What 1,035 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Escape Gas

A PISTON EXPLODED IN MY ENGINE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

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DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY TIRES SLIPPED AND TRIED TO KICK ON TRACTION CONTROL BUT INSTEAD DISABLED MY DRIVING UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND STOP. TURN THE CAR OFF FOR A COUPLE SECONDS THEN RESTARTED IT BACK ON. DID THAT 3 TIME IN MY WAY INTO WORK. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL UNTIL I GOOGLED WHAT HAPPENED AND LOT OF RESPONSES SAID THE TRACTION CONTROL GETS FAULTY. SO NOW EVERY TIME I DRIVE I HAVE TO GO INTO THE SETTINGS AND TURN OFF MY TRACTION CONTROL OR IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS BEHIND ME.

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ON THE DATE OF 04/07/21 I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK, HAD PULLED OUT OF DUNKIN DONUTS AND WENT UP A SMALL HILL TO A STOP SIGN I HAD THE AC ON, AND MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AS I JUST LEFT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AND AS I GET TO THE TOP OF THE SMALL HILL, MY AC TURNS OFF AND MY CAR DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SAYING TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK AND IT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED RESTARTING IT AND NOTHING I HAD DASH LIGHTS EVERYTHING BUT DIDN'T START. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD, THE FIRST TIME IT SHUT OFF AND DISPLAYED A STARTING SYSTEM FAIL MESSAGE TOOK IT TO DEALER AND CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO A RECALL!

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MY ENGINE FAILED IN 2019. COOLANT ENTERED CYLINDER NO. 2 AND WAS BLOWN OUT THE TAILPIPE. ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR AFTERWARDS WITHOUT CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY FORD. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF FORD ECOBOOST ENGINES, E.G., 1.6, 2.0 AND 2.5L, HAVE SIMILARLY FAILED. FORD HAS REPLACED MANY ENGINES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IN MANY CASES THE VEHICLES WERE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND OWNERS HAD TO PAY $8,000 TO $12,000 OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS TO HAVE ENGINES REPLACED. THESE ENGINES EXHIBIT A DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO ENTER THE CYLINDERS. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL OR EXTENDED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL ENGINE COOLANT CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE ARE MANY AREAS ON TODAY'S HIGHWAYS WHERE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY STOP. IN MY OWN CASE, FORD REPLACED MY ENGINE UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT KEPT MY VEHICLE AN ENTIRE MONTH WHILE WAITING ON THE NEW ENGINE TO ARRIVE AND FOR INSTALLATION; FORD DID NOT HOOK UP MY BATTERY TO A CHARGER DURING THIS TIME AND THE BATTERY RAN DOWN, LIMITING ITS REMAINING USEFUL LIFE. I HAD TO COMPLAIN TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP. SHORTLY AFTER THE NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION FLYWHEEL--POSSIBLY DAMAGED DURING THE ENGINE REINSTALLATION. THESE ECOBOOST ENGINES ARE A DISASTER. MY ENGINE FAILED AT 36,000 MILES--MANY FAIL JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT, SINCE YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU MIGHT BE WHEN AN ECOBOOST ENGINE FAILS, IT'S ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THE COOLANT VALVE WENT SUDDENLY, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ENGINE CYLINDER TO CRACK. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 71000 MILES. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED FOR 2014 FORD ESCAPES, IN WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR 2015 ESCAPES DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE HEATER IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE HEAT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING WAS ELEVATED TO THE HIGH MARKER. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHCILE WAS TOWED TO YORK FORD INC (1481 BROADWAY, SAUGUS, MA 01906, (781) 231-1945) AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,226. INVALID VIN.

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PURCHASED A NEW 2015 ESCAPE HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER MULTI TIMES FOR TURBO REPLACEMENT AND THE HEADS REPLACED. WAS SMELLING COOLANT IN THE CAR TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALER FOR REPAIR. THAT WAS OVER 7 WEEKS AGO. FORDS WILL NOT APPROVE THE REPAIR THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. I HAVE A ACTIVE POWERTRAIN AND FORD ESP WARRANTY.

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I LEFT THE CAR ON SINCE MY DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND WERE IN THE CAR. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT FROM THE STORE, I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE BUT IT WOULD NOT LET ME. SO I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR BUT IT WILL STILL STAYED ON. AFTER ABOUT 1 HR THE CAR STARTED TO TURN OFF SLOWLY. IT IS COMPLETELY OFF NOW BUT WONT TURN BACK ON. LUCKILY WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT OF A DOLLAR TREE.

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I NOTICED THAT MY HEAT STOPPED WORKING WHILE IDLING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I CHECKED THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVELS AND DISCOVERED MY ENGINE COOLANT WAS PRETTY LOW. I FILLED THE COOLANT AND THE ISSUE WAS FIXED. A FEW DAYS LATER; HOWEVER, I NOTICED THE ISSUE AGAIN. UPON CHECKING MY COOLANT LEVEL AGAIN, I SAW THAT THE LEVEL HAD DROPPED AGAIN. I CHECKED EVERYWHERE FOR LEAKS BUT SAW NONE. I THEN BROUGHT MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO ALSO CHECKED FOR LEAKS. HE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO EXTERNAL LEAKS. THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO ENGINE, A COMMON PROBLEM THEY SEE WITH FORD VEHICLES. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT WORTH IT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THAT I WAS BETTER OFF TRADING IT IN FOR A NEW CAR. I'M SO UPSET BECAUSE I TOOK EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND NOW NEED TO CAR SHOP DURING A PANDEMIC WITH POOR CREDIT DUE TO PANDEMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS NOT RIGHT THAT THE COMPANY WILL TAKE NO OWNERSHIP OVER THE ISSUES AND PUTS IT ON THE CUSTOMER TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO START-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 1,200 RPM AND THEN RETURNED TO 1,000 RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND MOVED A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE STALLING. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP ROTATING THEN THE IGNITION WAS PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE PROCEDURE HAD TO BE REPEATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE OIL, BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOGGUS FORD MCALLEN (1400 E EXPRESSWAY 83, MCALLEN, TX 78501) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACK-ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE ISSUE WITH THE BACK-ORDERED PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 12/9/2020. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.*DT THE 5 BCM DIDN'T WORK EITHER. DEALER STATED WIRING HARNESS IN DASH & BCM GOING OUT OF FIRE WALL.*JB

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I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM MY EXHAUST PIPES AND SMELLED BURNING. AS I DROVE THE SMOKE STOPPED UNTIL I CAME TO A REST. 2 DAYS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET THE WARNING SIGN CAME ON STATING VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING I PULLED OVER AND NOTICE THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHOM STATED THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE COOLANT COMPARTMENT AND THAT THE COOLANT WAS BURNING OUT. CAUSING IT TO HAVE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST AND OVERHEATING

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I HAD THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM MY EXHAUST WITH 98,XXX MILES AND MY DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT COOLANT WAS GETTING INTO MY CYLINDERS DUE TO EITHER A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A DEFECT IN THE WATER PUMP DESIGN. I HAD AN ENGINE WITH 18,XXX MILES PUT INTO MY CAR AND 20-30 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING IT, IT WAS SMOKING AGAIN. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE ENGINE IN MY CAR IS THE SAME ENGINE IN THE 2013 MODEL OF MY VEHICLE AND THE 2013 MODEL GOT RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

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MY 2015 FORD ESCAPE: WARNING LIGHT 'ENGINE FAULT - SERVICE NOW' THAT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I STOPPED/RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES. DEALER SERVICE REP SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM UNLESS THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE CAR RAN WELL AT ALL TIMES. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON EVERY DAY, BUT DISAPPEAR WHEN RESTARTING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN (CAPITAL FORD 4222 OLEANDER DR. WILMINGTON, NC) AND DIAGNOSIS SHOWED A COOLANT LEAK INTO ENGINE CYLINDER #3. DEALER STATES THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF REPAIR IS $9,242.81. (THIS IS APP $2,000 LESS THAN THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE)

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND CRUISED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER VACHON FORD LOCATED AT 455 PROVIDENCE RD, BROOKLYN, CT 06234, (860) 774-3673, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

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AT 127,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH US EVEN THOUGH WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

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VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLS TO THE POINT IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING , P01450 PRESENT .

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DRIVING NORMALLY AND APPROACHED STOP SIGN. APPLIED BRAKES WITH NO STOPPING POWER. WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN AND STOPPED WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES.BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION BEFORE OR AFTER INCIDENT. VACUUM PUMP AND COUPLER FAILURE. AFTER REPAIR, TURBO FAILURE 10 MINUTES AFTER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GEM CITY FORD INC LOCATED AT 5101 BROADWAY ST, QUINCY, IL 62305, (877) 571-7953, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.*DT *AS

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 FORD ESCAPE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS GETTING READY TO GET IN TRAFFIC TO EXIT MY BRAKES WOULDN'T PRESS DOWN. TRYING FRANTICALLY AND AS HARD AS I COULD I COULDN'T GET MY BRAKES TO PRESS DOWN TO SLOW. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT MY CAR AND USE THE E-BRAKE TO GET TO A SHOULDER AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD A FRIEND WHO'S A MECHANIC CHECK OUT MY CAR AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS MY VACUUM PUMP FOR MY BRAKES. HE ALSO NOTED WHEN HE SAW WHAT MY CAR WAS AND THAT IT WAS AN ECO BOOST THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WHAT THEY REFER TO AS A SOCCER MOM KILLER. HE'S SEEN THIS BEFORE. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS IT SHOOTS SHRAPNEL INTO MY TURBO THEN INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT WILL COST ME $5000-8000 TO FIX NOW. I HAVE SEEN OTHER FORD MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAVE RECALLS ALREADY BUT NOT MY SPECIFIC MAKE AN MODEL.

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WITHIN LAST WEEK, TWICE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON A CITY HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. LIGHTS, RADIO, DASHBOARD, ETC. ALL CONTINUED TO WORK. NOTIFICATION CAME ON DASHBOARD STATING "WARNING, VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK." FORTUNATELY, IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER INTO A PARKING LOT AND AVOID CAUSING A WRECK OR BEING WRECKED INTO. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! WITH CAR SAFELY IN A PARKING LOT, I MOVED MY TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. I TURNED MY KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION. I REMOVED MY KEY. I REINSERTED THE KEY AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. LIGHTS, RADIO, DASH, ETC. ALL CAME ON. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NOT A "CLICK" AS IF THE ENGINE WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER. THERE WAS ONLY A NOTIFICATION OF "SYSTEM START FAULT." I TRIED OUR SPARE KEY, AND RECEIVED SAME NOTIFICATION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MOVE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL TO BE TOWED. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. ABANDONED VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, RETURNED TO VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE STARTED. TO CLARIFY, EVERYTHING LISTED HERE HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES AND ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS SO FAR. TESTS AT BOTH AUTOZONE AND O'REILY AUTO PARTS CONFIRM - AS I SUSPECTED, SINCE LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC. WOULD TURN ON - THAT THE BATTERY AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE WORKING JUST FINE. THIS IS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF!

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS . COOLANT RESERVOIR BROKE AND HOSE BROKE IN 2 PLACES 2015 OVER HEATED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ALL RED AND COOLANT BLEW OUT .

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67K MILES ON ENGINE, OVERHEATED GOING 30 MPH ON RURAL HWY AND ENGINE WARNING CAME ON. DEALERSHIP DISCOVERS THE ANTIFREEZE HAS LEAKED INTO THE PISTON CYLINDERS AND NEEDS A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $8000. ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED SINCE AT LEAST 2014 AND FORD REFUSES TO HELP WITH COSTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND AND A BYSTANDER MANAGED TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. NO BODILY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED FOR TREATMENT FOR HER HUSBANDS ODOR IN VENTILATION FROM THE FIRE. ERIE INSURANCE WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

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