NHTSA Complaint #10547128 — 2010 FORD FUSION

I WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM MY STARTING POINT TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH. SUDDENLY, THE 2010 FORD FUSION LURCHED WHILE SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. WHEN IT LURCHED ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WAS LOST. WITH CARS ON EACH SIDE, I HAD NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE; I LOST SPEED QUICKLY AND WORKED MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION). I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE 'WRENCH SYMBOL WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WARNING SIGNIFIED. DURING THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION, THE CAR DID NOT LOSE POWER STEERING AND IT REMAINED RUNNING, BUT THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING AND NOT IDLING AT A STEADY PACE. WHEN I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED TO 'REV' UP THE ENGINE, BUT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED ABOUT 1 MINUTE THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR AGAIN HAD NO ACCELERATION ABILITY AND SPUTTERED WHICH SOUNDED VERY MUCH LIKE A COUGH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, WHEN ASSISTANCE ARRIVED, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. AT THIS TIME, THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE CAR APPEARED TO IDLE NORMALLY. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE WRENCH SYMBOL MEANS: THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR SHOULD CONTACT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR