NHTSA Complaint #10321398 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH UP AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GASKET RECIRCULATOR WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. AS THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED SHE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GASKET RECIRCULATOR WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ALSO SERVICED. IN MARCH 2010 WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE PEDAL HAD FALLEN TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,600.