Ford Escape Complaints (2003)
558 consumer complaints on file.
- #10525000July 15, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT SUB FRAME AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHICH WERE BOTH DETERMINED TO BE CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10523690July 8, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND A TREE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS TO THE ARMS AND FACE AS WELL AS BRUISES TO THE KNEE, SHOULDERS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10515388June 5, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
LOSS OF USE OF BRAKES WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. JAMMING THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP, BUT WAS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND. MECHANIC INSPECTED HOSES AND LINES AND FOUND THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO BE SPLIT AND LEAKING. THIS WAS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE AS I HAD MY YOUNG KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT STOPPING FROM A FASTER VELOCITY WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE TIGHT BENDS IN THE BRAKE HOSE(S) ON THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE MAY BE A FACTOR FOR HIS HAPPENING TO VARIOUS CONSUMERS, SO THIS IS WORTH INVESTIGATING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514448May 31, 2013SUSPENSION, WHEELS, STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
WHILE THAT VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED; DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 35 MPH, A VERY LOUD POP NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BECAME UNSTABLE AND STEERING BECAME UNRELIABLE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION IS APPEARS THAT THE WHEEL BECAME PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION IS APPEARS THAT THE REAR MOUNTING BOLT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD DETACHED FROM THE SUB-FRAME. THIS PART OF THE SUB-FRAME SHOW EXCESSIVE CORROSION WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTING POINT. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ABILITY TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE STABILITY. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY DECELERATING AND BEING OPERATED ON A ROADWAY THAT HAD SUFFICIENT ROOM TO MAKE CORRECTIVE MEASURE OTHERWISE THE OUTCOME OF THIS FAILURE EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND FATAL. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THE BODY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME DO NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RUST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513083May 22, 2013SUSPENSION, STEERING
ON MAY 2 2013, MY DAUGHTER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A BUSY CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE ENTRANCE DRIVEWAY OF A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSSION WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TO BECOME PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THE FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING DISCHARGING CONDENSATE ON THE AFFECTED PART. THE FORD DEALER ADVISED THEY HAD SEEN 1 OTHER VEHICLE RECENTLY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ASKED FOR A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE BUT SO FAR MY REQUEST HAS NOT BEEN HONORED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511675May 13, 2013ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MAY 8,2013, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDED WHILE MY CAR SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 + HOURS. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE ALARM, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE WIRING HARNESS ATTACHED TO THE ABS HAD A SMALL FLAME AND SMOKE FROM ITS WIRING INSULATION. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FLAME AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, I CALLED FOR A TOW . THE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED WELL AND LOCKED OUT THE ENTIRE AUTO SYSTEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ( RECALL 07S51 SUPPL #2 DTD 9 OCT 2009 ) AND THAT FORD SHOULD PROBABLY PROVIDE A FIX OR CREDIT TOWARD SAID FIX. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT STATUS IS: 1.) THE WIRING HARNESS IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED BY FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO APPROVED PROVISIONS TO SECURE A HARNESS. 2.) RECALL 07S51 WAS IMPLEMENTED PER THEIR RECORDS SO THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE EVEN IF THEY COULD GET A WIRING HARNESS AND THEN TROUBLESHOOT THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.3.) MY PRIVATE INSURANCE'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES NOT COVER A VEHICLE SITTING STATIC FOR A WIRING FIRE. 4.) I AM AWAITING FORMS FROM FORD QUALITY GROUP TO PLEA FOR CONSIDERATION. ONCE THE FORMS ARE COMPLETED AND RECEIVED BY FORD CORPORATE OFFICES, THEIR LAWYERS WILL REQUIRE APPROX 15 DAYS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF MY CLAIM HAS MERIT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509910April 29, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR..UPDATED 06/24/13 *BF UPDATED 06/28/2013 *JS
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509102April 22, 2013ENGINE
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING RUST HOUR TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I TRIED TO SLOWDOWN BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SLOW LANE (2 LANES TO THE RIGHT) TO GET TO THE SHOULDER.I HAD TO LITERALLY STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY WHOLE WEIGHT ON THE PEDDLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND STOP BY FORCING THE GEAR LEVER IN TO PARK POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE ENGINE ACCELERATION. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508441April 16, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACK IN OCT 2012 TOOK THE CAR TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM FORD DEALERSHIP IN CAMBLEE GA B/C OF THE RECALL OF THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WHICH CAUSES THE THROTTLE TO GET STUCK-GAS PEDDLE. THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT. SUNDAY MORNING @11:30 AM ON APRIL 14TH WHILE ON MY WAY TO CHURCH ON I-285 MY GAS PEDDLE GOT STUCK & I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. FOR 6 MILES I TRIED EVERYTHING TO STOP THE CAR EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALL THE WAY UP, PUMP THE BRAKE. SHIFT THE GEAR TO ONE BUT CAR KEPT ON GOING FAST. THE CAR SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 & 80MPH. FINALLY CALLED 911 & THEY ADVISE ME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL . THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AND BACK TIRE BLEW. I HAD MY FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. IF THE CAR DID NOT STOP I WAS GOING TO CRASH IT INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MALCOLM CUNNIGHAM FORD AND YESTERDAY THE PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL AND ALSO CALLED ME TODAY TO ADVISE THAT IN FACT WHAT THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IN OCTOBER WAS NEVER FIXED ALL THEY DID WAS DISCONNECT CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. WHICH I ALREADY KNEW WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD SUNDAY WITH THE POLICE OFFICER. I WANT OTHERS TO BE WARN ABOUT THIS RECALL IN THERE CAR BECAUSE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE DEATH BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL ISSUE. SUNDAY FOR ME COULD HAVE TURNED OUT BAD BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THIS DEALERSHIP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508287April 15, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FORD ESCAPE IS RUSTING ABOVE THE BACK WHEELS I ALSO NOTICED THE SAME RUST ON SIMILAR MODELS AND YEARS OF THE ESCAPE IS THERE A RECALL THERE SHOULD BE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508058April 12, 2013ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON START-UP THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED TO 4000 TO 5000 RPM & WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. GAS PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. MOVING THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. CAR WAS SHUT OFF. REACHING BY HAND TO THE END OF THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE IS ATTACHED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CABLE DID NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. BY PUSHING THE END OF THE CABLE THE THROTTLE RETURNED TO IDLE. THE CAR WAS STARTED & RAN AT NORMAL IDLE SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10505739April 10, 2013STEERING, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2003 FORD ESCAPE . SUBFRAME ROTTED AND CONTROL ARM CAME OFF. LEFT PASSENGER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10505771April 10, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
THE FRONT BRAKE LINE HOSES BLEW OUT (R & L) WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS TRAVELING DOWN HILL. WITH NO MEANS OF SLOWING, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET ON LEVEL GROUND WHERE IT WAS MORE CONTROLLABLE AND COULD BE STOPPED MORE EASILY. THE PARKING LOT WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND A CHOICE HAD TO BE MADE TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING OR DRIVE OFF THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT TO ANOTHER LOT THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET LOWER. THE 2ND OPTION WAS CHOSEN. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAD LANDED WITH GREAT FORCE, IT WAS DIRECTED UPHILL WHERE IT EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND PUT INTO PARK. UNFORTUNATELY, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRAME AND UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING OIL PAN, EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE MOUNTS, RADIATOR SUPPORT FRAME AND UNDER BODY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTING POINTS. I WAS TOLD BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER, THE FIRESTONE AUTO CENTER AND FOUND IN OTHER RESEARCH THAT FORD ESCAPES ARE KNOWN FOR RUBBER BRAKE LINE FAILURES. I HAVE HAD VEHICLES MUCH OLDER THAN THIS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A RUBBER BRAKE LINE DRY ROT AND RUPTURE LIKE THESE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE MORE DAMAGE IS DONE AND MORE PEOPLE INJURED OR WORSE. WE WERE LUCKY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. SAFETY ISSUES LIKE THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WITH AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502498March 12, 2013ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ACCELERATION ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,900. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,841. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10499375February 20, 2013STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
LEFT WORK AND DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD AT 15 MPH AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP/POP. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY SLAMMED DOWN/DROPPED TO THE ROAD; STEERING LOCKED; I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE; SLID A FEW FEET AND STOPPED. THE PASSENGER TIRE WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE. THE AXLE WAS HANGING AND THE SUB FRAME WAS VISIBLE. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD LITERALLY SNAPPED AT A WELD JOINT WITHOUT WARNING. WELD JOINT SNAPPED ON SUBFRAME. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 9YRS W/70K MILES AND MOSTLY GARAGED; A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THIS WOULD HAVE WORSE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, IF NOT FATAL. VEHICLE THEN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED TO HAVE A FORD REP REVIEW THE CASE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD TO CALL FORD. AFTER CALLING, THEY THEN TOLD ME I HAD TO REQUEST THIS THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN INFORMED ME THAT FORD WERE NOT INTERESTED IN REVIEWING THE VEHICLE AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THAT I HAD CALL FORD. I CALLED FORD BACK WHO ESCALATED MY CASE AND AN ACCT MGR CALLED ME BACK WHO EXPLAINED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. OVER 1100 IN REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED DUE TO A FAULTY FRAME. I ASKED REPEATEDLY THAT THIS PARTICULAR SUBFRAME FAILURE BE INVESTIGATED AS A QUALITY/MFG PROBLEM AND I REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION AND INFORMED THE COMPANY OF SEVERAL OTHER CASES THAT LOG THE SAME ??EXACT?? DESCRIPTION AND FAILURE OF THE SUBFRAME. THE COMPANY TOLD ME "KEEP MY RECEIPT". I STRESSED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH HOW THIS WAS HANDLED, BUT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT THIS TIME. FORD SHOULD AT A MIN. ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO HAVE THE SUB FRAME INSPECTED TO ALL OF THE ESCAPE OWNERS, SO FAILURES CAN BE AVOIDED BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. THIS IS FROM A VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER AND WILL CHOOSE NO LONGER TO PURCHASE ANY FORD PRODUCTS, BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496823February 8, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER BECAME CRACKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,085 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10494651January 24, 2013ENGINE
I PREFACE MY COMMENTS BY STATING THAT I AM A POWERTRAIN ENGINEER FOR AN AMERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURER. I OWNED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WHICH I SOLD TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IN 2011. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THROTTLE STICKING WITH THE VEHICLE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. AFTER RECEIVING A FRANTIC CALL FROM HER THIS EVENING THAT THE THROTTLE HAD STUCK WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAVE GROWN SICK OF REMAINING SILENT. THERE IS ANOTHER LARGE PROBLEM THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL DOES NOT ADDRESS. IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THE THROTTLE CAN FREEZE DUE TO INTRODUCTION OF HUMID AIR FROM THE PCV (POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION) SYSTEM. THE HUMID AIR COMBINES WITH THE SUB-FREEZING FRESH AIR TO FREEZE ON THE THROTTLE VALVE AND RENDER THE GAS PEDAL USELESS. WHILE I OWNED THE ESCAPE FROM 2007-2011, I EXPERIENCED THE FROZEN THROTTLE SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, I GREW FRUSTRATED KNOWING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE BUT WAS MORALLY WITHHELD FROM SELLING THE VEHICLE TO AN UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER. I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH CAUSED IT. THIS WAS WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PCV ISSUE. I CREATED A FIX FOR THE SYSTEM AND SAW ALL THROTTLE STICKING/FREEZING ISSUES GO AWAY. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO ISSUES, I FELT COMFORTABLE SELLING THE VEHICLE TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS SUMMER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE PCV FIX I HAD IN PLACE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNTIL TONIGHT WHEN I RECEIVED HER FRANTIC CALL THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK (IT IS 15 DEG F HERE). UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, I SAW THAT THE PCV SYSTEM HAD BEEN RESTORED TO THE ORIGINAL FAULTY CONFIGURATION BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH CREATED THE FREEZING CONDITIONS AGAIN. DISASTER WAS AVOIDED TONIGHT, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10493041January 15, 2013SUSPENSION, STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED ON CITY STREETS. AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, A LOUD CRASH AND SCREECH WAS HEARD AS THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND TIRE WAS DRAGGED ALONG. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAS COME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FRONT SUB-FRAME HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO BE CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 94,160 MILES ON IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10490191December 27, 2012SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, STEERING
MY WIFE'S HAS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE WERE DRIVING LUCKILY AT A LOW SPEED WHEN WE HEARD A POP IN THE PASSENGER FRONT END AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. THE SUBFRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM POPPED AND SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD. I SAW THAT NHTSA DID AN INVESTIGATION THAT DEEMED 2003 WINDSTARS UNSAFE DO TO THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S16. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND IF SHE WAS DRIVING ANY FASTER AND THIS HAD HAPPENED FORD COMPANY COULD HAVE PUT MY WIFE AND OUR BABY IN DANGER. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE SAME YEAR VEHICLES HAVE ISSUES WITH THEM. MY NEXT CONTACT IS MY LAWYERS OFFICE BECAUSE IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY FORD WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING OTHER VEHICLES IN THE SAME YEAR HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN DANGER AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE VEHICLE DEFECTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10488069December 12, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I TOOK OFF ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY ONE MORNING AND DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL MOSTLY AS I WAS MERGING IN TRAFFIC. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF THE PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS CAR. CURRENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN TWO RECALLS REGARDING A RANDOM ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE FIRST WAS REPAIRED WHEN IT HAPPENED DUE TO AN ACCELERATOR CABLE PROBLEM. THIS TIME, I QUICKLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER...COINCIDENTALLY NEXT TO A STATE POLICE OFFICER. HE ASSISTED ME IN RELEASING THE THROTTLE BODY ON THIS CAR AS IT WAS CLEARLY STUCK. THE DATE I PROVIDED IS NOT AN EXACT DATE, HOWEVER, I CALLED FORD THE DAY IT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS SAID TO BE FIXED. I LEFT THE ENGINE COVER OFF UP UNTIL TODAY, WHICH IS BECAUSE IT'S BEING FIXED DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALL. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY CURRENT ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED FORD ONCE MORE SINCE THE INCIDENT ASKING THEM IF THEY FOUND THE SOLUTION AND IF THEY WOULD REPAIR MY CRUISE CONTROL CABLE, AS IT WAS DAMAGED (WHICH ALSO IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL). THEY SAY IT'S A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION WHICH IS VERY UNTRUE BECAUSE I HAVE CALLED TWICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, LONG BEFORE THE RECALL. I VERIFIED THAT THEY DO SHOW RECORD THAT I CALLED. I WANT THEM TO PAY FOR THIS $35 CRUISE CABLE BECAUSE IT'S THEIR FAULT IT BROKE, DUE FROM A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I CALLED ABOUT IT LONG BEFORE THIS RECALL WHICH SHOULD PROVE I HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT. FORTUNATELY FOR FORD AND MYSELF, I WAS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO STOP THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0