Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports9 fire reports18 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

99 reports

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20,000 miles · Jan 9, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STUCK WITHIN 1/10 MILE OF TRAVEL ON COLD MORNING. FIRST HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2009. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN JANUARY 2011. CAR IDLED, BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING. COASTED TO STOP IN RIGHT LANE. REPEATED PRESSING PRODUCED NO RESPONSE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN EACH INSTANCE PEDAL BECAME OPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10376069

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

MY GAS PEDAL STICKS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. WHEN I TRY TO PRESS ON THE GAS, THE PEDAL WILL NOT BUDGE UNLESS I PRESS EXTREMELY HARD. THIS PROBLEM WILL LAST UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. THIS IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC IN THE SNOW! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374612

110,000 miles · Dec 28, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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I REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM 13 DAYS AGO, BUT HAVE HAD ANOTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEM AGAIN TODAY. AGAIN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED. INSTEAD, CAR CONTINUED PULLING AT SAME SPEED AND THEN BEGAN SPEEDING UP. I WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PULL OF THE CAR WHILE MANEUVERING THROUGH TRAFFIC TO AVOID WRECKING. HAD TO USE BRAKES CONSTANTLY UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR TO A LOT TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN IN PARK, MOTOR WAS RACING AT 4000 RPM'S. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRIED THREE TIMES TO RESTART. EACH TIME VEHICLE RACED TO 4000 RPMS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED ON 12/15/2010 AS REPORTED HERE PREVIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372642

45,000 miles · Dec 22, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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THE ACCELERATOR ON MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HAS BEEN STICKING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS IN POSITION AND I CANNOT DEPRESS IT. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. IT WORKED FINE IN REVERSE, BUT WHEN I SWITCHED GEARS IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK, I TRAVELED ABOUT TWENTY FIVE FEET AND THEN IT LOCKED UP AGAIN. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS GOING TO STICK. THIS CAN PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS MY SON CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS TO BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX, AND I'VE READ ABOUT MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH THE SAME DEFECTS. IT SEEMS IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING THING SINCE 2001. MY HUSBAND IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WE'VE CURRENTLY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THAT VEHICLE ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372149

109,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE THROTTLE STUCK AT ABOUT 75 TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE HELD THIS SPEED ON ITS OWN FOR ABOUT 5 MILES. I PULLED ON TO THE SHOULDER AND HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. WITH BRAKES ON, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I PUT ESCAPE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF AUTO. WHEN I DID, IT LURCHED FORWARD. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED CAR WHILE IN PARK WITH BRAKES ON HARD. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING IGNITION JUMPED UP TO 4000 RPM. TURNED OFF CAR AND HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER THE LOOKED AT THE CAR, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT "VERIFY MY CLAIM"; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I WAS CHARGED $100 FOR A SERVICE CALL AND THEY DID NOTHING. IN THE PAST, MY GAS PEDAL HAS ALSO STUCK AND HAD TO BE MASHED HARD TO GET THE CAR TO RUN LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN HERE FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I HAD THE THROTTLE CLEANED AND IT STOPPED, BUT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED MANY TIMES. TODAY'S ISSUE WITH THE CAR STUCK GOING 80 MPH WAS MUCH MUCH WORSE. LOOKS LIKE MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR A RECALL THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370796

55,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

2006 FORD ESCAPE. GAS PEDAL STICKS. ACCELERATING - BEGAN AT ABOUT 55K MILES. DOES NOT MATTER AT WHAT SPEED - CAN BE 5 MPH OR 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE CANNOT ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. CAR USUALLY NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME - 5 TO 10 MINUTES, OCCASIONALLY CAN HIT ON THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10365896

70,000 miles · Nov 3, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE DOWNWARD UNLESS THE ENGINE WAS WARM. IF THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CLEANED A SPRING IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INFORMED HER TO WARM THE VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10363827

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

NHTSA ODI #10362234

58,703 miles · Oct 22, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

1. DURING NORMAL DRIVING. 2. THE GAS PEDAL ON MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE STICKS AND IS UNABLE TO BE DEPRESSED (LOCKS) OR IS DIFFICULT TO PRESS DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC 3. THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED BY FORD TWO YEARS AGO AFTER A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND WE WERE ALMOST REAR-ENDED TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY RAMP…

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NHTSA ODI #10361691

38,500 miles · Jul 16, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHEN THE OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 50 DEGREES F, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION/NO THROTTLE AND INOPERABLE. THIS ISSUE ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR IN COLDER MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WHEN FIRST TRYING TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN, IT GIVES RESISTANCE AS IF IT'S COMPLETELY STUCK. FORCING MORE PRESSURE ONTO THE PEDAL WILL MAKE THE PEDAL DEPRESS SLIGHTLY, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE/MOVE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE/MOVE IS TO REPEATEDLY TAP OR STOMP ON THE PEDAL TO "BREAK IT FREE". TAPPING OR STOMPING THE PEDAL OFTEN PRODUCES A SURGE OF ACCELERATION AND IS DANGEROUS IN CLOSE TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE OCCURS AFTER INITIALLY ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR UNTIL THE VEHICLE CABIN TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN RAISED SIGNIFICANTLY USING THE VEHICLE'S HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS DUE TO IT BEING WEATHER/TEMPERATURE RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343612

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.

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

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.

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