NHTSA Complaint #10639941 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

WE HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 46,000 MILES AT THIS TIME. ON AUGUST 30, 2014, WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND THE POWERTRAIN/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR WAS SHAKING LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED UP FINE, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF. WE DROVE ANOTHER 100 MILES WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP WHO NOTICED THAT THE VOLTAGE WAS DROPPING FROM 14 VOLTS DOWN TO 12VOLTS AND SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTERS (SO THEY SAID). THEY CHANGED OUT THE ALTERNATOR- $560. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 20 WHEN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING TWICE AGAIN, ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART, GOING 70 MPH (CAR LOST POWER, WRENCH LIGHT ON, HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART). I TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER WITHIN 2 DAYS; THEY DROVE THE CAR 55 MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES PRESENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THEY SAID TO COME GET THE CAR AND KEEP DRIVING IT. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS LIKELY A THROTTLE BODY (ETB) MALFUNCTION. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR (NOT WHERE IT WAS NOW) AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO A SERVICE MANAGER WITH 19 YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY THE THROTTLE BODY SINCE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. HE SAID ONLY 2 THINGS TRIGGER THE WRENCH LIGHT- THE TRANSMISSION AND THE THROTTLE BODY. SINCE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THIS CAR, I DECIDED TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ON SEPTEMBER 24 - $470. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR AS FORD SUGGESTED, WITH AN INTERMITTENT CUT-OFF PROBLEM, WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS/DIAGNOSIS AND THROW PARTS AT IT AND SEE. *TR