# 2001 FORD ESCAPE — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `415089` · 2003-06-17 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCAPE
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- **Miles at failure:** 13,268
## Narrative
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC.  THE IDLE GAUGE KEPT DROPPING AND GOING UP UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY DROPPED BELOW 1, THEN IT CUT OUT IMMEDIATELY .  THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY.  THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE GAS TANK, AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A RAT HAD BITTEN THROUGH THE WIRES.  THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR THE STALLING PROBLEMS AND GAS FUMES WERE COMING THROUGH THE A/C VENTS.  LATER ON THAT DAY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.  THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND AND OR EXCHANGE FOR A NEW VEHICLE.  *MR  *TS  *SCC   *JB
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*