NHTSA Complaint #10967525 — 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

VEHICLE HAS 17,888 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 40 MPH THE MOTOR STUMBLED, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH A MESSAGE STATING THERE WAS A SYSTEM FAULT AND TO SERVICE THE ENGINE NOW. I ROLLED TO A STOP, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, ATTEMPTED A RESTART AND THE VEHICLE RAN AS NORMAL. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE CRUISING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STUMBLED, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH A MESSAGE STATING THERE WAS A SYSTEM FAULT AND TO SERVICE THE ENGINE NOW. THIS TIME, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE UNDER ITS OWN POWER AND I WAS RAPIDLY LOSING SPEED. I LUCKILY MANAGED TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, THEN RESTARTED IT. DROVE AS NORMAL AFTER THE RESTART. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTIONING. PERSONAL RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS FOR THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND FOR OTHER DRIVERS. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY QUITE EASILY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER TO MOVE, JUST THE REMAINING MOMENTUM TO KEEP IT MOVING. I FAIL TO SEE HOW SO MANY OF THESE FAILING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODIES ARE STILL IN USE WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY DANGER TO CONSUMERS.