2005 Ford Focus VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 FORD FOCUS ZX5 S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CONCERNS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION IF ANY INTO AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING SPEED CONTROL. *JS

I HAVE A STANDARD AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH WHEN MY GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN BETWEEN SHIFTING. I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN BUT IT WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO LET MY CAR COAST OVER TO A TURNING LANE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF COMING TRAFFIC. I PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND HAD TO LET MY CAR SIT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN AND IT STILL WOULD NOT WORK. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE GAS PEDAL STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND RESTARTED IT AND LET THE CAR SIT AGAIN FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE PEDAL FINALLY WORKED BUT AS SOON AS I MADE IT TO THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND MADE MY TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK, THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK AGAIN. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT COAST INTO A PARKING SPOT.

I WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH NEAR MIDWAY AIRPORT IN CHICAGO. I ATTEMPTED TO BREAK AND MY ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PRESS THE BREAK TO ATTEMPT TO BRING MY CAR TO A STOP ... BUT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK IN AN ACCELERATION MODE. I ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL AND DEPRESS IT ... WHILE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. I HAD TO TURN MY CAR OFF FOR JUST TO STOP THE ACCELERATION AND RESTART MY VEHICLE TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 12 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,163.

DURING COLD MORNINGS AND NOT EVERY COLD MORNING THE ACCELERATOR WILL BE STUCK SO YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE. ONCE THE CAR HEATS UP IT IS FINE. ON 10/22/14 A COOL MORNING (NOT COLD) THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH. I HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND COULD NOT RE-ACCELERATE DUE TO THE STUCK PEDAL. MY SPEED WAS RAPIDLY DECREASING AND I HAD TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER (AND NOT HIT) WHERE AFTER PUTTING MY FULL BODY WEIGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES TO FINALLY GET IT WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS MANY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE. *TR

STICKING ACCELERATOR ALMOST CAUSE ME A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES . THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS THEN TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THIS TIME IT TOOK 25 MIN OF THE CAR RUNNING FOR IT TO MOVE. YOU CAN PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 19,2011. I HAVE A FILE COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH NHTSA. THIS OCCURRENCE OCCURRED SATURDAY JANUARY 19,2013. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMS TO BE STUCK. I HAD BEEN DRIVING 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAD TO TAP IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. I KEPT DRIVING AND HAD TO TAP IT AGAIN TO RELEASE. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WAS MOVING TO 65 MPH. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 85 AND IT WAS MOVING TO 75 MPH. I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT 85 MPH. I BRAKED HARD TO TURN TO MY JOB. I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS STANDING ON BY BRAKES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH MY HUSBAND HE YELLED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND THE ENGINE REVVING. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR GETTING KILLED. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING TO SOMEONE FROM FORD CORPORATION ABOUT MY TERRIFYING INCIDENT. *TR

THIS OCCURRED AROUND 2008 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007, WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, OR UP A HILL THE GAS PADDLE STICKS , WHEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATE SPEED IT DOESN'T MOVE TO GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT BECOMES FRIGHTENING WHEN I'M GOING UPHILL OR ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CARS ARE GOING 60 TO 75 AND ON MY TAIL MY CAR SLOWS DOWN AND I HAVE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER TILL IT RELEASES I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST ME OVER $200.00. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARDOUS DEFEAT AND DANGEROUS. 2010, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO A JIFFY LUBE SHOP, AND THEY LUBRICATE THE PULLEY IT SEEMS TO HELP FOR AWHILE, BUT NOW IT??S GETTING STUCK AGAIN, AT THE MEAN TIME WHEN IT GETS STUCK I HIT THE SPEED CONTROL AND IT RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR AND INCREASE THE SPEED BUT PUTTY SOON THAT WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE TALK TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE A FORD FOCUS, THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS TOO, I HAVE READ ABOUT STUCK ACCELERATIONS AND THERE ARE SOME CARS THAT WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME HAZARDOUS PROBLEMS..I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET BECAUSE OF THIS BUT I'M AFRAID IF SOMEONE GETS ANGER WITH MY SLOW DOWN I WILL... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME STUCK IN AN DEPRESSED POSITION. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RELEASE UNTIL REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN POST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASED IN ACCELERATION UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND REPEATEDLY APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG BURNING BRAKE ODOR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER MECHANIC INFORMED HER THE PCV WAS BLOWING AIR IN THE A PLASTIC TUBE OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. UPDATED 01/27/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/23/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THEY DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR FROM ACCELERATING AS THE GAS PEDAL STOP WORKING. TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANYONE, I HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE MEDIAN, BRAKE AS HARD AS COULD, THROW MY CAR INTO PARK AND TURN IT OFF. IF I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, YOU COULD STILL HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING FROM THE ACCELERATOR STILL BEING STUCK IN ACCELERATOR MODE. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER COST OF REPAIR - ONLY OFFERING A 12,000 MILE OR 12-MOS SERVICE PARTS WARRANTY. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. NO WARNINGS WOULD OCCUR PRIOR TO THE FAILURES AND THE FAILURES HAD BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AND RUN ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 2/22/12 *CN

I WAS JUST ABOUT PARKED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. OVER THE CURB, THROUGH A WOOD FENCE AND INTO A CAMPING TRAILER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE. TOYOTA IS NOT THE ONLY COMPANY WITH THIS PROBLEM. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS REPAIRABLE OR IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL TOTAL IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AND CAN NOT BE DEPRESSED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER IN LATE 2010 AND THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. OVER THE SUMMER, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NOW THAT IT IS BECOMING COLD AGAIN THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED. LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. WHEN I WENT TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, I COULD NOT PRESS IT IN. I HAD TO TAP IT HARD THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE, WHICH TOOK ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND CAUSED ME TO SLOW DOWN TO LESS THAN 50 MPH BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO REACCELERATE. PROBLEM IS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. USUALLY I ONLY HAVE TO TAP IT ONCE OR TWICE LIGHTLY TO GET IT TO RELEASE. LAST NIGHT I TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH I WAS CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT CAUSE SOMETHING TO BREAK. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR EVALUATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAITED 5 TO 8 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL OF MY CAR (FORD FOCUS 2005) WAS HARD TO PRESS WHEN THE WEATHER IS FREEZING COLD. AT TIMES, I FORCED IT THROUGH. A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE LUBRICATE THE CABLE AND IT WORKED FINE. YESTERDAY, I SPEEDED UP TO PASS THE CAR WHICH WAS TOO SLOW IN FRONT OF ME. THEN, MY CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF AND I COULD HARDLY STOP. I ALMOST WRECKED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT. I MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE BREAK WAS BATTLING WITH THE ENGINE. WHEN I LET GO OF THE BREAK, THE CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF. SO, I HAD TO USE MY BREAK A LOT TO REACH A LOCAL MECHANICS. HE LUBRICATED THE CABLE AND TOLD ME THAT THE CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THAT THE CABLE HAD TO BEEN REPLACED. IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $300.00 INCLUDING LABOR. LATER, THE MECHANIC AT FORD SHOWED ME THE CABLE. PART OF THE CABLE WAS CONCEALED INSIDE A PLASTIC TUBE AND THIS PART WAS ALL MESSED UP AND KEEP BREAKING OFF. BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE DIAMETER OF THE CABLE AFTER I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CABLE WOULD NOT GO BACK ONCE IT WAS OUT. THEREFORE, MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING YESTERDAY. I AGREED WITH FORD TO FIX IT AT MY COST BUT I AM ANXIOUS ABOUT THE CAR QUALITY AS WELL OTHER PEOPLE'S SAFETY. I COULD HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF I WAS NOT CALM ENOUGH. *TR