NHTSA Complaint #10908173 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A MAJOR CITY ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT RUSH HOUR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE DASH ILLUMINATED A WRENCH (POWERTRAIN FAULT) AND CHECK OWNERS MANUAL. WE DECELERATED IN TRAFFIC DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT AS WE TRIED TO MAKE OUR WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER FROM THE LEFT LANE (THERE WAS INADEQUATE SHOULDER ON THE LEFT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED). NO QUESTION IN OUR MIND THAT THIS IS LIFE THREATENING! WE FEEL FORTUNATE WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT, SO WE LIMPED ALONG AT 5 MPH TO A GAS STATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND NEXT DAY VERIFIED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER CHANGED THIS PART OUT AND WE FORTUNATELY HAVE NOT HAD A RECURRENCE. MILEAGE AT FAILURE WAS 9456. ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT A THROTTLE BODY TO FAIL, ESPECIALLY AT LOW MILEAGE. WE NOW READ THAT MANY 2016 EXPLORERS HAVE THIS DEFECT AND THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LIFE THREATENING EVENT THAT WE DID.