NHTSA Complaint #10384861 — 2006 FORD EXPEDITION

2006 FORD EXPEDITION E.B. AND ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE 1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: THERE ARE NO DETECTABLE EVENTS PRECEDING WHATEVER CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO "ENGINE FAILSAFE" MODE. THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE AS IT ALWAYS DOES AND THEN IT JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES: FAILURE OCCURS AT RANDOM AND IS NOT PREDICTABLE IT JUST HAPPENS. THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY AS IT SHOULD AND IN A SPILT SECOND IT IS LIKE THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF, THE INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYS "ENGINE IN FAILSAFE MODE". THE ENGINE IS ACTUALLY RUNNING IN FAILSAFE MODE BUT ONLY AT AN IDLE, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FUNCTION HOWEVER THE THROTTLE IS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE IN FAILSAFE MODE, THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO A CREEP AND WILL STOP AT THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS THE ONLY AVAILABLE OPTION IS TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART. THE VEHICLE ALWAYS RESTARTS AND RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION AND DRIVEABILTY IS FINE, JUST AS THOUGH NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THE OCCURRENCE FIRST HAPPENED EARLY IN JANUARY 2010, AGAIN IN LATE JANUARY, THEN IN SEPTEMBER 2010 THEN AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 26 THEN TWICE TODAY FEBRUARY 28 ABOUT 20 MINUTES APART. THE CONSEQUENCES: SCARY, DANGEROUS, HAZARDOUS. FEELS LIKE AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND/OR A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHEN A VEHICLE UNDER POWER JUST SHUTS OFF INSTANTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON IT IS LOGICAL SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE IS A REALISTIC CONSEQUENCE. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: SO FAR JUST A LOT OF FORD GUESSWORK. THE INTERNET HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CONSUMER POSTS REGARDING VARIOUS REPAIRS MADE. THE REPORTED REPAIRS RANGE FROM SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, COILS, CATS,FILTERS, CONVERTERS AND MORE. THE COMMON THREAD IN THESE CONSUMER REPORTS IS THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND OCCURS RANDOMLY AFTER REPAIR. *TR