NHTSA Complaint #10639166 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE DRIVING AT 71 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, I NOTICED A SLOWING DOWN FEELING, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WENT OFF, THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I PULLED TO THE BERM. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL IT WAS THE THROTTLE. IT TOOK 2 TRIES TO RESTART CAR, THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF. A FORD DEALERSHIP WAS 5 MIN. FROM INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO INVOICE, THEY PERFORMED THROTTLE BODY UPDATE. I WAS TOLD IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, IT MIGHT NEED A THROTTLE BODY. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PERFORM THE WORK, THEY STATED WITHOUT THE LIGHT BEING ON, THEY COULDN'T DO THE WORK UNDER THE WARRANTY. MEANWHILE I WAS OVER 200 MILES FROM HOME, AND NEEDED TO GET HOME. IT FELT SO UNSAFE FOR 5HOURS OF DRIVING. THE CAR HAS SURGES OF POWER, DOWNSHIFTS WITH JOLTS, AND CLUNKING SOUNDS WHEN IT DOES SHIFT. THIS IS HOW IT DROVE FROM THE BEGINNING, I BEGAN TO THINK IT WAS NORMAL SO NEVER REPORTED IT. ALSO, SINCE THE WORK WAS DONE I NOTICED THE RPMS AT IDLING ARE HIGH, I CAN PULL INTO THE GARAGE WITHOUT PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE GAS THE RPMS ARE AT 2 AT 30 MILES AN HOUR, SAME AS AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. I'M CONTACTING FORD ABOUT THE RULES OF THE WARRANTY AND HOW UNSAFE IT FEELS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS, DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO GET THE REAL WORK DONE, NOT A PATCH UP JOB. *TR