NHTSA Complaint #11015119 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 5:30 PM ON 8/11 AND, WHEN I GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND SAW THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL AND I WAS LOW ON OIL DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ONE MONTH PRIOR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 10:45 AM ON 8/12, THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING NORMALLY AND THE MPG READINGS WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WELL, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE COMPLETELY. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH AT THE TIME THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE SO I COASTED THROUGH AND SAW A PARKING LOT FOR TOLL BOOTH OPERATORS. AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY TO THAT PARKING LOT, SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. I COASTED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RAN OUT AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE ESCAPING THROUGH THE GRILL, UNDER THE HOOD AND OUT THE BOTTOM. THE STATE POLICE ARRIVED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER AND USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. NO WARNING NOTICE CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION ABILITY COMPLETELY AT WHICH POINT THE SCREEN SAID TO SHIFT TO "P" AND MANUALLY RESTART. AT THAT POINT, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE SO I IMMEDIATELY VACATED, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND AM AWAITING CONTACT.