Suspension. Review the 459 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 434 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 153 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports20 fire reports20 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

149 reports

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55,000 miles · May 2, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

AS WITH MANY REPORTED, MY GAS PEDAL STICKS MORE AND MORE OFTEN - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD (45 DEGREES OR BELOW). IT WILL HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE AND THEN NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, BUT CLEARLY SOMETHING IS. ITS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398518

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2011

Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

IT FEELS LIKE A BRICK IS UNDERNEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSH DOWN, THE PEDAL DOESN'T BUDGE. THEN WITHOUT REASON THE PEDAL WORKS AGAIN. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AND I WOULD BE IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND NOT OFTEN, MAYBE ONCE EVERY 7-8 MONTHS. NOW IT HAS OCCURRED EVERYDAY ONCE A D…

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NHTSA ODI #10385050

77,378 miles · Jan 12, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

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ACCELERATOR PEDAL FREEZING UP WHILE DRIVING OR A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT. ENGINE IS 2.3L, 4 CYLINDER WITH A 3-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH OVERDRIVE, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, CRUISE CONTROL, POWER STEERING AND A/C. THE TEMPERATURE WAS SIX DEGREES AND IT WAS SNOWING WITH FIVE INCHES ON THE GROUND. STARTED CAR AND THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVED, AFTER 15 MINUTES OF WARMING IT UP, IT BEGAN TO WORK, BUT KEPT STICKING. GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO HIT PEDAL TO GO; NOTHING, I JUST COASTED INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH CARS APPROACHING BOTH WAYS. FINALLY, I LET GO AND WENT. IT DID THE SAME THING AT TWO LIGHTS ON THE WAY HOME. ON THE WAY HOME, WHICH IS 10 MILES FROM WORK, THE PEDAL KEPT FREEZING UP EVERY TIME I GAVE IT GAS. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH AND THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME. GOT HOME AND PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE WHERE I KEEP IT WHEN NOT BEING USED AND TURNED THE HEAT ON AND STARTED TO WORK ON IT. I CLEANED THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION POINT. DISCONNECTED BOTH AND CHECKED THE THROTTLE BODY AND HOOKED IT BACK UP. I PUT WD-40 ON THE CABLE AND IT STARTED TO WORK LIKE NEW. I PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AND PULLED IT OUTSIDE TO GET COLD AGAIN. THE NEXT MORNING, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE PEDAL WAS FROZEN AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE. AFTER 5 MINUTES IT STARTED TO WORK SOME, I PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE GARAGE. I ARRIVED HOME THE NEXT MORNING, AND IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND ALL WAS OK. THIS TIME I WENT UNDER THE DASH AND SPRAYED SOME DW-40 ON THE PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY. I SPRAYED A LONG BURST OF WD-40 ONTO THE CABLE AND IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CABLE IS FRAYING ON THE SHIELD. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10379136

50,000 miles · Dec 22, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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THE ACCELERATOR ON MY 2005 ESCAPES GETS STUCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND ON CITY STREETS. I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO A 45MPH MAIN STREET WHEN THE PEDAL JAMMED AND I GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT PUSH IT DOWN. FORTUNATELY, THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY THAT IT SLOWED DOWN BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SAME STICKING PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO KEEP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, BUT IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT'S LOCKED IN POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. THIS IS CAUSING DANGEROUS SCENARIOS. BY DOING RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THE FORD ESCAPES HAVE BEEN HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM SINCE 2001. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372144

20,000 miles · Dec 16, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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THE ACCELERATOR ON MY FORD ESCAPE STICKS IN THE UP POSITION WHEN IT GETS COOL OUT. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER YOU BRAKE AND THEN GO TO ACCELERATE. VERY SCARY ON THE FREEWAY. PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DOES NOT GO DOWN, NO ACCELERATION. YOU HAVE TO KEEP LIFTING YOUR FOOT AND PUSHING (HARD) THO GET IT TO ACCELERATE WE HAVE TRIED SPRAYING IT WITH LUBRICANT AND USING GRAPHITE, NEITHER HAS HELPED. THIS STARTED WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 3 YRS OLD AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS NOW 5 YRS OLD AND HAS BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370867

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2010

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES STIFF AND AT TIMES DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369859

110,000 miles · Dec 3, 2010

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN WEATHER GETS COLD ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE AND STICKY WHEN DRIVING FOR A TIME AFTER THAT.SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS, LIKE ITS STILL GETTING FUEL. DEALER WANTED TO CHANGE OUT THROTTLE BODY FOR AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS A WIDE SPRE…

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NHTSA ODI #10369102

15,000 miles · Nov 18, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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THE GAS PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY STICKS WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN AND QUICK DECELERATION. IT FEELS LIKE A BRICK IS UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSH DOWN, THE PEDAL DOESN'T BUDGE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE PEDAL WILL WORK AGAIN. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH FORD CARS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. I SPOKE WITH FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY TOOK MY NAME AND SOME OTHER BASIC INFORMATION, THEN SPENT MOST OF THE TIME TRYING TO GET ME OFF OF THE PHONE. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING, WITH THE ONLY TWO DIFFERENCES BEING THE CAR DECELERATES AS OPPOSED TO ACCELERATES AND THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET. FORD TOLD ME IF I WAS CONCERNED, I SHOULD GET MY CAR FIXED AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10367448

83,005 miles · Sep 2, 2010

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

MY GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING OFF AND ON A FEW DAYS BEFORE SEPT, 1, 2010. ON SEPT. 1, 2010 I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAS PEDAL CABLE WENT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF GAS PEDAL JUST BREAKING. I WAS ON BUSY STREET AND LOST ALL POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353585

43,000 miles · Jun 5, 2010

Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

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THE GAS PEDAL OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE SOME TIMES GETS STACK TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T ACCELERATE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WEIGHT I PUT ON IT. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS AFTER IT HAS BEEN IDLE FOR MANY HOURS AND GOES AWAY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. IT WAS LIKE THAT SINCE I BOUGHT IT TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORST LATELY. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY TEST DROVE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ON 6/2/2010, I GOT STACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND NEARLY GOT HIT FROM THE REAR AND FROM BOTH SIDES. IT TOOK ME MORE THAN TWO MINUTES BEFORE I COULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334700

Official recalls

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 29, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Sep 3, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

06V111000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Apr 7, 2006

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT SIDE AIR CURTAINS OR MOONROOFS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE PERMITTED LIMIT AT THE LEFT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

04V602000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Dec 20, 2004

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.

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