NHTSA Complaint #11057381 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

I TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT INTERSECTION IN EAGLE RUN SHOPPING CENTER, NW OF WENDY'S, FROM WEST TO SOUTH ONTO THE PARKING LOT ROAD THAT ACCESSES THE W MAPLE RD & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION. I COMPLETED MY TURN AND DROVE SOUTH DOWN THE PARKING LOT ACCESS ROAD TO THE W MAPLE & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO WAIT FOR A GREEN LIGHT. I STOPPED A WAYS BACK FROM THE MEDIAN CURB OF THE INTERSECTION TO ALLOW FOR TURNING TRAFFIC FROM THE WEST. SHORTLY LATER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, I NOTICED A VIBRATION OF THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TACHOMETER WHICH SHOWED 1,200 RPM & RISING (600RPM IS NORMAL). IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN TO PHYSICALLY LUNGE FORWARD WITH INCREASED ENGINE NOISE SO I INSTINCTIVELY PLACED MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS NOW RACING WIDE OPEN & I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR'S RAPIDLY INCREASING FORWARD MOTION. AT THIS POINT, TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY BEING PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION, I STEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE SHOULDER HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME.