NHTSA Complaint #10523445 — 2011 FORD FUSION

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 FORD FUSION S WITH A V4 ENGINE ON 07/03/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 19:15 IN THE EVENING. I WAS TRAVELING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A TWO-LANE ROAD AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50 M.P.H. WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT LONGER ACCELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE SHIFTING DOWN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION 2 HOURS AWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I DROVE THE CAR A SECOND TIME AND THE INCIDENT DID NOT RECUR. THE THIRD TIME I DROVE THE CAR AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, WHICH WAS ON 07/05/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 17:00. IT OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY CUTTING ACROSS TRAFFIC WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE!!! I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY THROTTLE CONTROL. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES (MY CAR HAS 38000 MILES). THIS IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE READ THAT 2010 FORD FUSIONS ALSO HAVE A HISTORY OF THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT 2-3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE AVOIDED A CRASH, BUT ONE COULD EASILY FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY CANNOT ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND END UP SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DEAD BECAUSE OF A CRASH THAT IT COULD CAUSE. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATING AND THIS HAPPENS APPARENTLY AT RANDOM, USUALLY WITHIN 10-15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE CAR ON. *TR