2001 Ford Escape suspension problems

“WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP LAST YEAR, NOTICED LAST THAT THE FRAME ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE HAS RUSTED, IN SOME PLACES COMPLETELY THROUGH AND METAL HAS COMPLETELY FLAKED OFF. WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, AND THAT CAR IS NOT REALLY SAFE UNLESS FIXED. I KNOW ESCAPE FRAMES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALLS, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT. DO I HAVE ANY REMEDY?”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE ALLOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM TO TRAVEL FORWARD EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.”

“MY FORD ESCAPE DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT ANYMORE AND IT WILL NOT STAY IN PARK I HAVE TO HAVE A BRICK PUT IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT EVEN WORK. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT I CANNOT FIND MY LETTER ANYMORE. I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE AND I CANNOT WALK AND MY SON HAD CLEAN THE HOUSE SO I HAVE LOST MY LETTER I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I COULD GET ANOTHER RECALL LETTER SO I CAN GET MIKE'S ESCAPE FIXED PLEASE.”

“WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC FOR OTHER WORK TO BE DONE. HE NOTED THAT THE SUSPENSION PART (WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIATED WITH THE APPLICATION OF A BRACKET WITH A RECALL) IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED. WHILE I SURELY UNDERSTAND THAT RUST IS A FACTOR OF TIME AND MILES, WE HAVE AROUND ONLY 90,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE BRACKET WAS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR FMC TO APPLY. AS A RESULT, I FEAR THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE WHO MAY ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE RECALL AND MAY BE UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT THEY ARE DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS AT THIS TIME, BUT WILL PROVIDE THEM LATER.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE THE WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS AND THE SUBFRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. VILLAGE FORD (23535 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI 48124) WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”