NHTSA Complaint #10638722 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

MY WIFE LEFT OUR HOUSE TO RUN ERRANDS IN OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. SHE DIDN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE SHE GOT THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE". SHE TURNED AROUND IN A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND CAME BACK HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY THINKING THAT IT MIGHT BE THE MECS PUMP FOR WHICH THERE IS A RECENT RECALL. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE WARNING. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON THE THROTTLE BODIES OF THESE VEHICLES (DP12006), THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM #13N03, WHICH EXTENDS THE WARRANTY OF THE THROTTLE BODY ON SOME ESCAPE MODELS (AMONG OTHER VEHICLES). SO, I NOW HAVE TO SPEND $775.00 TO REPLACE A PART THAT WAS KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES. LUCKILY, MY WIFE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR 2-MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW ESCAPES FROM 2005 TO 2012 WERE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, BUT THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE13-003 ONLY APPLIES TO 2009 - 2012 MODELS. *TR