2001 Ford Escape VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED RECENTLY. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL IT GOT COLD BUT, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN I AM DRIVING MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP EVEN IF MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN WARMED BEFOREHAND. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS MORE THAN ONCE. THE MOST NOTABLE ONES WERE WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. ONE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED AND THE OTHER WAS NOT. BOTH TIMES THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AFTER I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND KEPT PROPELLING ME FORWARD. BOTH TIMES I HAD BEEN DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000.
I WAS GOING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. I THEN CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND A BUILDING. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR SOME PART OF THE THROTTLE ON THOSE MODELS FROM 2001 TOO 2004. NEVER HAD ANY NOTICE OF A FACTORY RECALL FORM WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT CARHOP, OR FROM FORD DEALERSHIP , OR FROM THE DMV ON THIS MATTER. VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT INCLUDING MYSELF. THERE IS ALREADY CLAIM THROUGH MY INSURANCE AGENCY STATEFARM ON THIS MATTER. ALL MY YRS. OF DRIVING NOTHING LIKE THIS HAD EVER HAPPENED. *TR
STUCK ACCELERATOR - FORD ESCAPE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OVER DEAD MAN'S PASS IN OREGON. A TREACHEROUS PASS EVEN ON A GOOD DAY. FORD ESCAPE 2001 ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AT 80 MILES P/H. MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY WERE FOLLOWING BEHIND US. MY HUSBAND INSISTED THAT HE COULD DRIVE THE OUT OF CONTROL CAR INTO LAGRANDE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND DEMANDED HE TRY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP AND LET ME OUT . HE DID THIS BY PUTTING CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURNING IT OFF, AND COASTING TO A STOP (I THINK). I GOT OUT, CRAWLED INTO MY SISTER'S CAR SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. MY HUSBAND DID GET THE CAR INTO LAGRANDE. AS HE CAME INTO THE LOT, IT WAS SCREECHING SIDEWAYS, TIRES SMOKING, AND NEARLY TIPPED OVER. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FIXED IT - AT GREAT EXPENSE TO ME. I PAID THE MECHANIC'S BILL, PLUS TOOK A FLIGHT TO PENDLETON, THEN A 1 HOUR SHUTTLE TO LA GRANDE, OREGON, THEN DROVE HOME 4 HOURS. 5 YEARS LATER I STILL HAVE "ACCELERATOR ANXIETY." ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, I GOT A RECALL FROM FORD. I TOOK IT DEALERSHIP HERE IN PORTLAND. THEY LOOKED AT THE MECHANIC'S RECEIPT AND SAID THE PROBLEM THAT WAS FIXED, WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV RAPIDLY AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE UNTIL THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THE DRIVER LOOSENED THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2013. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE OR GAS PEDAL ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE OWNING IT, BUT ON MONDAY, 7/29/13, I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 18 MILES AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 50 MPH. I PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AT 11:00 PM AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING TO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL BEING FLOORED. I PUNCHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING CHANGED. I TRIED PUNCHING THE PEDAL AGAIN WITH MY FOOT, AND STILL NO CHANGE. I EVEN REACHED DOWN TO SEE IF THE FLOOR MAT HAD INTERFERED WITH THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT HAD NOT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE NEXT MORNING, MY BOYFRIEND, AWARE OF THE ISSUE, TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I CALLED MY MECHANIC ON TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MECHANIC CANNOT GET ME IN UNTIL NEXT WEEK. THE APPOINTMENT IS SET FOR WED. 8/7/13. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN IT'S UNPREDICTABLE CONDITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IDLING IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS NOW, IN LAST 2 DAYS. *TR
I HAD ENTERED AN INTERSTATE FROM AN ON RAMP. I ACCELERATED TO GET VEHICLE UP TO SPEED AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. I APPROACHED A SHARP CURVED AND ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE SPEED CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CONTINUED TO STAY MOVING AT 55 MPH. I AVOIDED THE OUTSIDE LANE AND THE TRAFFIC THAT I WAS MERGING INTO BY GOING INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE HIT AN ELEVATED MAN HOLE IN THE MEDIAN AND WENT AIRBORNE AND HIT A BRIDGE OVERPASS SUPPORT HEAD ON. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE FRACTURES DUE TO THE COLLISION. *TR
MY CLIENT'S SON WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE ON CENTRAL AVENUE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MARYLAND AT NIGHTTIME WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. HE SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND HIS VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A BIKE RIDER THEN STRUCK THE MEDIAN CURB TOTALING THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND BIKE RIDER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TO: FORD MOTOR COMPANY FROM: OWNERS DATE: 6/8/2012 PURPOSE: 2001 FORD ESCAPE ACCIDENT SUMMARY (ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTION) DEAR FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THIS LETTER IS TO FORMALLY DOCUMENT AND NOTIFY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTION ON A 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT. ACCIDENT SUMMARY: ON FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:35 PM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT MALFUNCTIONED WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED, STUCK, AND ACCELERATED BEYOND DRIVERS DESIRED SPEED. THE DRIVER REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. THE DRIVER THEN FULLY APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WITH NO EFFECT. THE DRIVER THEN FULLY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PROVIDING SOME SPEED REDUCTION, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO FORCE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE DRIVER STEERED THE VEHICLE ONTO CURBS AND OBJECTS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SLOWDOWN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER, HAVING TO MAKE A QUICK AND TIMELY DECISION TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PROTECT HERSELF AND PASSENGERS FROM HARM, SERVED INTO A CONCRETE OVERPASS EMBANKMENT IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND AVOID A POTENTIALLY MORE SEVERE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MULTIPLE PARTIES IN A HIGHLY POPULATED LOCATION. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED (PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT) AND BOTH AIRBAGS WERE FULLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, WHILE ALL WEARING SEATBELTS, SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WERE EVALUATED AND TREATED AT AN EMERGENCY ROOM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO KICK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
2001 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. RECALL # 12V353000. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AVAILABLE AS OF AUGUST 5, 2012.
I HAVE BEEN CALLING MY LOCAL DEALER TO GET MY RECALLED CAR FIXED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THE DEALER HAS THE NECESSARY PART IN STOCK. I CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AT THAT TIME AND TO CALL BACK LATER. OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE THAN NECESSARY AND THE NEAREST DEALER TO ME ISN'T THAT CLOSE. I AM AT MY WITS END. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION UNTIL A POP NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 236,995.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL HOWEVER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED AND REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL VEHICLE WAS UNDER CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
OVER THE YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR THAT I BOUGHT NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER WE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR A STICKING THROTTLE AND CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS. I HAVE RECORDS OF 6 DIFFERENT TIMES WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THROTTLE PROBLEMS. THE LAST TIME THE THROTTLE STUCK IT CAUSED OUR VEHICLE TO HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER COMPLAINING OF THE MOTOR REVVING UP CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. WE WERE IGNORED OF THE PROBLEM THEN TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER WORTH THE COST OF THE REPAIRS CAUSED FROM THE ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AFTER HER FOOT WAS REMOVED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V210001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER; HOWEVER THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY YET THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 30,422. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/26/10*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE TURNING INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED YET THE CONTACT DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UP A HILL THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND THE SET SPEED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL FUSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO INCREASE; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT SUDDEN ACCELERATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,405.
ACCELERATOR CABLE GETS STUCK UNDER PLASTIC ENGINE COVER. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2001 Ford Escape has 69 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.