Paul A. Eisenstein writing for the Detroit Bureau documented another Ford Motor Co. problem. Ford is telling its owners of an estimated 11,500 new Escapes to park their vehicles until they can be repaired by dealers due to potential fuel line leaks that could cause fires.

Some years ago Ford had another vehicle that was prone to burst into flames whenever struck in the back. Some of you may remember the Ford Pinto. This incident became a huge litigation affair when Ford decided to stone-wall the problem.

In this most recent case they have taken a much more sensible tack and reported the problem to their customer’s without waiting for the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) to issue a recall.
It just makes sense. Anything related to the fuel system of any manufacturer’s vehicle must be taken very seriously indeed. Questions of risk versus cost to repair should never enter an equation of life and death.

Says Eisenstein, “The latest Ford Escape recall specifically targets new 2013 models equipped with the maker’s 1.6-liter engine. Other versions are not involved in the recall, in which Ford takes the unusual step of asking owners to not drive the vehicle until repairs can be made. Dealers will provide a loaner vehicle at no charge and handle transporting the vehicles to service bays for repairs.”

We would rather Ford go ahead and fix this problem, and they seem to be doing that. However, individual dealerships sometimes operate to the beat of their own drummer, and not to that of the consumer. If you, as an owner of a 2013 Ford Escape are not getting the warning and help with this problem you feel proper, give us a call here at Norman Taylor & Associates. When it comes to the California Lemon Law we know how to help.