2017 Ford Escape

I am writing this to inform you of (4) safety issues in just the past year. Last August while driving in Massachusetts (I live in PA) I heard a strange noise. After pulling off the busy highway I found the bottom of my car dragging on the road. I had to find a place that sold duct tape as a temporary fix. Next problem was swollen lug nuts (never heard of such a thing). While getting new tires I had spent money for new lug nuts. The next problem again, the bottom of the car was falling off and dragging on the road. Most recently, two weeks ago while driving down the highway in West Virginia the car stated shaking and the engine light stated flashing. After being towed to Greenbrier Ford in Lewisburg, WV the dealer informed me the engine had a catastrophic failure. This is the second engine failure. Every time I get in this vehicle I feel unsafe because I never know what is going to happen next.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to unlock the liftgate, the contact was unable to unlock the liftgate using the key fob or the button inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from underneath the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and noticed the plastic coverage under the vehicle near the engine had folded up. The contact was able to slowly continue to drive to the local dealer who inspected and removed the remaining plastic coverage from the undercarriage of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the vehicle no longer needed that piece and it did not need to be replaced. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and replaced some of the plastic screws that held up the remaining front plastic cover however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Underneath safety shields Heat shield came loose due to broken clips that held it up Took the vehicle back numerous times,while under warranty ,and requested it to be fixed dealer said it was fixed but it would fall down soon as started driving. Scraped the road when it fell down. Took it back was told to just remove it because that's what most people do well I refused to remove it and will not remove it. I called Ford main headquarters was told not to remove it and take it to another dealer. I took it to another dealer they actually ordered clips and installed new clips to hold the panels up. Within 2 weeks of being fixed it has another clip broke again. I feel this is a huge safety hazard when driving and should one or both panels fall off it could cause a wreck and or damage to other vehicles that may be behind my vehicle. I have read were this is an on going issue and I do not understand why it can not be fixed and why I have to keep paying for it to be fixed when its been an ongoing issue since the purchase of the car. I understand the warranty is now out but this is a hazard that needs to be fixed instead of waiting until someone is hurt or killed due to an accident because the panels feel off the underneath of the car. Do not know exact date when it fell down and dragged on the road. I drove very slow and when I got home fixed it to were it would stick back up until I could get it into dealer.

ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE STATIONARY, ONE IN MOTION, THE TAILGATE WILL COME UNLATCHED. I HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TAILGATE WITHOUT THE FOOT ACTIVATED SENSORS. WHEN STATIONARY THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS ALL THE WAY CLOSED. THE HORN WILL CHIRP TWICE TELLING ME A DOOR IS OPEN AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I KNOW IT'S NOT CLOSED. WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY, BUT I WILL GET A WARNING IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER TELLING ME THE TAILGATE IS OPEN. IT DOESN'T OPEN ALL THE WAY. I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED IT ONE TIME WHILE IN MOTION AT LOW SPEEDS, LESS THAN 40 MPH, AND I PULLED OVER SAFELY. TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO STAND BEHIND THE TAILGATE WHEN IT'S CLOSING AND PUSH THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT EITHER.