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.
Driving approx. 45 mph the acceleration stops, no connection with pedal, engine is still running but no acceleration. Eventually had to cost to a stop, engine running rough. Wrench on dash is on. Stop car and shut engine off. Started engine, starts hard but does start, wrench on dash is off but service engine light is now on. This same thing happens several times within a few miles before I finally got home. This same thing happened several month ago but appeared to correct itself. This time I took it to a service garage and was told this could be the throttle body problem. This appears from looking on line that it is a Ford problem that many other people have also and could be dangerous. It appears that this is going to happen more and more often and should not be driven in this condition.
While traveling at 60 mph on the freeway I suddenly lost power. The car slowed to 40mph. There was no response to pushing on the accelerator, and the accelerator became spongy. The throttle/power-train warning light was activated. I had to pull over to the shoulder of the road to avoid being hit by other traffic. When I shut off the engine and restarted it, the warning light turned off. I felt endangered and immediately exited the freeway and drove 30 minutes to home at under 40mph. The next day the local Ford dealer diagnosed the problem as a faulty throttle body. He stated that it was a common problem with Ford Escapes, and it is not covered by warranty. The cost of repair is $615. My car is well maintained with less than 32,000 miles. The poor quality of this part constitutes a dangerous hazard.
Approximately one month ago, while slowing to make a right-hand turn, the vehicle seemed to lose all power; no acceleration, etc. I managed to get on the side of the road, put the vehicle in park, and turned the engine off. When I restarted the engine, everything seemed fine. About 2 weeks later when pulling out onto a main highway, the same thing happened, except this time the "wrench" light came on, and the vehicle started lurching and shaking extremely hard. Again, I got to the side of the road (fortunately no volume of traffic), put vehicle in park, turned engine off, and restarted - wrench light gone and all seemed ok. Two days ago, same thing happened 4 times within a two mile trip, again fortunately no traffic volume. I had the vehicle towed to the local dealership, and no surprise it was the throttle body, which was replaced at my expense. I see this problem is widespread, and potentially very dangerous. Ford should be required to issue a recall before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.
Upon turning left through an intersection from a red light, I accelerated to reach about 30 miles per hour. Then the vehicle started slowing down slightly so I pressed on the gas slightly but nothing happened. I then noticed that the lights on the dash were lit (there is a light that looks like a wrench). I turned the radio off and it seemed that the engine was not running. I was able to pull over, place the vehicle in park, and start the engine. It seemed like I had full control over steering and braking to pull over, but perhaps that was just the slow rate of speed I was at. Now everything appears to be normal now, however I am concerned as I googled this issue and there seems to be many folks indicating the same problem, suspecting something to do with the throttle. This has happened twice to me. The first time about 6 months ago, with this time being the most recent.
I'm driving normally, at a constant speed (40), and all of a sudden, wrench light comes on, rpms do weird things, gas pedal doesn't do anything, putting it in neutral in a drift downspeed does nothing, park does nothing. Putting it in park and shutting the engine, and starting again makes the light go away and run fine again.
- Killeen, TX, USA
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The vehicle suddenly lost power at approx 55 mph while driving on an expressway. Although steering and braking was available, acceleration was not. The orange "wrench" warning light activated. I was able to drive to the shoulder, turn off the engine, and restart. This has recurred several times since this first incident. So far, I have been able to get to the shoulder each time and it has restarted. But this is a very dangerous defect that is fully discussed on the internet. A large volume of "throttle body" issues associated with this and other Escape models is documented on various websites. There is never any advance warning of when this may occur, and it has occurred at a variety of speeds and road conditions. The potential danger associated with this obvious defect should warrant a recall from Ford. It is just a matter of time before this defect leads to a serious accident if it already has not done so.
I have been having issues with the throttle body in my 2009 Ford Escape. When I drive my car, it randomly stops accelerating and my car stops running. This is a big safety hazard. My car has stopped in the middle of a busy roads. Cars could also easily hit me when my car randomly stops.this problem is resolved once I turn off my car and turn it back on, but it continues to happens many times. I have read many reports from other people with the same issue and something should be done about this as this problem puts people in serious danger.
I was stopped at a light. When the light turned green, I stepped on the accelerator and as the car got to about 5 mph, it went into what is referred to as the "limp mode." When I stepped on the accelerator, nothing happened. The engine "wrench" light came on, the engine idled at about 800 RPM, and it took about a minute or more for the car to "limp" out of the intersection. I turned off the engine, and restarted it. It then worked fine. I took it to the dealer, which was less than a mile from where this happened. After several days, they said they could find nothing wrong. Now in June ( several months later), we had an instance where it happened again. I searched on the internet and saw you were investigating. I printed out the article, took it to the dealer and said this is exactly what happened. The dealer said it was a circuit problem, but the replacement part was on back order and it may take "weeks" for them to get the part. We drove the car once more and the same " limp mode" kicked in 3 times in a 3 mile trip. While turning off the engine and restarting the engine seems to clear the problem, this is extremely dangerous if the vehicle goes into the limp mode when it is necessary to accelerate the cross a road, etc. While my vehicle is under extended warranty, and hopefully it will be repaired satisfactorily, this is potentially an extremely dangerous malfunction and I am reporting it so that you can take it into consideration in your investigation. My vehicle was manufactured in July 2008, according to the sticker on the door.
My wife was driving along the highway when suddenly the throttle stopped working, the engine did not shut off but she could not give the car any gas and had to pull over. This has happened 4 times since then with the most recent being today. There is something wrong with the throttle body from what I've read from other 2009 Ford Escape owners. I also understand that an investigate was/is being done into this problem.
Multiple times my car is stalling while driving. The first incident I was driving 55mph. I took vehicle to Ford and was told it was the electronic throttle body and that the part is on back order for at least 4 weeks. A 4 week part back order seems to me a strong indicator that several people are experiencing this very dangerous driving scenario.
At or about 2:30pm on Sunday, June 9, 2013, the identified vehicle was being operated on a limited-access state highway at or around the posted speed limit of 70 mph. The vehicle took an exit ramp onto the frontage road and decelerated to posted speed limit of 50 mph. Without warning or any prior indication, the vehicle entered the Ford-defined "limp home mode, " which included a loss of engine power (governed to approximated 900 RPM in second gear), and the vehicle experienced rapid deceleration to approximately 10 mph on the high-speed three-lane roadway with medium to medium-heavy traffic. Upon pulling the vehicle to safety in a parking lot, the vehicle experienced rough idling and the dashboard illuminated a "throttle control/power train fault" warning light. Upon cycling the engine off and on, engine ignition took longer than typical to start by several seconds, but appeared to otherwise function properly. Upon re-entering the roadway, an experience similar to that described above occurred after shifting to third gear. After-market diagnostic computer indicates the vehicle has a P2112, "throttle actuator control stuck closed, " code. Engine was cycled and entry to roadway was attempted again; similar episode occurred when shifting to third gear. Vehicle was towed to a Ford dealership for service, which is pending at the time of this report.
Car was fine, then all of a sudden I had nothing. I was only going about 25 and was able to coast to the side of the road. Engine was running fine but car would not accelerate at all. Wrench on the instrument panel was lit, indicating a powertrain problem. I turned the car off, waited a few minutes and restarted. I was able to get it home. This is a serious problem. I'm sure it will happen again after reading the posted complaints, left turns could be extremely dangerous. Ford needs to step up.
Update on complaint #10515406 - took car to dealer - the diagnosis is a throttle body failure. It is not covered under the power train warranty. And the part is on back order. They want $474 to fix it. Why hasn't there been a recall yet...upon doing some research, there are approximately 1.6 million Ford Escapes with this issue model years 2005-2012. This is absolutely crazy that I have to pay to fix a widely known failure.
When I slow down to almost a stop or when I am stopped and starting to accelerate again the car engine shuts off. I then have to turn off the car and restart it. This happens sporadically with no warning. I have been told by Ford that it is the throttle body causing this issue.
The throttle control/powertrain warning light came. The Escape wouldn't accelerate on 6/4. I was able to get to a spot out of the driving lane and turn it off. I restarted and didn't have any problems until this morning 6/6. it happened while my son was driving to school. He also was able to stop safely. Turn off the Escape and restart it with no problems. Called the dealer. They want it in for service right away.
0630hr reversed car from garage reached road 30ft, then placed in D accelerated to about 15mph then sudden lost of power and deceleration similar to applying brake drive went into 'limp' mode without warning.a wrench showed up as a fault warning on the dash. This is the first time this has happened.
As I was driving, the accelerator pedal suddenly stopped responding and the wrench and check engine lights came on. I was able to pull over and put on the hazard lights. After turning the engine off and restarting, the accelerator pedal responded again and I was able to drive for a short while before it failed again. This was very dangerous. I repeated this cycle until I was able to get the car to the dealership, where I was notified that the codes indicated a faulty throttle body. The dealership has advised the part is on backorder and won't be available for at least two weeks, which means I won't be able to drive the car (the extended warranty does not provide a rental due to backordered parts). This is now very inconvenient. Please note that the transmission was already completely replaced on this vehicle at around 30K miles, along with a failed power window motor, rear glass hatch seals, etc.
I was traveling on highway at approximately 65 mph and accelerator stopped. The engine was still running but wouldn't accelerate. Pulled off to the side of the highway turned off the vehicle restarted and it ran fine for a few miles then repeated twice more. I took the vehicle to the local dealership they told me it was the throttle body that was bad.
While driving to a meeting 05/31/13 in wetumpka al. My 09 Escape stall when exiting off the freeway. I place it in park and restarted it and it cut off again. So I restarted for the 3rd time and held my foot on the gas and brake at the same time, trying to put it in drive and pressing the gas fast. This is very unsafe after the meeting was over I made it to the Ford dealership. The said I had to leave because it was busy they will check on it Monday but they did call me sat. 06 01 13 and said it is the throttle body and don't know when the new part will be released. Iam very up set this part must be on recall list. Tell me something asap. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Berkey, OH, USA