NHTSA Complaint #11204546 — 2016 FORD ESCAPE

WE FREQUENTLY DRIVE FROM MIDWAY, UT TO SALT LAKE CITY, UT ON I-80 WHERE THE HIGHWAY GOES THROUGH PARLEY'S CANYON AND EXPERIENCES 6-7% GRADES. WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF I-80 WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR LOST SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 40 MPH. WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO NO AVAIL. WE MOVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYED LISTED ENGINE OVERHEATING AS THE ISSUE BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED NORMAL TEMPERATURE. WE CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND LEARNED THAT THERE IS A SENSOR ON THIS CAR THE DETECTS POSSIBLE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES YOUR SPEED. WE WROTE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE THIS MAY BE THE DESIGN POINT OF THE SENSOR, IT IS CERTAINLY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, TO HAVE THE CAR LOOSE SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORD WROTE BACK TO US AND INFORMED US THAT THIS SENSOR IS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND TO ALLOW US TIME TO GET TO A SERVICE FACILITY. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE VAST ARRAY OF TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS NOW AVAILABLE THAT PROVIDE THE PUBLIC SMARTER AND SAFER VEHICLES, TAKING THIS KIND OF CONTROL AWAY FROM A DRIVER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE IS QUITE UNSAFE. OBVIOUSLY THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSING THE DRIVER'S SITUATION OR LOCATION WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES SPEED. FORD HAS FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT WE SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE ON FORD SOCIAL WHERE WE CAN POST QUESTIONS FOR FORD'S ENGINEERS AND DESIGN TEAM. IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS ISSUE? IF SO, WHAT IS THEIR OPINION ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY? ARE WE OVERREACTING?