NHTSA Complaint #10888548 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

I RENTED A 2016 FORD EXPLORER FROM AVIS AT THE PORTLAND (ME) AIRPORT (AVIS VEHICLE #40933351). ON FRIDAY, JULY 15TH, THE UNIT STALLED AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE CAR MOVED AT A VERY REDUCED RATE OF SPEED. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, AND A NOTE CAME UP TO CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL. I WAS ABLE TO FINISH CROSSING THE INTERSECTION AT THE SLOWER SPEED AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT OPERATED PROPERLY FOR A WHILE. LATER THAT NIGHT, I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN. ONCE AGAIN, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AVIS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE PERSON ON THE LINE TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND THAT I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THEN PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND RESTART THE CAR TO CLEAR THE FAULT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL BACK ONTO THE ROAD AT FULL SPEED. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, I BEGAN TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. I PULLED OVER AND RESET THE CAR AS I HAD DONE BEFORE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AWAY. A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, RESET THE CAR AND DRIVE AWAY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR ONLY TRAVELS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE ACCELERATOR. 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT.