NHTSA Complaint #10519777 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AS THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 5 MPH, IT WENT INTO WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE "LIMP MODE." WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ENGINE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE IDLED AT ABOUT 800 RPM, AND IT TOOK ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE FOR THE CAR TO "LIMP" OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED IT. IT THEN WORKED FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE THIS HAPPENED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. NOW IN JUNE ( SEVERAL MONTHS LATER), WE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW YOU WERE INVESTIGATING. I PRINTED OUT THE ARTICLE, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SAID THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A CIRCUIT PROBLEM, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND IT MAY TAKE "WEEKS" FOR THEM TO GET THE PART. WE DROVE THE CAR ONCE MORE AND THE SAME " LIMP MODE" KICKED IN 3 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. WHILE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE GOES INTO THE LIMP MODE WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO ACCELERATE THE CROSS A ROAD, ETC. WHILE MY VEHICLE IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE REPAIRED SATISFACTORILY, THIS IS POTENTIALLY AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND I AM REPORTING IT SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2008, ACCORDING TO THE STICKER ON THE DOOR. *TR