NHTSA Complaint #10537533 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

ON AUGUST 21, 2013 DRIVER OF A 2011 FORD ESCAPE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AND ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND WITH TRAFFIC MOVING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD SHOWED A WRENCH LIGHT, AND DRIVE FOUND IT HARD TO STOP CAR AS IT WAS SPUTTERING AND JERKING FORWARD. THE CAR WAS FINALLY MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED, AND DRIVE THE 10 MILES HOME. OWNER TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THROTTLE BODY CODE WAS DISCOVERED. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, THUS OWNER FIX COST IS $600.00. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ON THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT GOES INTO SAFE MODE THERE IS NO WARNING AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES TO UNDER 1000 RPM. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THE FAULTY THROTTLE BODY IN THE 2009-2011 MODELS AS THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES FOR DRIVERS IN THE CAR AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR