NHTSA Complaint #747423 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING AT GA400, NOTICED THAT VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SLOWED DOWN AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PEDALS SEVERAL TIMES. NOTICE THAT THE RPM IS INCREASING. FEARING THAT SINCE THERE IS NOT WAY TO SLOWING DOWN THE CAR,I SHIFTED TO THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND EXIT AT HOLCOMB BRIDGE EXIT. SINCE THE SPEED IS STILL AT 70MPH, THE CAR HIT THE ENBANKMENT, WENT DOWN THE GRASSY AREA AND (FFG IS WHAT I CAN REMEMBER HAPPENED)AND HIT A WATER RUN-OFF/DITCH, DID A SPIN AND CAME UP AND STOP AT THE GRASSY AREA. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF OF THE ENGINE WHEN I CAME BACK TO SENSES AND RAN TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION (CHEVRON) TO CALL AAA. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR NOTICED THAT WHEN HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS ROARING AT 5000RPM. TOWED IT TO FORD DEALER/SERVICE AT MANSELL ROAD, WAS TOLD 2-DAYS LATER THAT THEY HAVE INSPECT LINKAGE FOR BINDING AND TROTTLE BODY FOR BINDING, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, AND SINCE THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE SITUATION, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN??? I FEARED FOR THE NEXT TIME THAT IT HAPPENED, LIFES WOULD BE AFFECTED.*AK