2001 Ford Escape VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. SHE PUT BOTH OF HER FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. SHE TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ALSO DID NOT RESPONSE. AFTER A LONG WHILE, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE TO 40 MPH. SHE THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND WAS THEN ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER BEING ON CRUISE CONTROL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, THEN I GOT OUT TO REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AS WELL AS ALL OF THE THINGS INSIDE. *TR

ON JULY 4TH, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SUDDENLY, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND MY HUSBAND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITH THE BRAKES. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA FORD FOR REPAIR. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS "CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED". THE RECEIPT STATED THAT "CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED 1.00 VERIFIED, CRUISE CONTROL CABLE SHEATH BROKEN AND CABLE END FLIPS OVER CAUSE THROTTLE TO BE HELD OPEN". THE FORD SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL ESCAPE'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HIS MANAGER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO USE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE SPEED CONTROL COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V210001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER TO UNHOOK THE SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THAT MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 88,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL # 04V574000 SINCE THE BUILD DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 6-11-2001 WHICH WAS CLOSE TO 2002. UPDATED 07/31/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE ENGINE WOULD STILL ACCELERATE ONCE THE CONTACT RELEASED THE PEDAL. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

THROTTLE STICKS AT INTERMITTENT TIMES UPON ACCELERATION. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM GAS PEDAL SPEED DOES NOT RESULT IN DECELERATION. WHEN PROBLEM DOES OCCUR THERE IS NO KNOWN WAY OF STOPPING IT. I JUST WAIT IT OUT UNTIL THROTTLE CORRECTS ITSELF. I AM UNABLE TO TELL IF GAS PEDAL REMAINS DEPRESSED WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS. HAVE TRIED PRESSING THROTTLE TO FLOOR QUICKLY AND RELEASING WITH LIMITED SUCCESS. HAVE TRIED PLACING TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THAT ONLY CAUSES ENGINE TO RACE. SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS WHEN IT SUDDENLY ERUPTED IN FLAMES DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND CONCLUDED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, BUT DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE HOME AND NO ONE SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE ONLY PROBLEM PRESENT WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS BROKEN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING TWO YEARS AGO.*AK

MY VIN# FOR MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME NOW. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM 0-45 MPH AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE IN THE STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INCREASED BRAKING AND JOLTS FORWARD WHEN BRAKING IS APPLIED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK, THE ENGINE REVS ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE MUST BE TURNED OFF FOR THE ENGINE TO QUIT REVVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY SPORADIC, BUT IS NOW GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND OCCURS MORE OFTEN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, #00V210001, REGARDING THE: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

WHEN PLACING FOOT ONTO THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. THEN, ONCE IT MOVES IT JUMPS. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. HAD INSPECTED, DETERMINED THROTTLE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. CURRENT RECALL BY FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE 2001 MODELS. *JB

IN MAY 2005 THE ACCELERATOR CABLE STUCK WIDE OPEN ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE (V-6 ENGINE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUNCHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL VERY HARD. THERE IS A PLASTIC COVER ON TOP OF THE ENGINE THAT MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE THE CABLES HOOK UP TO THE THROTTLE BODY. I REMOVED THIS TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY OR THE CABLE THAT WAS STUCK. AS I WAS TAKING IT OFF THE CABLE BECAME UNSTUCK ON IT'S OWN SO I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. AT THAT POINT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOTHING. ON 8/10/05 MY WIFE PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN AGAIN AND SHE FOUND HERSELF GOING ABOUT 100 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. FINALLY SHE PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, COASTED TO THE BERM AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. SINCE THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN MYSELF. AGAIN I TOOK THE PLASTIC COVER OFF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ONCE AGAIN THE CABLE BECAME UNSTUCK. THIS MADE ME SUSPECT THAT THE PLASTIC COVER MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HOUSING HAD BROKEN RIGHT BEFORE THE PART THAT CONNECTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS CREATES A SITUATION THAT CAN CAUSE THE CRUISE CABLE TO PIVOT UP AND WEDGE AGAINST THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER DURING HARD ACCELERATION INSTEAD OF IT MOVING IN ITS HOUSING LIKE IT SHOULD THUS CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STICK WIDE OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES SO I AM CONFIDENT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK ON THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK SO I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPT. ORDERED THE PART (UNDER $30) WENT HOME AND PUT IT ON MYSELF (TAKES LESS THAN 5 MINUTES). THE CAR IS FIXED NOW. *NM

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB

APPROACHING HIWAY CONSTRUCTION WITH FLAGMAN AND ABOUT 10 CARS STOPPED, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, THROTTLE STUCK WIDE-OPEN. I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF WITH ON/OFF BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL BUT NO RESULT,APPROACHING STOPPED LINE OF CARS AT FULL THROTTLE, TOWING CAMPING TRAILER. FINALLY, I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR/TRAILER, ENGINE RACING MAX REVS AND MAKING STRANGE NOISE, FALTERING AS IT MIGHT WHEN THE FUEL MIXTURE WAS TOO RICH. I THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND UPON INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD AND LOCATING WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL, WE JIGGLED A CABLE GOING INTO IT AND HEARD A CLUNK WITHIN. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN NORMALLY. CONTINUED TRIP, JUST DIDN'T USE CRUISE CONTROL !! UPON RETURNING FROM TRIP, I CALLED MY FORD DEALER IN DURANGO, CO AND WAS TOLD TO CALL CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I DID SO TWICE, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. I THEN SEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2001 ESCAPE FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (SAFETY RECALL 00S18, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 00V210001), BUT MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED! I SUBMIT THAT THIS INCIDENT ILLUSTRATES THAT THIS VIN (AND MAYBE MANY OTHERS) SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED (I JUST DON'T USE THE CRUISE), SO I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART, PENDING RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *NM

THE THROTTLE ON THE CONSUMER'S 2001 FORD ESCAPE FAILED. *NM *SC *JB

RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V210001 CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE. WHILE DRIVINGTHROTTLE CABLE BECOMES INOPERABLE. UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL IT WILL STICK. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL STATED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD TO GET THE PEDAL UNSTUCK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE 2002-2004 FORD ESCAPE SUV'S DUE TO ACCELERATOR CABLE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCAPE 4X4 SUV AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IS ALSO STICKING. WHY NOT RECALL ALL THE MODEL YEARS? WHY WAIT TILL THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR MAJOR FAILURE?*AK

WHEN I PRESS ON MY ACCELERATOR AT A STOP SIGN IT STICKS. THEN WHEN IT BREAKS THROUGH I ACCELERATE QUICKLY. I AM AFRAID THAT I AM GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND INJURE MYSELF OR OTHERS. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BEING DRIVEN. OWNER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY.*AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE PARKED THE SAME THING OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A STORE WINDOW. *JB THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A STORE WINDOW. *SC

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHILE THE CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLES RPMS WENT UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE AIR IDLE CONTROL. *AK WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE RPM'S ACCELERATED BETWEEN 4000 AND 5000. *SC *JB

TWICE IN LAST YEAR (EXCLUDING TODAY) I HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND SUV HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I STEPPED ON BRAKES - IT DID NOTHING. I TRIED TO PULL UP ON GAS PEDAL - NOTHING HAPPENED. FINALLY STOPPED WITH NEUTRAL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE...TOOK SUV TO FORD - THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ON 6/18/04. TODAY (7/23/04) WHILE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING TO WORK (IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFICE), I ACCELERATED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A TRUCK THAT WAS GOING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. ACCELERATOR STUCK; BRAKES DID NOT WORK; I PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL; ENGINE MADE REALLY LOUD "REVVING" TYPE NOICES; I PUT CAR BACK IN DRIVE AND BRADES STILL DID NOT WORK.. I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. WHAT SAVED ME FROM A POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO ONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME ON FREEWAY. I CALLED FORD AND AM DROPPING VEHICLE BACK OFF.. THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE THE CABLE NOW. I AM AFR AID TO DRIVE IT. I WAS DOING ABOUT 62 MPH THIS AM AND WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN - I WENT UP TO ABOUT 78 MPH.*AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS IN IDLE WHILE VEHICLE STOPS. DRIVER MUST "JAB" ACCELERATOR TO GET IT OUT OF IDLE AND START VEHICLE MOVING IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. PROBLEM IS CONSTANT SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IN DEC 2002.*AK

I EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY.*AK