NHTSA Complaint #10548340 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

ON 9/23/13 I WAS DRIVING FROM HOUSTON TX TO HENDERSONVILLE NC. OUTSIDE MOBILE AL JUST BEFORE DUSK, IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. I LEFT EXXON AFTER FUELING. AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE SUDDENLY GUSHED AND PAUSED. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I APPLIED GAS, BUT ENGINE WOULDN'T RESPOND. PUT CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF ENGINE. TURNED BACK ON, WRENCH LIGHT GONE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. DROVE ACROSS INTERSECTION, PULLED INTO PARKING LOT. CAR SEEMED FINE EXCEPT FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DROVE OUT, ENTERED FREEWAY, WENT ONE MILE, CAR REPEATED PROBLEM: SUDDENLY GUSHED, PAUSED, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO GAS. WRENCH LIGHT ON. PULLED OFF FREEWAY, TURNED OFF CAR, TURNED BACK ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. DROVE ONE MORE MILE ON SIDE OF FREEWAY. NOW FULL DARK, NO OTHER PLACE FOR ME BUT EDGE OF ROAD OR DITCH. PULLED INTO TRUCK WEIGH STATION, CALLED FORD. FORD REPRESENTATIVE AND I DETERMINED CAR WAS DRIVABLE, SO DROVE TO MONTGOMERY AL, PLANNING TO VISIT FORD DEALER. NEXT MORNING WHEN I STARTED CAR, NO LIGHTS ON DASH. CONTINUED TRIP. THOUGHT IT WAS ISSUED WITH GAS CAPLESS SYSTEM, PERHAPS NOT COMPLETELY SEALED WHEN FINISHED GASSING. I DISCUSSED WITH FORD REP, HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS SIMILAR, BUT HE DID NOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THROTTLE BODY. IF HE HAD, I WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED HIS OFFER OF TOW IMMEDIATELY. NEVER WOULD I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT (AND AS A WOMAN BY MYSELF). *TR