NHTSA Complaint #10052689 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

ON THE MORNING OF 6 JAN 2004, MY KIDS AND I WERE ON A ROUTINE TRIP TO THE GYM. THIS GYM IS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM OUR HOME. OUR 2000 FORD EXPEDITION WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND STAYED AT 30 MPH EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL STOP SIGNS NEAR THE GYM, THE EXPEDITION WOULD NOT BRAKE AND PROCEEDED TO RUN THROUGH THE STOP SIGNS. THE EXPEDITION WOULD NOT STOP AND STAYED STUCK ON 30 MPH. I CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE. THE OPERATOR TOLD ME TO PUT MY PARKING BRAKE ON, AND I DID. WHEN THIS ACTION DID NOT STOP THE CAR, SHE SUGGESTED THAT I SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. I DID, AND STILL THE EXPEDITION WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE DOWN A STEEP HILL WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF BRAKES. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WAS A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. I COULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN. I HAD TO TURN RIGHT GOING STILL 30 MPH. I COULD ONLY HONK MY HORN TO CALL THE ATTENTION OF ONCOMING CARS TO THE FACT THAT I WAS COMING AND THAT I COULD NOT STOP. AFTER MAKING THE RIGHT TURN, THE OPERATOR ASKED ME IF WE WERE SLOWING DOWN AT ALL. I REPLIED NO AND THAT THE EXPEDITION REMAINED AT 30 MPH AND WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER HER QUESTION, JUST LIKE THAT, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. THE EAST PEORIA POLICE OFFICERS (WHO BY THIS TIME WERE ON THE SCENE) TOLD ME TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND I DID. THEY DROVE THE EXPEDITION TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET FOR ME. IT WAS THE SINGLE MOST TERRIFYING MOMENT OF MY LIFE. AFTER THE INCIDENT TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS FROM TWO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. MY HUSBAND HAS CONTACTED FORD AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. BOTH HAVE DENIED KNOWING OF ANY SUCH PREVIOUS INCIDENTS (WHICH ARE CLEARLY DOCUMENTED IN THIS FORUM). AS OF TODAY, FORD HAS TAKEN NEITHER RESPONSIBILITY OR ACTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WILL KEEP IT NEXT WEEK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON IT. COMPLAINT BY CRISTINA PATE, EAST PEORIA, IL *LA