NHTSA Complaint #10490738 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

ON 30 DECEMBER 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 5 PM I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT ON US 61 IN PORT GIBSON, MS. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. I GLANCED DOWN TO OBSERVE THE GAUGES AND DISCOVERED THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD CEASED FUNCTIONING AND THE TROUBLE LIGHT (SHAPED LIKE A WRENCH) HAD ILLUMINATED. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. AFTER CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY LOSS OF FLUID OR OBVIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE I COULD DETECT NOTHING INDICATING A MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND OBSERVED THE GAUGES NOTING THE TROUBLE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THINKING THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN A TEMPORARY ISSUE, I AGAIN PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL UPON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AND AGAIN THE SAME TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AFTER REACHING AROUND 45 MPH. I AGAIN PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED. I MANAGED TO TURN AROUND AND GO HOME, BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD THE SAME FAILURE OCCUR APPROXIMATELY 4 MORE TIMES AT 65 MPH. I CONTACTED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP IN VICKSBURG, MS, 35 MILES AWAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED ANY DEFECTS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN JUNE, 2012 WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO BE OPERATED UPON THE ROADS AND COULD ENDANGER MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR