NHTSA Complaint #10361452 — 2006 FORD FUSION

WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE UNDER CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO IDLE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CAR SHOWED TWO WARNING LIGHTS: TRACTION CONTROL AND THROTTLE CONTROL. THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FLUSHED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. WHATEVER ACTUALLY HAPPENED, THE FAIL SAFE CONDITION SHOULD NOT BE TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN TO IDLE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE ENGINE SPEED. IT WAS JUST FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR WAS NOT HIT FROM BEHIND. *TR