← New search

2005 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,211 reports with mileage · 183 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • 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
Clear category filter
120,000 miles · Aug 22, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR STICKING IN NEUTRAL POSITION. MECHANICS CAN'T FIND WHATS WRONG AND ITS VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES THAT THIS IS COMMON IN OLDER MODELS

NHTSA ODI #10897825

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

HI I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE & UP INTO ABOUT AND YEAR I STARTED HAD HAVING ENGINE FAILURE, MY VEHICLE WOULD START & STOP, TO SUM THIS UP, IM AFFAID TO DRIVE WHEN THIS ACCURES PRAYING THAT KNOW 1 RUNS INTO THE BACK OF ME...IVE TOOKEN IT TO THE AUTO PLACE TO GET A READING & IVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT IT READ IGNITION COILS (TWIC…

Read full complaint

HI I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE & UP INTO ABOUT AND YEAR I STARTED HAD HAVING ENGINE FAILURE, MY VEHICLE WOULD START & STOP, TO SUM THIS UP, IM AFFAID TO DRIVE WHEN THIS ACCURES PRAYING THAT KNOW 1 RUNS INTO THE BACK OF ME...IVE TOOKEN IT TO THE AUTO PLACE TO GET A READING & IVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT IT READ IGNITION COILS (TWICE), FUEL FILTERS, TUNE A/C COMPRESSOR, WOULDNT COME ON ETC....I CAN GO ON & ON..& IM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS & FINALLY IVE DECIDED TO GOOGLE THESE ACCURANCES, TO FIND THAT THERE'S OTHER VIC..THAT HAS OCCURRED THESES SAME INCIDENTS....THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER, THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS / RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE DOESN'T MAKE IT. VIC. JUST SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC....& IT ALSO ACCURES WHILE STATIONARY & WHILE TURNING, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE OCT. OF 2015 & IN BETWEEN REPLACEING PARTS IT STALLED FOR A WHILE OF THE KILLING & NOW IT HAS STARTED BACK UP FULL FORCE ABOUT A WEEK AGO. 6/13/2016 & TODAY IS THE 6/21/2016

NHTSA ODI #10875589

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2016
Electrical SystemStructureVehicle Speed Control

REAR WHEEL WELLS RUSTING OUT AS WELL AS REAR SEAT WELLS UNDER DOORS RUSTING OFF IN HUGE CHUNKS,CRUISE,CD PLAYER DOESNT WORK,RADIO SHORTS OUT ON VOLUME CONTROL GOES LOUDER INSTEAD OF LOWER VOLUME,ALSO FRONT AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT JOE LAKE TIRE DO THEY USE TIMKEN PRODUCTS?

NHTSA ODI #10859839

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2016
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE JERKING 4WD LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING, POWER LOCK LIGHT POPS ON CAR ACT LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF

NHTSA ODI #10824576

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

I RECEIVED MY ESCAPE AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT TWO YEARS AGO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE MY GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PRESS IT DOWN, IT WON'T GO. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON CITY STREETS AND ON INTERSTATES. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER OR OFF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE…

Read full complaint

I RECEIVED MY ESCAPE AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT TWO YEARS AGO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE MY GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PRESS IT DOWN, IT WON'T GO. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON CITY STREETS AND ON INTERSTATES. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER OR OFF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART MY CAR AND GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAVE TRIED POUNDING ON THE GAS AND THAT DOES NOTHING, IT WON'T BUDGE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN, SO I CANNOT JUST EXPECT IT TO, IT HAPPENS, DAY OR NIGHT, HOT OR COLD TEMPERATURE, DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY OR TURNING ON A CITY STREET. I AM AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING IN THE SNOW OR WHILE ONE OF MY KIDS ARE DRIVING IT. I HAVE TRIED EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT TO DO, BUT OF ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS PEDAL STICKING SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10795244

144,410 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPX 55MPH) IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC IN RALEIGH, NC ON US 1 AND THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. ALL EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON. FORCED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND TOTALLY CUT OFF. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT KEPT CUTTING OFF. I WA…

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPX 55MPH) IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC IN RALEIGH, NC ON US 1 AND THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. ALL EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON. FORCED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND TOTALLY CUT OFF. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT KEPT CUTTING OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER A CALL TO A FAMILY MEMBER AND TO AAA, THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME 3 HOURS LATER. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CROSSROADS FORD IN CARY, NC. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PCM, SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS ALL FAILED AT ONCE AND CHARGED ME $2700. ERROR CODES P0351, P0354 AND P0353 APPEARED ON THE DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY UNDERGOES A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694980

120,000 miles · Mar 5, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. TWO MINUTES LATER VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER, SEEMED TO STALL. HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD QUICKLY TO GET OUT OF WAY. THE SERVICE LIGHT IS NO LONGER ON AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE DRIVING OK. WAS TOLD IT WAS A STICKY THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692386

155,900 miles · Feb 11, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

AS SOON AS I HIT ABOUT 60 MPH, BETWEEN 2-3 RPM, MY CAR BEGINS TO STALL AND FEELS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL IS GRINDING AND WON'T LET ME GO ANY FASTER WITHOUT VIBRATING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT IN TO A TRANSMISSION AUTO SHOP WHERE THE FOUND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHICH IS VERY OD…

Read full complaint

AS SOON AS I HIT ABOUT 60 MPH, BETWEEN 2-3 RPM, MY CAR BEGINS TO STALL AND FEELS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL IS GRINDING AND WON'T LET ME GO ANY FASTER WITHOUT VIBRATING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT IN TO A TRANSMISSION AUTO SHOP WHERE THE FOUND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHICH IS VERY ODD FOR AN AUTO SHOP TO NOT FIND ANYTHING. ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE DAY THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY, IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY I WAS CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I GOT TO THE SIDE AND PUT MY CAR INTO PARK, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ALLOW MY HEART RATE TO COME BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL PACE. I TURNED THE KEY AND THE ENGINE TURNED BACK ON. I DROVE IT INTO AN AUTO SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, AND THE READER SHOWED CYLINDER 2 MISFIRE. THE FIRST POSSIBLE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE COIL ON PLUG, WHICH IS WHAT I DID. I GOT HOME TODAY AND AM STILL EXPERIENCING THIS SCARY FEELING OF MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO EXCEL ABOVE 60. I READ MANY REVIEWS THIS EVENING AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY SIMILAR ISSUES. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND PEOPLE ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OR GETTING INJURED AND/OR IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AVERAGE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE - REPORTED BY MANY USERS ON HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2005/ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER_PCM_FAILURE.SHTML, IS $2000. WHEN YOU HAVE A 2005 CAR OF ANY KIND, $2000 SEEMS VERY HIGH TO FIX WHEN THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER AS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT FORD HAS YET TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682847

150,000 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DIPS BELOW FREEZING, MY GAS PEDAL WILL SUDDENLY GET STUCK AND THE CAR COASTS TO A STOP AND WILL JUST SIT THERE IDLING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO "STOMP" ON THE PEDAL AND IT FREED UP, THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIPS INTO THE 20'S IT IS EVEN WORSE AND WILL GET S…

Read full complaint

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DIPS BELOW FREEZING, MY GAS PEDAL WILL SUDDENLY GET STUCK AND THE CAR COASTS TO A STOP AND WILL JUST SIT THERE IDLING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO "STOMP" ON THE PEDAL AND IT FREED UP, THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIPS INTO THE 20'S IT IS EVEN WORSE AND WILL GET STUCK, EVENTUALLY FREE UP AND BE FINE....UNLESS I THEN ENTER HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND THAT WARMING THE CAR SEVERAL EXTRA MINUTES SEEMS TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM AT SLOWER 35MPH SPEEDS. HOWEVER, UPON ENTERING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN AFTER WARMING THE VEHICLE FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WILL GET STUCK AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT WILL FREE UP AFTER COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WITH CAR IDLING, BUT CAN THEN GET STUCK YET AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CREATES EXTREMELY DEADLY SITUATIONS! I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I ALSO WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD CAUSE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680563

173,200 miles · Jan 7, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLES GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UP AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED AT ALL WHILE CAR IS ON AND I AM DRIVING. IT HAPPENED THIS WEEK SEVERAL TIMES ON VERY COLD DAYS. WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT AND TRYING TO GO I CANNOT DEPRESSED THE PEDAL, EVEN WHEN PUSHING HARD. EVENTUALLY IT DEPRESSED FOR ME AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. VEHICLE GAS PE…

Read full complaint

VEHICLES GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UP AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED AT ALL WHILE CAR IS ON AND I AM DRIVING. IT HAPPENED THIS WEEK SEVERAL TIMES ON VERY COLD DAYS. WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT AND TRYING TO GO I CANNOT DEPRESSED THE PEDAL, EVEN WHEN PUSHING HARD. EVENTUALLY IT DEPRESSED FOR ME AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. VEHICLE GAS PEDAL HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK DOWN TWICE PREVIOUSLY WITH CAR ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY, WHICH HAPPENED FOR ALMOST A MINUTE THEN IT POPPED UP - RESULTED IN NEAR COLLISION { THANK GOODNESS ITS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION]. I HAVE READ IN MANY ON-LINE DISCUSSION BOARDS OF MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THEIR GAS PEDAL ON FORD ESCAPES STICK UP OR DOWN ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670728

Official recalls

4

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

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: 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)

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: 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.

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

2

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.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems