1995 Ford Escort

MY NAME IS: STEVEN ENCARNACION. ADDRESS: 1204 ST. JOSEPH WAY, PETALUMA, CA 94954-5360, E:MAIL STEVOE@HOME.COM. TELEPHONE #(707)763-7437. THIS IS THE SECOND (1ST ODI#: 719304) OF FOUR COMPLAINTS (OF WHICH THE THIRD ONE IS ABOUT A SAFTEY DEFECT THAT CAUSED AN INJURY) AGAINST G&C AUTOBODY, RE:RENTING VEHICLES WITH THE GROSS KNOWLEDGE OF SAFTEY DEFECTS. ON 01/15/2000 I RENTED MY SECOND VEHICLE FROM G&C AUTOBODY, A FORD ESCORT (CUSTOMER RENTAL AGREEMENT #25745, REPAIR ORDER#000676, COST: $5.00 PER DAY) AS A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED. THE FORD ESCORT WOULDN'T ALWAYS START, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WAS STALLED FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD DECIDE TO START, BUT USUALLY I WOULD JUST SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THE ENGINE TURN OVER AND OVER BEFORE IT WOULD START. I WAS STUCK IN THE PARKING LOT ONE DAY AT COLLEGE FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH A STALLED ENGINE, WHEN IT FINALLY STARTED I DROVE IT TO G&C AUTOBODY TO TELL THEM THAT THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS. THEY CALLED A MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT TO BRING IT BACK. I DROVE TO THEIR SECOND BODYSHOP DOWN THE STREET TO PICKUP SOME THINGS I HAD IN MY CAR THAT WAS BEING REPAIRED AND WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE, IT WOULDN'T START AND THE ENGINE WOULD JUST TURN AND TURN. A CROWD OF BODYSHOP REPAIRMEN STARTED TO GATHER AROUND BECAUSE THAY COULD HEAR ME TRYING TO START THE CAR. SO I DROVE RIGHT BACK TO G&C AUTOBODY AND TOLD THEM THAT I WANT A DIFFERENT CAR, THAT THIS FORD ESCORT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON IT. SO THEY RENTED ME A THIRD VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOUR AGENCY BY CONTACT 4 (CHANNEL FOUR NEWS IN THE S.F. BAY AREA). NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SHE BENT DOWN FOR A SECOND TO PICK UP SOMETHING FROM THE FLOORBOARD. WHEN SHE STRAIGHTENED UP, VEHICLE HAD VEERED OVER INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED AWAY FROM HITTING A MAILBOX. THEN, HIT AN ENBANKMENT AND FLIPPED OVER, TWICE, LANDING ON THE TOP SIDE. CONSUMER HAD TO FORCE THE DOOR OPEN. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT BROKE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. *AK

HEARD GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNED WHEELS A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN IT WEATHER IS COLD, CAN HEAR GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE. CAR ALSO SLIPS MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS SLIDING. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER IN JAN 1997 AND THEY SAID STEERING WAS OK. I ASSUMED THAT THE TIRES JUST NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP. ON DEC 24, 1999 I HAD NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY AND 2 OTHER AUTO MECHANICS CHECK CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT BUSHING IN RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS WORN OUT. ONE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION TO THE BODY WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND HE TIGHTENED CLAMP, WHICH MADE PROBLEM A SOME BETTER. I AM TAKING CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TOMMORROW ( 12-27-99)