# 2017 FORD ESCAPE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `1576631` · 2019-06-19 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCAPE
- **Year:** 2017
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
## Narrative
MY ESCAPE HAS THE LIFT GATE THAT OPENS AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE WAVE OF A FOOT.  A FEW MONTHS AGO (DEC. 2018 I THINK) I WAS LOADING MY GROCERIES INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY, THE LIFT GATE CRASHED DOWN ON MY HEAD AND THEN CONTINUED TO CLOSE.  I HAD TO DROP TO THE GROUND TO KEEP IT FROM CLOSING ON ME BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T STOP.  IT HURT TERRIBLY BUT I DIDN'T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO GO THE ER.  I CALLED FORD AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN AND I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE IT IN AT THE TIME.  LAST WEEK, I WAS AGAIN AT THE GROCERY STORE AND A YOUNG MAN WAS LOADING MY GROCERIES WHILE I STOOD AND WATCHED.  FORTUNATELY, I SAW IT COMING THIS TIME BEFORE THE LIFT GATE CRASHED DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE LIFT GATE TO STOP IT.  I KNEW I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT THEN.  I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHO COULD BE DECAPITATED IF IT CLOSED ON HIM.  YESTERDAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND JUST HEARD FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.  TURNS OUT WHEN A FOOT IS DETECTED BY THE  SENSOR; IF THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN, IT CAUSES IT TO CLOSE.  THERE IS NO SENSOR TO MAKE IT STOP IF THERE'S A BODY IN THE WAY.  PER MY SERVICE MAN, THERE'S NO WAY TO DISABLE THE FEATURE.  IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A LIFT GATE THAT CAN COME DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND CRUSH OR DECAPITATE ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE STANDING UNDER IT.  THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS ALREADY HURT ME AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE DEADLY TO MY GRANDCHILD.  I H
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*