2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

9-27-2013, MY CAR WAS IDLING WEIRD AT A RED LIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE RPM GAUGE AND IT WAS BOUNCING ERRATICALLY. AT SOME POINT MY WRENCH DASH LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING THRU A NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE TIME SO MY CAR SEEMED TO BE OK GOING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, BUT AT EVERY RED LIGHT MY CAR SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. IT WASN'T GOING INTO ELECTRIC MODE LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR A MILE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40-45 MPH SO I PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND DID MY BEST DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE ESCAPE WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS DYING AT ONE POINT AND STARTED DECELERATING SO THEN I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT STILL WOULDN'T GO OVER 45 MPH . I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND TURNED THE ENTIRE CAR OFF AND SAT FOR A MINUTE OR SO. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE COMING UP BUT THE TECH DID SOME SPECIAL TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT MY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. I ASKED IF THEY COULD ALSO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE PART TO FORD AND IF THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT THEY WOULD BE OUT THAT MONEY SO THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. MY CAR IS AT ~78,000 MILES SO THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING. MY WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON ONCE BACK ON 7-22-13, ON A ROAD TRIP BUT WE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN UNTIL 9-27-13. MY CAR HAD BEEN IDLING WEIRD RIGHT BEFORE MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON AUG 30, 2013. I MENTIONED IT TO MY FORD TECH THEN AND NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES CAME UP SO THEY DID A FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING SERVICE COSTING ME $145.95. I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS EVEN NECESSARY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 10 MINUTES. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH BOARD, THE ELECTRIC PANEL READS "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" AND I LOOSE ALL BRAKING POWER. I SLAM ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT BARELY STOPS. I PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS GO AWAY AND THE BRAKES WORK AGAIN. I HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. FAST FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 12, 2013. I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING FROM MASSACHUSSETTS TO MICHIGAN AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ABOUT 4 HOURS APART. TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY, SEPT 16TH. *TR

IN 2012 A CLUNKING NOISE AND SLIGHT LURCH BEGAN TO BE FELT OCCASIONALLY WHEN BREAKING MY 2009 ESCAPE HYBRID. OVER TIME THE CLUNK AND SURGE INCREASED IN INTENSITY BUT REMAINED INTERMITTENT. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR ITS 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE, I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CHECK MY BREAKS. THEY REPORTED THE BREAKS LOOKED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. OVER THE NEXT YEAR THE CLUNK AND SURGE GOT WORSE. SUSPECTING PERHAPS MY TRANSMISSION OR U-JOINT WAS THE PROBLEM, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH. I TOLD THEM I WAS NOT IN A HURRY, I JUST WANTED IT TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. SEVERAL MECHANICS DROVE THE CAR AND EXPLORED POSSIBILITIES BUT REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT IT WAS A NORMAL ASPECT OF THE HYBRID BREAKING SYSTEM ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT EXTREME (MORE SEVERE THAN MOST HYBRIDS). ONE MECHANIC EXPLAINED IT TO ME IN THIS WAY. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF BREAKING IN THE HYBRID. IN ELECTRIC MODE THE CAR USES "SIMULATED BREAKING." IN NORMAL ENGINE DRIVE MODE, THE CAR USES "NORMAL" BREAKING. WHEN I USE THE BREAK, THE COMPUTER DECIDES WHICH TYPE OF BREAKING IS REQUIRED AND WHEN TO SWITCH BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN IN BETWEEN MODES, THE CLUNK AND SURGE OCCURS. THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM COMPLICATES THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TRY TO DRIVE SO THAT I CAN BREAK THE CAR MORE SLOWLY AND GENTLY. I BELIEVE THE DEGREE OF CLUNK AND SURGE IS DANGEROUS AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE HASTENED DETERIORATION OF MY CAR. I AM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE BREAKS ACTUALLY FAILING. I AM WORRIED THAT MY 2009 ESCAPE HYBRID IS UNSAFE. THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. SUDDENLY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. A "WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALSO ILLUMINATED, WHICH HAS NEVER OCCURRED IN THE PAST. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS.MAXIMUM SPEED WAS NOW 22-25 MPH. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR DID NOT INCREASE ENGINE SPEED OR VEHICLE SPEED. ENGINE RPM WAS AROUND 1500-1800 RPM ACCORDING TO TACHOMETER. DUE TO FASTER TRAFFIC SLOWING BEHIND ME I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SAFETY. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE BUT WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I HAD A SCARY DRIVE BACK AT 25 MPH WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND TRAFFIC SPEEDING AROUND ME. WOKE UP EARLY THE NEXT MORNING TO BRING IN FOR SERVICE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS NOW OFF AND THE ENGINE WORKED NORMALLY. IT HAS BEEN 4 DAYS SINCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED. PROBLEM IS I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY OR FOR LONG DISTANCES, AND MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, ACTED AS IF LOST POWER MODE. TURNED OFF CAR, BRAKE LIGHT WENT OFF, BRAKES WORKED FINE. TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY ISSUES. PROBLEM OCCURED INTERMITTENTLY BUT I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND IT WOULD BE OK SO I FIGURED IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MODULE REPAIR WHICH COST 1800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. NOW IT IS JUNE 19TH AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND I COULDN'T GET OVER 30 MPH. AGAIN I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT ACTED NORMAL. JUST CAME BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A THROTTLE BOX ISSUE. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK IN TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE FOR 450-750 DOLLARS. I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES TO WORK EVERYDAY AND STILL AM. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, 50,000 MILES. MY THROTTLE BODY IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE SERIOUSLY REDUCED LOW SPEED ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY FORD SERVICE, WAYNE FORD, WAYNE, NJ, THAT I NEED I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE THROTTLE BODY IS ON BACKORDER. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF SHOULD INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. MY CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, AND THE PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 50,000 MILES. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ALSO REFUND CUSTOMERS FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WHERE THE HYBRID BATTERY WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. WHEN THE ENGINE IS FULLY WARM WITH AC AND OR DEFROSTER OFF, THE ENGINES IDLES CONTINUOUSLY. IT IS SUPPOSE TO SHUT OFF, AND ENGAGE THE BATTERY. IT DOES NOT. THE CAR IS NOW NO LONGER "A HYBRID" SINCE THE BATTERY IS NEVER ENGAGED, AND IT RUNS POORLY DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY DEFECT. AT 50,000 MILES, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED FOR 1-2 SECONDS THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. FORD DEALER FOLLOWED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND REPLACED A CONNECTOR. PER FORD, THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTS BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER VEHICLES. FORD IS TREATING THIS AS A COMMON, OUT-OF-WARRANTY COMPONENT FAILURE. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. BECAUSE OF THIS I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ELEVATED IN LEVEL. *TR

MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE (ESCAPE HYBRID) WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO A TURN AT 35+ MILES PER HOUR. THE STEERING LOCKED UP AS I ENTERED THE TURN WHICH FORCED ME TO HIT THE BRAKES AND GO SKIDDING ACROSS FULL SPEED ONCOMING TRAFFIC - I NARROWLY AVOIDED A HEAD ON CRASH, WHICH LIKELY WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY INJURIES OR WORSE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER SKIDDING ACROSS THE TRAFFIC LANES IN THE SAFETY LANE AREA OF THE FAR SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER STOPPING, I FOUND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL 99% LOCKED UP - I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES TO GAIN MY COMPOSURE, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT STEERING HAD BEEN RESTORED - I DROVE HOME (NEARBY) AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR / STEERING COLUMN / POWER STEERING SYSTEM - HAD FAILED CAUSING STEERING LOCKUP. AN ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN UNIT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF ~$1500. THE UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT IS VERY LIKELY GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND OR FATALITIES AS MORE FORD ESCAPES ENTER THE MILEAGE AT WHICH THE STEERING COLUMN / POWER STEERING FAILS AND LOCKS UP. *TR