NHTSA Complaint #10318048 — 1997 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR

RUNAWAY MOTORHOME ON A 1997 FORD CHASSIS IN 2009 ON INTERSTATE 85. WHEN I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK AN APPROACHING EXIT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE MOTORHOME WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE. WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED I CALLED FORD AND THEY AUTHORIZED A FIX FOR A RECALL PROBLEM INVOLVING THE BRAKE IN WHICH A FIRE COULD START. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES IN THE SAME YEAR ON A TRIP FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA. I REALIZED THAT THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO OCCUR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE GEAR TO DOWNSHIFT DUE TO HIGHWAY INCLINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS FORD HAS HAD OTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. SOME DATES AND FIGURES ARE ONLY ESTIMATES. *TR