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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
15 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
16 / 1
Average Mileage:
68,697 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
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The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph the vehicle accelerated independently and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a tree. A police report was filed and the driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 74,000. Updated 09/19/12 updated 09/19/2012
Vehicle was approaching intersection w/ stop sign. Vehicle would not slow. Driver reported 'no brakes'. brakes, disks, were replaced 5 weeks prior and were apparently in working order. Suspicion that throttle may have stuck open, resulting in inability to slow with brakes. Vehicle was in frontal, T-bone crash, two vehicles total loss with injuries.
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.
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.
Driving the car and the RPM went up very quickly and the car accelerated. Even with foot off the gas pedal it continued to increase speed. Put the car to neutral and pulled to side of road RPM stayed high even in neutral. Had car towed to Ford dealership and they found no problem.
My wife was driving the Escape down residential roads around 24mph and as she let off of the accelerator it still was accelerating. She put on the brakes and the engine still wanted to accelerate but she was able to make a turn. As soon as she let off the brake it started accelerating again without her depressing the gas pedal. She pulled into our parking lot and the engine throttle was still on. She just depressed the brake as much and she could and immediate turned the car off. I looked under the hood and notice the cruise control cable appear out of place. I took the cruise control cable off of the throttle cable and took the car for a test drive around the block and it appeared to be working fine. Then I drove it later that day and the cruise control cable came off the throttle cable so the cruise control wouldn't work. I can see how if the cruise control cable came off the throttle cable it could catch the throttle cable and keep the throttle open.
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.
After stopping to possibly take a left turn, I realized I needed to go one more block so I pressed the gas to continue forward. However right as I did that the light turned yellow so I took my foot off the accelerator and pressed on the brake instead. The car shot forward at full throttle and the car went through the intersection and the red light. The street was clear in front of us and I had a full long block to try to regain control of the vehicle's acceleration. I calmly shifted the car into neutral and was very surprised that the car continued to accelerate. I started worrying as the car continued to speed up. I was able to shift the car in reverse and park (which normally isn't possible). All the while the vehicle sped up. My foot was on the brake for almost the whole block and wasn't slowing the vehicle at all. I decided that since the transmission and brakes were not responding, that I might be able to use my foot to get under the gas pedal and lift it up (because it felt from the full acceleration like it was stuck on the floor). However, the pedal easily came off the floor but would flop back down as soon as I moved my foot out from under it. It was definitely not stuck by a foreign object or floor mat though. Had to avoid a pedestrian that was crossing the street and the road ahead was obscured because it went down a steep hill so I chose to turn right. The car ended up hitting the curb, hitting 2 small trees. And flipping upside down before also hitting a parked car. The engine continued to "rev" at high speeds, even upside down, for a few seconds before it finally cut off. My wife and I were very lucky to survive this incident and to not have injured any others in the area. Possibly part of : NHTSA campaign id number: 00V210001 for stuck throttle problems.
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.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact was driving approximately 15 mph approaching a stop signal and when driving from the complete stop the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to 58 mph and crashed into a nearby utility pole. The contact sustained severe injuries. A police report was filed of the incident. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a savage facility and declared as destroyed. The contact planned to notify the manufacturer of the unintended acceleration. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 00V210001 (vehicle speed control); however the contact did receive a recall notification. The approximate failure was 137,000.
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.
Ignition coils defect- causing engine to stall and gas pedal sometimes gets hard to accelerate causing the vehicle not to move. While driving vehicle accelerates.
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.
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.
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
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lake Station, IN, USA