I was driving at 70mph on a highway. I went to take my exit and pushed the button to turn the cruise control off, but that did not slow the vehicle down at all. It kept accelerating all the way up to 90mph. I tapped the brakes but it did not slow the car down. I was afraid to keep my foot on the brakes due to heating the brakes up so much that it would catch my car on fire. I put it in neutral but the rpms revved between 5000-6000 so I switched back in to drive. When I finally had an area where there were no other cars around me I slammed on the brake pedal to slow it down as much as I possibly could before putting it into park. When it was in park the rpms jumped all the way up to 5000 and sounded as though the car was going to blow up so I turned the car off. Then I opened the hood and removed the cruise control cable. I have had the recall done on this vehicle and never had a problem with this til now. My car is no leaking oil and smells like something is burning. I have contacted Ford and they seemed as though this was an unimportant issue. They stated that they were not responsible for repairs. This should be an issue for them since they are the ones who fixed it in the first place with the last recall they had on this issue.

- Owensboro, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently to speeds of 88 mph. The contact applied immense pressure to the brakes but to no avail. He then maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the highway and turned off the ignition. Upon further inspection, he found that the accelerator cable was the cause of the failure. The vehicle had been recalled six years earlier under NHTSA campaign number: 04V574000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 172,000.

- Ottawa, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 mph the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact applied immense pressure to the brakes to no avail. The contact crashed into five vehicles. The contact suffered bruises to her legs. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 135,000. Updated 12/5/13

- Pauldon, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle emitted a burning odor and the vehicle stalled several times without warning. The contact mentioned that sometimes the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection, but the mechanic was unable to locate or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000 and the current mileage 162,000.

- Buffalo , NY, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated there was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 12V353000 (vehicle speed control: Cables). The manufacturer was notified who informed the remedy part was unavailable and the expected date was mid August 2012. The dealer and manufacturer were unable to provide an arrival date. The contact had not experienced failure with the throttle.

- Vidor, TX, USA

Vehicle has begun to accelerate unexpectedly since early September. There has been at least four incidents involving vehicle suddenly accelerating when its was at low speed or stopped (with foot on the brake). The accelerations last a few seconds and lurch the car forward. The vehicle has been taken to Ford for the recall notices involving the cruise control cable (11S24B on 30 June 12 and 12S37B on 20 Sep 12). This vehicle did not experience this problem prior to the recall repairs.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that as the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into the contact's home, a nearby fence and finally a tree. The failure ceased once the vehicle crashed into the tree. The contact sustained injuries to the face, neck and the right foot. The passenger sustained minor lacerations to the face and shoulder. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the cable throttle stick. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign id number 12V353000 (vehicle speed control cables) in August 2012. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and denied assistance with the repair. The failure and current mileage was 173,000.

- Orange Park , FL, USA

My daughter ( a teacher) was driving the vehicle on I94 to work in 2010 with the speed control set. The vehicle speed increased and she hit the brake, but the accelerator was stuck and she could not slow the vehicle down as it over-powered the brake. She did not know what to do and called 911. The police officer told her to put the vehicle in neutral and turn the key off after she got the vehicle under control. She was extremely lucky no one was ahead of her on the expressway. The accelerator remained stuck after she had pulled off the road with the motor off. I went to get her and the vehicle. I was able to release the accelerator by hitting it hard with my foot. I carefully drove the vehicle home. I was able to recreate the accelerator sticking on the expressway several times. I reported this to Ford (dearborn) and told them they had a problem, however, they did not seem interested in investigating the issue, and suggested I pay a dealer to fix it. I have driven the vehicle, without using the speed control and being very careful to accelerate slowly (as my daughter still has my vehicle). But, now I will take it a dealer and Ford (thanks to the government and the vehicle safety law) will pay to fix it!

- Marblehead, OH, USA

[xxx] was driving her 2002 Ford Escape when, while accelerating up a hill, the speed control throttle guide rotated up into the appearance cover and became latched in a rib. This resulted in a wide open throttle, and [xxx] was unable to slow or stop the car. The brakes then overheated and failed, and she sped through town until she swerved to avoid another car and crashed. Her car rolled several times, and [xxx]was killed. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to enter the highway, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact was unable to stop the acceleration and shifted into neutral, applied the brakes and activated the emergency brakes but to no avail. The vehicle would not respond and the contact crashed into a vehicle, followed by a pole. The vehicle then ignited in flames. The contact was injured as a result. There was a police report filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

While driving at normal speeds on ice-glazed winter roads in fairbanks, ak, I approached an intersection and took my foot off the accelerator to prepare to slow down. Instead of dropping to idle speeds, the engine accelerated up to 3500-4000 RPM. I shifted the automatic transmission to neutral and was able to stop the car with the brakes, but the engine continued to race at high-throttle until I shut off the engine. When I restarted the engine it behaved normally for several days; but the problem came back intermittently several times over the next several weeks; and every time, shutting off the engine was the only way to stop it. Ford's database showed my car had undergone a recall in 2005 to fix a similar problem. In January 2012, stanley Ford in kenai, ak 'supposedly' replaced the throttle cable and throttle body assembly for $572, but it didn't solve the problem. The uncontrolled acceleration occurred several more times, as before, until a second repair in February 2012 by seekins Ford in fairbanks, which replaced a PCV and tubing, and did a complete tune-up for $992. Since then, there have been no more issues with the accelerator.

- Kasilof, AK, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the accelerator became stuck in open throttle and caused the vehicle to accelerate. The contact also mentioned that the accelerator pedal would become stuck sporadically and would not allow the contact to accelerate. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repair. The failure was mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 114,000.

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parking at less than 5 mph, the vehicle accelerated abnormally to 15 mph. The contact had removed his foot from the accelerator pedal when vehicle accelerated. The vehicle crashed against the foundation of the garage in the contact's home. The contact sustained neck injuries as a result. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic for inspection and there were no failures found. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was 104,000. The failure mileage was 77,000.

- Macon, GA, USA

Attorney for driver's family and media reports indicate that the vehicle was being driven immediately after purchase in the phoenix / mesa area along Arizona state route 87 towards payson. The final approach to payson involves a prolonged upward grade, which would have required heavy accelerator use by the driver. Along the way, the driver was unable to disengage the accelerator or otherwise bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The vehicle struck other vehicles as it traversed an intersection, and rolled, ejecting the driver, who suffered fatal injuries. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle documented that the cruise control cable connector was lodged against the underside of the engine cover and that the throttle was open to 84%. the vehicle had received the accelerator cable replacement for recall 04V574 in January of 2005. (note: This record was received via telephone interview between ODI investigators and counsel for the driver's family in late June of this year. It has been added to our complaint file to document the incident for an investigation opening. It will be updated as appropriate as more information is received)

- Payson, AZ, USA

The problem began with the rpms dropping to under 300 when idling at a stop sign or stop light. Vehicle would also die with no warning. Problem progressed to revving up to over 4000 rpms when in park either at first start or after driving and shifting into park. Problem has progressed to surging and revving from normal driving speed of 65 mph and 1500 rpms to 2500 rpms forcing me to brake to keep the vehicle under control or at the posted speed limit. Problem has also progressed that when attempting to idle at a stop sign or stop light, rpms will remain elevated at 1500 forcing me to brake very hard to keep the vehicle stopped. When shifting into park the rpms will rev up to 4200 rpms.

- Paradise, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving or passing approximately 55 mph, the accelerator pedal jammed. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact was then able to turn the ignition off and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic and they informed the contact that the cruise control cable was the cause of the failure. The cruise control cable was disconnected to remedy the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000. Updated 04/19/2012 the consumer stated the cruise control cable was disconnected after the 4th occurrence.updated 04/30/12

- Croton, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from a stop and would not accelerate beyond 2 mph. The vehicle eventually began to accelerate at normal rates of speed. The failure recurred whenever the contact accelerated from a stop. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that a computer chip within the vehicle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 58,448.

- Ferguson, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape XLT. The contact stated that as the accelerator was released, the vehicle maintained speed and did not slow down and the rpms maintained an abnormally high reading. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. Updated 11/23/11

- Hornsboro, KY, USA

On rt. 59, just South of northwest hwy (rt. 14) in barrington, my 2002 Ford Escape XLT was involved in a bizarre incident or accident. While sitting static on level road in a line of traffic with a train-crossing barrier arm keeping traffic safely waiting for the train to pass, my vehicle lurched forward in an unintended acceleration while my foot was firmly pressing on the brake pedal. The engine raced at >= 4000 RPM. With continued braking action on my part with no vehicle response, the passenger-side front end of my vehicle hit the 1988 Ford F150 truck immediately in front of me. As a side note, I had the 2005 Ford recall work performed on the defective accelerator cable, with the cable replacement at packey webb Ford dealership service center in wheaton, Illinois. There is a safety-hazard risk associated with the vehicle, and I refuse to drive this vehicle even if the approximately $4000 damages are repaired, which I have not authorized. I am an experience computer it software/hardware professional, as well as an engineering design controls expert in the health care industry, working for a major product manufacturer (software and hardware). There is a definite safety risk associated with this vehicle make/model, and I want to report this incident to the proper Agency. The insurance company, Ford dealership, and the authorized service center have done nothing to identify the root cause for the vehicle malfunction on design defect; they only treat this as a loss and did not perform initial computer diagnostics prior to compromising the vehicle in their actions to appraise damages to the vehicle. I need this incident properly investigated and reported to the public if a safety risk is confirmed.

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

My 2002 Ford Escape was bought new in March of 2002. The problem with it accelerating at low speeds started about 6-7 months later. Returned to the dealership many times to have it checked but was told every time there was nothing wrong. I've had one accident as a result of this problem. I still own the same Escape and still have the problem with it. I was told that there were no complaints of this nature with these models but have since learned that there have been many. I also as have many people had the problem with the air-bag light on.again many trips to the dealer and was told nothing was wrong about $300 later for labor costs. Finally on one more attempt to find out what was wrong I returned to the dealer again and was told that a sensor in the seat-belt was the problem and it would cost approximately $300-$400 to repair it and that the air bags may or may not be working because of this sensor. I have personally lost all faith in Ford Canada and their products and some of the employees at the dealerships I've dealt with. I am in the process I buying a new car but it's not a Ford. Never again will I buy a Ford

- Washington, DC, USA