NHTSA Complaint #10745673 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

VEHICLE STALLED AND WENT INTO "LIMP-HOME" MODE AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED CONDITION.("LIMP-HOME" MODE IS A MODE PROGRAMMED BY FORD ENGINEERS TO ONLY ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER LIMITED POWER, GENERALLY ONLY 1-2 MPH.) I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES ABOUT TWO WEEKS APART FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY OWN OBD II CODE SCANNER TO DETECT THE ERROR CODE P2111. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS COMPONENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AND FORD MOTOR CORPORATION ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE THIS PART IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE ERROR CODE THEMSELVES ON THEIR CODE SCANNER. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE IN THAT IT WON'T STORE THIS PARTICULAR CODE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND TURN IT BACK ON IN HOPES OF RESETTING THE TRHOTTLE BODY. THIS WORKS BUT IT CANCELS THE ERROR CODE. THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO EMPLOY THIS TECHNIQUE TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAVEL OR FACED WITH THE OPTION OF WAITING FOR FORD TO COME AND SCAN FOR THE CODE THEMSELVES. IF THIS HAPPENS AFTER NORMAL WORK HOURS, THIS OF COURSE IS NOT AN OPTION. THE FACT THAT THIS ERROR CODE ERASES ITSELF IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVING AGAIN IS A CATCH 22 SITUATION AND ONE THAT FORD SHOULD CORRECT. I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE MY OWN REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY SINCE FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE IT.