NHTSA Complaint #10152893 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

RE: 1999 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER OF 2005, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO KINGSVILLE, TEXAS ONE SATURDAY EVENING TO ATTEND A CHARITY FUNCTION. UPON OUR EXITING FROM THE HIGHWAY, WE PROCEEDED DOWN TWO CITY BLOCKS. AFTER WHICH, THE ACCELERATOR RACED UNEXPECTEDLY. I MANAGED TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL STOP, ALL THE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT ABOUT 4,000 RPMS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I THOUGHT THAT THE FLOOR MAT MUST HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT COMPLETELY. UPON MY RESTARTING THE ENGINE, IT IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TO 4,000 RPMS AGAIN. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKED POSITION. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS TO TRY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I PHONED AAA AUTO CLUB AND HAD THEM SEND A WRECKER TO TOW THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, EDDIE YAKLIN IN KINGSVILLE, TEXAS. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I PHONED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD FRAYED LEAVING IT IN THE OPEN POSITION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER FOR TWO REASONS: (1)TO NOTIFY YOU OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN THE INJURY AND/OR DEATH OF FORD CUSTOMERS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. I AM ALSO SUBMITTING A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD. I HAVE PERFORMED SOME RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS HAD THROTTLE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. SEE ATTACHED COPIES OF MY RESEARCH MATERIAL. (2)TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF CORRECTING THE DESIGN AND/OR MECHANICAL DEFECT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. I HAVE ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE INVOICE DEPICTING THE SERVICE COSTS I INCURRED CORRECTING THE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE CABLE. *NM