NHTSA Complaint #10468307 — 2003 FORD ESCAPE

I HAD JUST STEPPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR (HARDER THAN USUAL) TO PASS TWO SEMI'S. THE THROTTLE STUCK IN FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY TURNING THE KEY OFF AND PULLING OFF TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER CALLING THE FORD DEALER AT ALBERT LEA MINNESOTA HE SUGGESTED THAT I LOOK AROUND IN THE ARE WHERE THE RUBBER AIR INTAKE IS AND IF POSSIBLE TAKE THE RUBBER INTAKE OFF AND FEEL AROUND INSIDE. WHILE DOING THAT I COULD SEE THAT THE SHAFT AT THE END OF THE CRUISE CABLE HAD JAMMED UP AGAINST THE ENGINE COVER AND LOCKED UP AT FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT BACK INTO DRIVABLE POSITION AND CALLED THE ALBERT LEA DEALER TO TELL THEM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THEN I STOPPED AT THE FORD DEALER IN ROCHESTER MINNESOTA TO TAKE A LOOK AT TELL ME IF THE CAR WAS SAFE. THEY TOOK THE ENGINE COVER OFF AND TOLD ME IT WAS GOOD TO DRIVE. LATER I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE TOOK IT ONE STEP FARTHER BY DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL SHAFT. I WILL BE INSISTING THAT FORD DO THE FIX TO RAISE THE ENGINE COVER AND REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE IS BENT NEAR THROTTLE CONTROL END. *TR