An expectant mother who was told her Ford SUV could burst into flames at any second says it's unacceptable the company refused to offer an immediate fix to the potentially deadly problem.
Keri Torgerson bought her secondhand 2001 Ford Escape last fall, thinking it would be a good family vehicle. But just weeks later, she got a recall notice warning that her vehicle posed a fire hazard and needed replacement parts.
But those parts are on back order, forcing the nine months pregnant woman to park her vehicle and walk.
"I thought I'd get a nice, safe family vehicle, and I got this…and I hate it with a fiery passion," Torgerson said.
"Apparently if one of the seals goes, fluid can leak," she said.
That brake fluid leak could lead to spontaneous vehicle fires. Ford has warned 2001 and 2002 model Escape owners not to park their vehicles indoors, or risk major property damage. Ford offered to replace the defective part, but said parts aren't available until the second quarter of 2012.
Torgerson, who lives in a condo, says she's now stuck because she can't park it underground.
"They're not offering anything. So I can't put a car seat in it -- I can't sell it -- I can't drive it," she said."
The young woman was forced to put storage insurance on her truck and park it at her brother's home in Langley, leaving the heavily pregnant mom-to-be no way to get around.
"Well it's kind of left me out on a limb. There's nothing I can do about it. I have no vehicle. I could go into labour anytime -- and I have no way of bringing my child home from the hospital," she said.
Steele on Your Side contacted Ford Canada on her behalf. Within days, it found the necessary parts to repair her SUV.
Ford Canada refused to do an interview with CTV, but sent an email saying:
"We have been working closely with our suppliers to accelerate all parts availability. Less than 0.2 percent of the vehicles repaired under the recall reported any type of subsequent related damage."
After our interview, Ford came and picked up Torgerson's truck for a repair and returned it a day later.
Despite the resolution, she says she's done with Ford: "I'm not comfortable. I don't want it anymore -- even after they fix it. I don't want it. I think I'll ever buy another Ford SUV."
Torgerson is now putting her vehicle up for sale.
More than 245,000 vehicles are affected by the recall. Ford dealers are replacing the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modifying the abs electrical system. Until those problems are fixed, Ford is urging all affected drivers to park their vehicles out doors.
Watch CTV News at Six for the full report from Lynda Steele, plus what to do if you think your vehicle might be affected…
