A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.
Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.
This summer for some reason the back door or window won't open many times...seems like sometimes it does, and other times it just won't. The first time it happened it was at the worst possible time...picking my son up at the airport! I started to research this and found that other Ford Escape owners had the same problem. To add to the problem, there is no key entry to back door. I honestly liked my Escape, but this may steer me away from Ford again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This summer for some reason the back door or window won't open many times...seems like sometimes it does, and other times it just won't. The first time it happened it was at the worst possible time...picking my son up at the airport! I started to research this and found that other Ford Escape owners had the same problem. To add to the problem, there is no key entry to back door. I honestly liked my Escape, but this may steer me away from Ford again.
- noelc, Las Vegas, NV, US