2008 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

I PURCHASED NEW 2008 ESCAPE ON 8/27/2007 AND ON 9/01/2007, THE LINE LEADING TO THE ACCELARATOR, ACCORDING TO FORD "POPPED OFF". I ASKED THEM FOR ANOTHER CAR TO NO AVAIL. I THANK GOD THAT I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND NOT DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. HERE'S FORD'S RESPONSE VIA EMAIL: DEAR AUDREY, THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING YOUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLS. OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER ON 9/5/2007 11:07:04 AM, AND OUR CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED YOU THAT DIAGNOSIS ACCELERATOR CABLE POPPED OFF IS HAVING SERVICE MANAGER JAMES J________ DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE READY. AT THIS TIME WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ALTERNATE RESPONSE. IF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MATTER SHOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER INQUIRIES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM FOR YOU. SINCERELY, JOHN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE CLAMPS WHEN HE INSPECTED THE BRAKE RESERVOIR. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CLAMPS WERE DESIGNED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON JUNE 2,2007. MY DAUGHTER IS ACTUALLY COOWNER/DRIVER. SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE ON WED, JUNE 6 AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START IT, IT WAS LOCKED UP. NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE STEERING, ETC. TO WORK. SHE SAID IT WAS LOCKED IN ADVANTRAC MODE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, WHERE SHE WORKS. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE, AND IT TOOK THEM 2 1/2 DAYS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAY PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILAABLE UNTIL JULY 5, 2007, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. HER CAR PAYMENT IS DUE BEFORE THEN, AND SHE HAS ONLY DRIVEN 240+ MILES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, OR IT WAS NOT INSPECTED PROPERLY BEFORE BEING SOLD. THEY SAY THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN THEY WILL ADMIT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD CANCEL OUR PURCHASE, AND TAKE THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT WANT TO WORRY ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT LOCKING UP, CAUSING A ROLLOVER,ETC. I THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP IT . WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET HELP, I WILL PROBABLY CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA TOMORROW. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS HAPPENING, AND FEEL THAT WE GOT CONNED INTO BUYING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, SO WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR TROUBLE, AND RELEASED FROM THIS PURCHASE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU.

THE NEWLY REDESIGNED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER "AREA" FOR THE NEWLY ARRIVING 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE IS A SAFETY AND TRAFFIC HAZARD IN THE FOLLOWING WAY: BECAUSE OF NEW SHAPE FOR THE PLEXIGLASS FRONT AND THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD AND THE MATERIALS USED, IT ALLOWS THE SUN'S RAYS TO SPOTLIGHT ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER "AREA" , CAUSING THE WORST "GLARE" THAT I HAVE EVER COME ACCROSS IN ALL MY YEARS OF BUYING AND DRIVING NEW CARS. THIS CAUSES BLINDESS (EVEN WITH A GOOD PAIR OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES ON) DURING SUNNY DAYS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT ANGLE TO THE SUN. ON A RECENT TRIP OUT OF TOWN, I HAD TO ACTUALLY HOLD UP ONE OF MY HAND'S CLOSE TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TO BLOCK THE SUN'S REFLECTION. THAT MEANT DRIVING WITH ONLY ONE ARM. THE ONLY SAFE TIME TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IS DURING CLOUDY DAYS. UNFROTUNATELY THAT WAS THE TYPE OF DAY IT WAS WHEN I TEST DROVE, BEFORE SIGNING 3 YEAR LEASE. THIS IS THE SISTER VEHICLE TO THE FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINER. ALL 3 ARE BUILT IN THE SAME FORD PLANT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THEY MUST ALL HAVE THE SAME DESIGN FLAW. THE SAME VEHICLES DASH WAS JUST FINE FROM 2001-2007. I KNOW, BECAUSE I OWNED SEVERAL OF THEM. ONLY THE NEW DASH ON THE NEW 2008 MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM.