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CarComplaints.com Notes: With questionable safety ratings, a faulty power control module (PCM) and a rear subframe that can rust out, the first model year Escape is known for problems. But the worst one of all? A design flaw that carried through multiple model years and caused dangerous unintended acceleration.

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:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.

2001 Ford Escape fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2001 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #1

Nov 162001

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle stalled wihtout warning while driving @~30mph. This has happened several other times on the road. Dealer has performed repairs 3 other times as follows: Visit 1 - changed fuel pump relay, visit 2 - changed ECM module relay, visit 3 - replaced fuel pump and sender. Dealer service has indicated that they were unable to find exact cause of stalling, so they are replacing components in hopes of catching the problem. After vehicle stalled, power steering and brakes were non-functional and I once again needed to pull off the road evasively to avoid rear-ending the cars in front of me. Clarification: This most recent stalling incident occured today, even after the fuel pump was replaced.

- Austin, TX, USA

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