2003 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

HELLO. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW FORD ESCAPE WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES IN JUNE 2003. TIRE MODEL: CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV TIRE MODEL #: 235/70R16 WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, WITH SIDEWALL AND TREAD SEPARATION, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPLEASANT SITUATION, THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE (AND TIRES) HAVE 5K MILES. THERE WAS NO LOAD OR OTHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME. I AM WRITING FOR SEVERAL REASONS: 1. WHERE DO I OFFICIALLY REPORT SUCH AN INCIDENT AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE? 2. WHERE CAN I OBTAIN SAFETY RATINGS REGARDING THIS TIRE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SUV TIRES? THANK YOU, SINCERELY, JOHN W. COLE, MD DETAILS OF INCIDENT: FORD ESCAPE TIRE BLOWOUT FORD ESCAPE, PURCHASED JUNE 2003, APPROX 4900 TOTAL MILES CONTINENTAL TIRES (STOCK TIRE WITH VEHICLE) DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 9/25/03, 8:20 PM WIFE AND SON (10 WEEKS OLD) DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 50, CROSSING SEVERN RIVER BRIDGE. TRAVELING AT 60 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. LOUD POP HEARD BY WIFE AND DRIVER REAR TIRE BLOWS OUT. WIFE AND INFANT SON TRAPPED AT FAR SIDE OF BRIDGE, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. POLICE CALLED, SET UP FLARES, AND NOTIFIED TOW COMPANY. TOW COMPANY STATED SUPPLIED JACK WOULD NOT LIFT THE TRUCK CHASSIS HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT ON SPARE!! TOW COMPANY USED ADDITIONAL JACK TO RAISE CHASSIS. KEY ISSUES: SUV PURCHASED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. TIRE NEW, WITH LITTLE MILEAGE. BLOWOUT OCCURS ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT REASON. TRUCK WITH NO LOAD, LESS PASSENGERS, AT THE TIME. TIRE JACK DID NOT WORK ADEQUATELY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! IF THIS HAD OF BEEN A FRONT TIRE, VEHICLE MAY HAVE ROLLED? *JB

EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS RADIATE EXCESSIVE HEAT WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. HEADER, MANIFOLD, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMBINED TEMPERATURES CAUSE SCORCHING OF GRASS WHEN PARKED IN A LOWLY-CUT, GRASSY AREA. RAMIFICATIONS COULD BE SAFETY IMPACTS TO OCCUPANTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL.

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRE SIZE P235.70R16) . DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED WHICH CAUSED NOISE WHILE BRAKING. *AK *NLM

WHILE AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A BUILDING. *AK

WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, IT MOVED ONLY IN REVERSE, REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTION. THIS WAS ONLY REMEDIED AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. *JB

THERE WAS A GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT IDLING. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THE STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE LINE HAD RUPTURED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING FLUID BEING CONTAMINATED. *AK *SCC *JB

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM VENT AREA INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A BAD SMELL. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN WATER CAMES THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FRAME. THE WATER WENT DOWN INTO THE ELECTRICAL BUTTONS ON DOOR PANEL. FORD REPLACED ALL THE RUBBER SEALS BUT IT STILL LEAKS. *AK

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. AFTER THE 2ND TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER, IT IS STILL HAPPENING. NOW IT IS HAPPENING IN DRIVE AS WELL. I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE DECEMBER 2002 AND IT HAS STALLED OUT A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS 8000 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FORD ESCAPE 2003 SUV,THE LEFT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL(ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT,TIRE SIZEP235/70R16,DOT#UNAVAILABLE) DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE