I have a 2005 Ford Escape. I started my car about 10 minutes before I had to leave for class, and put on the front and rear defrost. When I got in my car and started driving, the rear window imploded into thousands of pieces.

- Parker, CO, USA

I am writing in concerns to a serious safety issue that Ford Motor Company has failed to address. I am an owner of a 2005 Ford Escape which I purchased new in November of 2004. I have been waiting two months to have a faulty electrical part, the smart junction box, replaced. Since August 23rd my vehicle has been unsafe to operate without this part as my turn signals, head lights, and hazard lights are inoperable, as well as power windows, interior and dash lights, power locks, radio and clock display and my ability to unlatch the rear door. After researching the information myself I was forced to wait another week to be scheduled to have my vehicle scheduled for repair. On Sept. 7th the Ford mechanic confirmed the part I told him I needed was correct and said part was on back order and should be available in two weeks. On Sept.21st, I called to ask if the part was available. It was then that the mechanic said that he neglected to mention the part would not be ordered unless I paid in advance. I paid for the part on sept23. On Sept. 29th the general manager at worden-martin called to say there was nothing he could do. I asked if it were possible to have a used part put in temporarily while I wait. I received a reply that I would have to pay $350 to have that part put in with no guarantee that the part would function properly and no compensation if the replacement part were to fail. Not wanting to throw away $350 for a faulty part, I felt I had no choice but to wait another week for the part to arrive. After waiting two weeks I never received a call, so I called the dealer to inquire on the part. I was told the part may not be available until Oct. 25th. I called Ford Motor Company's customer service who told me it was their distributor and not Ford's responsibility and the part should be available be available Oct. 15th because the part, ordered by many, was being redesigned. On Oct. 19th I called again and was told the part may not be available until November.

- Champaign, IL, USA

The rear glass hatch imploded just after exiting an interstate highway. Most of the glass was confined to the cargo area, a little glass reached the second row of seats and only a few shards reach the driver front seat area. Conditions at the time we 32 degrees with snow and rain, requiring the use of the rear window heater to keep off icing and use of windshield fluid to permit viewing while in heavy traffic in the cincinnati Ohio area. The only indication of a problem prior to the explosion was a low hissing sound coming from the rear just moments before it happened. Repairs the next day found no problems with wiper, wiper motor or shorts in the electrical harness to the window defroster elements of the glass. No injuries were caused to my 2 passengers by the flying glass. However should this have happened just 20 seconds earlier while on the interstate in heavy traffic, the shock to me, the driver, could have caused an accident, since the first impression I had was that the vehicle had been struck, then upon realizing that the window had blown out I thought we might have been shot at.

- Crestwood, KY, USA

I was driving my 2005 Ford Escape on interstate 90-West, and upon reaching the city of brathnall city line I heard a loud explosion and noticed that my rear window had exploded. When I was able to pull off the freeway, I notified the 911 police emergency, and requested assistance. A police arrived within 10 minutes and assisted me. I have just notice that there has been several other persons who had complained of the same problem with their Ford Escape, when will the NHTSA do something about this problem" are you waiting for the loss of lives to occur first before you will do something"

- Highland Hts, OH, USA