2001 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM NO LONGER SECURELY ATTACHED TO CAR FRAME BECAUSE CRADLE OR SUBFRAME RUSTED THRU. QUICK SEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2001 - 2004. LEFT FRONT CRADLE THAT ATTACHES CONTROL ARM TO BODY IS GOOD. PERHAPS CONSTANT WATER DRIPPING FROM AIR CONDITIONER HAS CAUSED THAT AREA OF THE FRAME TO RUST. FORD DEALER CAN NOT FIND A SUPPLY OF SUBFRAME PART PERHAPS BECAUSE OF FREQUENCY OF RUST THRU FAILURE? *TR

DEAR SIRS, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THIS PAST WEEKEND ON THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE IN HAYWARD CA, A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT/FIRE OCCURRED WITH A LIMOUSINE, WHERE FIVE INDIVIDUALS WERE TRAPPED AND KILLED DUE TO A VEHICLE FIRE. UPON SEEING AND HEARING ABOUT THIS HORRIFIC TRAGEDY, MY WIFE INSISTED THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE RECALLS PERFORMED ON OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I TOOK OUR ESCAPE INTO FREMONT FORD ON MAY 7TH, [XXX], THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, TOLD ME THAT HE WAS REFUSING TO PERFORM ALL OF THE RECALLS ON OUR TRUCK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPIRED. AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW RECALLS INVOLVING SAFETY ISSUES EXPIRE? IS THIS A FORD COMPANY POLICY OR A FREMONT FORD DEALERSHIP/SERVICE POLICY? WHEN I PICKED UP OUR ESCAPE ON MAY 8TH FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DOCUMENTED ON THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THESE VERY IMPORTANT RECALLS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN LIGHT OF THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED THIS PAST WEEKEND. PLEASE ADVISE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD CONCERNING THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER . THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TR UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IDLING IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

BRAKE HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR CAP LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. REPLACED WITH NEW CAP FROM DEALER, 100% FIXED PROBLEM. RETAINED OLD CAP IF INSPECTION NEEDED. *TR

MY CLIENT'S SON WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE ON CENTRAL AVENUE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MARYLAND AT NIGHTTIME WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. HE SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND HIS VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A BIKE RIDER THEN STRUCK THE MEDIAN CURB TOTALING THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND BIKE RIDER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. *TR

SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS NOW, IN LAST 2 DAYS. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ONE-CAR CRASH ON I-96 ON MARCH 4, 2008. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED AS LOSS OF CONTROL AT A HIGH SPEED, AND AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO SUSPICION OF A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THEN IN LATE JULY 2012, THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FORD ESCAPE WITH V-6 ENGINES, MODEL YEARS 2001-2004, WAS MADE PUBLIC (RECALL NO. 12S37). WE NOW HAVE CONCERN THAT THIS ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN PRECIPITATED BY A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO THIS; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THAT WAS DECLARED 'TOTALED' IS STILL ON THE ROAD AND HAS SINCE BEEN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT. WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO BRING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA, AND ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD BE UNLOCKED. THE REMAINING THREE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO KICK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.