NHTSA Complaint #10533538 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE ON A CROWDED I-4 AROUND ORLANDO FLORIDA WHEN I COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP (BRAKING), THE CAR JERKED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND SAT FOR A FEW MOMENTS, WONDERING WHAT TO DO. THE DASH SHOWED A WRENCH SYMBOL, SO I CHECKED THE MANUAL TO SEE WHAT IT MEANT. IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A FAULT AND THE POWERTRAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD RESTART AND IT DID. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. THANKFULLY, HE READ THAT IF I STAYED UNDER 60 MPH AND DIDN'T DRIVE TOO LONG IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK THE BACK WAY HOME AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS MUCH LONGER I MADE IT WITHOUT A FURTHER PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS PROBLEM PART(THROTTLE VALVE) NOT RECALLED. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND FOR SAFETY REASONS WHY AREN'T THE OWNERS OF THESE 2011 ESCAPE'S MADE IMMEDIATELY AWARE OF THIS HAZARD. THIS WAS THE CLOSEST I CAME TO A FATAL ACCIDENT AND NOT NECESSARILY MY OWN. *TR