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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,000 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. While driving approximately 50 mph and attempting to change lanes, the vehicle veered from right to left. The contact attempted to move the steering wheel right and left, but the wheel kept moving in the opposite direction. The contact could not gain control of the steering wheel and struck a concrete wall on the front passenger corner of the vehicle. The vehicle was declared destroyed by the insurance company. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital. A police report was filed. There is a recall on this year, make, and model vehicle, but the contact is not sure if the vehicle was included. The recall number was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 45,000. Updated 06/09/08 updated 06/09/08
While driving at 40 mph steering wheel lock up without any warning. The dealership and manufacturer cannot fix problem and don't know what is the caused of the problem.
While driving only at low speeds, steering column will make a loud noise and it could cause future steering problems. Dealer notified. The cover on the bottom of the steering wheel was broken. The vehicle shimmys when applying the brakes. The brakes were inspected and the front rotor was machined and the front pads cleaned. Consumer states there is a pecking noise in the engine. Consumer states the accelerator pedal is hard to push because the throttle body needed replacing. The air conditioner stops while at idle. Also, when coming to a stop, the heater is not warm.
While drving steering wheel locked up and then vehicle stalled, almost causing an accident. Vehicle was checked by dealer, who advised consumet that they could not find any problem.
- Redondo Beach, CA, USA
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There is a bolt that holds steering column in place. While driving that bolt broke off, and consumer could no longer control vehicle. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.
The SUV was purchased new in mid-December 2000. On 9/7/07, I was slowing down, on a downhill slope, to make a right turn when the SUV shut itself off and the steering column locked up. It had 1/3 tank of gas. I shifted the automatic into park, turned the key, the car started and I extricated my 7 year old son and myself from the busy intersection and from the mouth of on-coming traffic (we landed in the left turn lane, much to a Jeep's dismay). I drove slowly to my son's school (3 blocks down), then to work where I notified Ford via it's 800 number. I made an appointment for that afternoon with the dealership to have the car fixed. I left the car with the dealership. On 9/8/01, I called and the dealership said the car was ready. I asked the service manager to review the repairs with me & my husband and to explain why the repair "fixed" the problem. He said they replaced a valve which controls air flow. He said this would cause the car to shut off, especially if I had been engaging the brakes when the car shut off. I was engaging the brakes when it shut off, so I accepted this explanation. I packed my 7 year old into the SUV and left. Within 7-10 miles, the car shut itself off, again (only 26 hours after the first incident and the supposed "fix")! this time I was accelerating up a semi-steep incline. My eyes were forward. I noticed out of the bottom of my field of vision a red glow. I looked down and the oil lamp was glowing. I just had the oil changed within 1,000 miles and the car was just at the dealership that morning, so that couldn't be a problem. I then noticed that all of the other dashboard lights (most in white light) also were lit up. At that point, the steering began to locked up and the car slowed to a stop. I managed to maneuver the SUV to the community center's driveway on the right. We narrowly missed being mowed down by a van which had gained signficant momentum having just swooped down the downgrade and was racing up the incline. 1/4 tank gas.
While the Escape is driving at no particular speed, the steering wheel tugs a little then it locks completely up, then the brakes fail, the engine light comes on and the only way to get the car to stop is to use the emergency brake. My Escape has done this three times since I bought it in may of this year. Two of the incidents almost resulted in car accidents because the car can not be steered. The car totally freezes up with all engines lights coming on. The speed doesn't seem to be a factor. All three occassions my cd player has been on, the air has been on low and my lights have been on. After the car finally stops by using the emergengy brake, I shut everything off and it starts right back up again.
While driving the vehicle the steering wheel would get stuck in right turns when turning right. When turning left the steering wheel would not fully turn unless forced into the needed range. Finally steering wheel got stuck in a right turn and had to be towed. Less than 24 hours of ownership and less than me driving 15 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bastrop , TX, USA