NHTSA Complaint #10477231 — 2010 FORD FOCUS

IN MEDIUM/HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SPEED BEGAN TO RISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING (FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR) IN 3RD GEAR. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE ENGINE SPEED CONTINUED TO CLIMB. A BLIP OF THE THROTTLE EVENTUALLY HALTED THE ENGINE SPEED RISE AND THE RPMS SLOWLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO RUN NORMALLY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUPLE MINUTES AND I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY SAFELY, STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. AFTER A QUICK EXAMINATION, I FOUND NOTHING IN THE DRIVER'S FOOTWELL THAT COULD'VE INTERFERED WITH THE PEDAL'S OPERATION. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN VOLITION. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON A RURAL STRETCH OF INTERSTATE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, QUICKLY PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. AT THE TIME I ASSUMED IT WAS A TEMPORARY MALFUNCTION WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM; THE CAR ACTED NORMALLY AFTER BEING RESTARTED. DURING THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT, HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T ENGAGED AT ANY TIME DURING THE TRIP.