NHTSA Complaint #10662425 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

AFTER YEARS (SINCE EARLY ON IN THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER) OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY GAS PEDAL STICKING (MOSTLY IN COLDER WEATHER), THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS BY FAR THE WORST AND, LIKE MANY OTHER 2008 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM VERY LUCKY THAT IT OCCURRED IN AN AREA WHERE I WAS NOT IN IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM OTHER CARS. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD THE PEDAL STARTED TO RESPOND THEN FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH NO FURTHER RESPONSE. THERE WAS NO POWER TO MOVE FORWARD AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I LIFTED THE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS NOT STUCK ON ANYTHING AND IT JUST FELL LIMPLY BACK TO THE FLOOR. I MANIPULATED THE ARM UNDER THE PEDAL WITH MY HAND UNTIL IT LOOSENED UP AND THE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE AGAIN. I THEN DROVE TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IF MY CAR DOES NOT BECOME PART OF THE "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM," I AM SURE THAT IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST. THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED THROTTLE BODY FAILURES IN 2005-2012 FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES SHARING THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PART, DID NOT RESULT IN ENOUGH VEHICLES BEING INCLUDED IN THE RESULTING FORD "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM," WHICH ONLY INCLUDED CARS FROM 2009-2012, WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MANY MORE CARS. THE COMPLAINT FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE FROM AT LEAST 2008 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. TO NOT INCLUDE EVERYONE FROM THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION IS DOING A DISSERVICE AND IT WILL BE SAD DAY WHEN THE REST OF THE CAR OWNERS ARE INCLUDED ONLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS DIED! *TR