NHTSA Complaint #11449472 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

I recently had a potentially deadly encounter while driving on an interstate. While traveling at 55 mph, my (automatic transmission) vehicle suddenly shifted into first gear on its own. I can’t begin to explain how much stopping force that created on the vehicle and my body, so much so that it caused the vehicle to momentarily skid. Had it not been for my seat belt and an alert tractor trailer driver, the result could have been deadly. This is the second time this has happed with my vehicle. After the first time that this happened the vehicle went to an ASE Certified mechanic shop for evaluation. After an extended period of time, the mechanic could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. As is common knowledge, if an “error code” isn’t produced, a mechanic can only hope to replicate the same event to help assist in diagnosing the problem. After this last incident, I noticed a display (not an error code) which read: ENGINE MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW. Armed with this information the mechanic called Ford for more information. To my dismay, Ford would not elaborate, give insight, share, or even acknowledge such a problem exist with their vehicles. I conducted my own research with this issue, only to find out that Ford are the masters at vehicles randomly shifting to first gear for no apparent reason. All of the recalls for Ford vehicles about this problem and my vehicle is not listed. I find it very difficult to believe that I am the only person to have experienced this same issue in the same vehicle. Peoples lives are at stake.