NHTSA Complaint #10712733 — 2011 FORD EDGE

ON APRIL 11, 2015, THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ON THE ENGINE OF MY 2011 FORD EDGE FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A 6-LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE INSIDE LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE ENGINE, AND I COASTED QUICKLY ACROSS 2 LANES TO A RIGHT TURN LANE. FORTUNATELY, EVERYONE REACTED POSITIVELY TO MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AS I DECELERATED. ON MONDAY, APRIL 13, THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE CAR. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THIS FAILURE MODE AND WAS SURPRISED TO READ THAT FORD HAD A COUPLE YEARS EARLIER SETTLED A NHTSA COMPLAINT FOR SEVERAL FORD MODELS THAT EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM MY CAR EXPERIENCED. THE FORD EDGE WAS NOT PART OF THE SETTLEMENT. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED OTHER FORD EDGES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. APPARENTLY, FORD WON A PARTIAL SETTLEMENT ON THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MODE IS AS DANGEROUS AS THE GENERAL MOTORS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. BOTH THE GM AND FORD FAILURE MODES RESULT IN THE SAME MANNER ' COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND A HOPE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO STOP. RECOGNIZING THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO ME, SHOULDN'T THE NHTSA REEXAMINE THIS FORD PROBLEM. IN MY CASE I'M JUST THANKFUL MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR. SHE WAS WITH ME WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CLAIMED SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW TO REACT. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE AS MANY DEATHS AS GM EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE BEFORE ACTING? *TR