NHTSA Complaint #10567831 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

CAR SLOWED THEN ACCELERATED TO OVER 100MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND STOPPED WITH A BUMP TO MY GARAGE DOOR. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NOW I FIND OUT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LINKAGE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE HAS A RECALL. DEALER WANTS $100 TO LOOK AT IT. IF THE PART BEING RECALLED IS FINE, THEY KEEP THE $100, IF NOT THEY DEDUCT IT FROM MY BILL OR REFUND IT TO ME. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY NOTHING COULD BE DONE, ACCORDING TO THEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING THE SLOWING UP OF THE VEHICLE. YOU PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND YOU LOSE POWER, THEN SUDDENLY IT KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING AT HIGH SPEEDS, WITH THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I'VE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP AND THROWN IT INTO NEUTRAL AND WATCHED THE ENGINE TACH VERY HIGH BEFORE TURNING IT OFF (INTO ACCESSORIES SO I STILL HAVE BRAKES AND STEERING) TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED ME THE DEALER HAS THE RIGHT TO CHARGE ME THE FEE BUT URGED ME TO GO TO DEALER AND PAY. IF THE LINKAGE IS ON RECALL THEN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE UP FRONT? THEY CLAIM I SHOULD GET A REFUND IF IT IS THE LINKAGE, BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK ENGINE OR ANYTHING CAME ON. I NOW HAVE THE CAR UP FOR SALE AND I AM PASSING THIS PROBLEM ONTO THE NEXT BUYER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN URGING ME TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUSHES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES. *TR