING IT BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, BACKFIRED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I MADE IT HOME, THANKFULLY AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER...AGAIN I AM WITHOUT MY CAR! MY HUSBAND WORKS FOR FORD IN LOUISVILLE, KY AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE LOYAL, BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH! WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH DIFFERENT CARS IN THE PAST, BUT I AM AFRAID OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A 16 YR. OLD SON ABOUT TO GET HIS LICENSE. IT HAS BEEN HARD FOR ME AS AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER TO HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS, BUT I AM TERRIFIED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO HIM. DT