NHTSA Complaint #758232 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS DRIVING @ ABOUT 40 MPHON SAT 1-26-2002 WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE DASH LIGHTS FOR THE ENGINE AND OIL CAME ON. I COASTED TO A STOP AND TURNED OFF THE HEATER, RADIO, AND IGNITION AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. IR STARTED AGAIN BUT I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO WILLIAMS FORD(739 FRONT ST. P.O. BOX 220, BEREA,OH 44017) ON MONDAY JAN 29, 2002 TO REPORT THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND TOLD ME THAT "THE CAR JUST BURPED". I ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN AND HE TOLD ME THAT "THE CAR JUST HAD TO LEARN THE WAY I DRIVE". I QUESTIONED HOW AN INANIMATE OBJECT WITHOUT A BRAIN COULD LEARN. HE TOLD ME "OH YES, IT DOES HAVE A BRAIN". I CALLED ANOTHER SERVICE ADVISOR (ED) AT WILLIAMS FORD ON TUESDAY JAN 30 TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. HE TOO ASSURED ME THAT "THE CAR JUST SORT OF HICCUPPED". HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS LEARNING THE WAY I DROVE. WHEN I ASKED ME TO EXPLAIN HE SAID IT WAS TERMED "ADAPTIVE IDLE STRATEGY" AND THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NEW. I TOLD HIM I HAVE HAD OTHER NEW CARS THAT THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE SAID THE COMPUTER WAS ADJUSTING TO THE WAY I ACCERLATE AND DECELERATE AND THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING I SHOULD DO. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING OTHER FORD ESCAPES THAT THE ENGINES HAVE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINES REPAIRED/REPLACED. I AM DISSAPPOINTED THAT THEY DID NOT CARE ENOUGH TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE CAR TO ASSURE ME OF THE CAR'S SAFETY AND REPAIR/REPLACE THE ENGINE IF NEEDED.*AK