NHTSA Complaint #11322433 — 2016 FORD ESCAPE

FROM THE SECOND WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, MY VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I WAS VERY PUNCTUAL ABOUT GETTING MY VEHICLE SERVICED AS I PURCHASED A SERVICE MAINTENANCE PLAN AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BELIEVED MY TRANSMISSION WAS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE SERVICE CALLS. I PRESUMED IT WAS MY IMAGINATION HOWEVER AT 121,000 MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FROM THE SPEED OF 45MPH. I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT CLEARLY WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY AS IT WAS NOT MOVING WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT DID ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVED FOR ANOTHER TWO MILES THEN I GOT THE RED WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE TRANSMISSION NOW". BECAUSE I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE(A 2016 MODEL) I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR HENCE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE OCTOBER 2019 WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. I SAW A RECALL FOR THE FORD FESTIVA/FUSION THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME SITUATION BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INFORMATION ON A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALSO SEEN COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND FEEL THAT IT IS DANGEROUS. NORMALLY I DRIVE THE FREEWAY BUT THE MORNING IT BROKE DOWN I WAS ON A SURFACE STREET. I FOR SURE WOULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. I DO NOT HAVE ANY REPAIR DOCUMENTATION AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT TOO!