NHTSA Complaint #10105801 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

TWO TIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING UNDER SLOW CONDITIONS (IN PARKING LOTS) THE ENGINE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE XLT LURCHED FORWARD ACCELATORATING ON IT'S OWN. THE FIRST TIME I HAD JUST RELEASED THE BRAKE AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER IN A BANK PARKING LOT. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVED UP HIGH AND THE VEHICLE "TOOK OFF". I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS SEEMED TO KNOCK THE ENGINE BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL IDLE. THE SECOND TIME, AGAIN I WAS COASTING IN A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE ENGINE REVED UP HIGH AND THE VEHICLE AGAIN TOOK OFF. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. BUT FOR THE LUCK OF NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE AROUND WHEN THE INCIDENTS HAPPEND, NO ACCIDENTS OCCURED. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR FOR THE TECHNICIAN, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. I AM REPORTING THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AND IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *AK