NHTSA Complaint #10160141 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

ENGINE PINGS (PRE-DETONATION) WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS OVER 85 DEGREES AND SPEED IS OVER 40 MPH. DEALER SAYS NO CODES ARE THROWN BUT SUGGESTED THE LATEST PCM REFLASH AND INJECTOR CLEANING AT 44,800 MILES MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. A $278 CHARGE AND NO DIFFERENCE. NO REFUND SINCE THEY NOW TELL ME THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ITEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MENTIONS THEY'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE NEW E10 GAS IN THE OZONE NON-ATTAINMENT REGION. I EXPLAINED I DO NOT USE E10 SINCE THE COUNTY IN WHICH I RESIDE DOES NOT SELL E10. THEY SUGGEST TRYING DIFFERENT GAS BRANDS WHICH DOESN'T HELP. AFTER EXPLAINING I HAVE ANOTHER BRAND OF VEHICLE WITH A SIMILAR SIZE ENGINE THAT DOES NOT PING, THEY STATE FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *NM