2011 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,316 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 38 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 38 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpOct 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Campaign 16V777000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, wheel bearingJun 3, 2015
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Campaign 15E045000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMay 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
Campaign 14V284000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,316 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 14, 2013
MY FORD ESCAPE WAS STOPPING MULTIPLE TIMES. IT WOULD STAY RUNNING IN VERY SLOW MOVEMENT UNTIL I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC AND THEN IT WOULD SHUT DOWN. THEN WRENCH LIGHT WOULD BE LIT. I HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING SIDE ROADS AND THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. I FIRST TOOK IT TO A DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ONE MORNING ON THE INTERSTATE, I CALLED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AND TOOK IT IN. THEY CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY AND STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL, THEY STATED THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. IT SEEMS THAT THESE WERE AN ISSUE AND THE COULD NOT RECEIVE FROM MANUFACTURE RIGHT AWAY DUE TO A RELEASE ISSUE. THEY FINALLY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN ONE AND I HAD TO PAY $371.79 FOR THIS TO BE FIXED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY THIS, FROM DOING RESEARCH IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURES ISSUE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Oct 11, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING ICON WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Power train, Engine, Oct 10, 2013
AT 65 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND MY VEHICLE STARTED COASTING. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE VIBRATED ROUGHLY WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE THROTTLE BODY STOPPED WORKING AND CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES ON THIS SAME DAY. ONCE AT 10 MPH, ONCE AT 45 MPH, AND ONCE AT 55 MPH. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RE-ENGAGE AND I COULD CONTINUE ON MY WAY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2013
DRIVING THE CAR WOULD RESULT IN THE CAR TO STALL. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART CAR. THEN THE RPM WOULD JUMP THEN STALL AGAIN. I TOOK IN THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED AND FOUND CODE THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STUCK CLOSED SO THE CAR WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE THROTTLE BODY BEING REPLACED. AFTER FIXED THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE PROBLEM IS $500 LATER AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE CAR HAD NOT EVEN BROKE THE 50K YET. VERY BAD PROBLEM AND SEEMS A IF I AM NO THE ONLY ONE. AFTER LOOKING IT UP TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE PARTS MYSELF I SAW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORD VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME RANGE OF YEARS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND JUST GLAD THE KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CARS AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 9, 2013
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY ON MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE THE 4TH LANE WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN NOISE OF LOSS OF POWER AND MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN DIMMER...THE POWER OF MY CAR WAS DIMINISHING AND IT FELT AS IF THE CAR ENGINE WAS GOING TO DIE ON ME...SCARY...I FELT MY HEART DROP TO MY STOMACH...LOOKED LEFT AND HAD CARS COMING ON THE CONTIGUOUS LANE SO I COULD NOT MOVE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE/SHOULDER, LOOKED RIGHT AND FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE COMING IMMEDIATELY (MY STEERING WAS STILL OK ) OTHER CARS WERE FAR AWAY SO I MOVED TO MY RIGHT 3 LANES AND EVEN THOUGH THE CAR FELT THAT IT WAS GOING TO STOP I CONTINUED WITH THE MOMENTUM IT HAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SINCE THERE WAS AN EXIT AS I MOVED THE 3 LANES. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. THE CAR SORT OF STALLED AT THE CORNER BUT I WAS IN A SAFE SPOT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY TO ASK FOR THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSON ASKED ME IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF WOULD IT START AGAIN? THE CAR DID START AGAIN AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. REALLY CRAZY! WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT THEY DIAGNOSED FAULTY THROTTLE BODY, THEY FIXED IT APPARENTLY BUT NOW I AM DRIVING ON THE SLOW LANE ALL THE TIME UNLESS I AM PASSING BECAUSE I HAVE FEARS IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. I LIVED A VERY SCARY SITUATION. *TR
Power train, Oct 9, 2013
I WAS TAKING MY FATHER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHEN MY VEHICLE STARED TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T MOVE. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS GONE, AND STARTED DRIVING AGAIN. SAME THING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO COAST TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT TO AVOID GETTING INTO A WRECK. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD, AFTER HAVING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND OF COURSE WAS NOT COVERED AS THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AND HAD TO ORDER IT. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR EIGHT DAYS WAITING FOR THE PART SO IT COULD BE FIXED. I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE BECAUSE I COULDN'T DRIVE THE ESCAPE AND THAT COST A FORTUNE NOT TO MENTION THE $406 I PAID TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED. EVER SINCE THE REPLACEMENT MY ESCAPE HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND I WOULD BE REIMBURSED, BUT OF COURSE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 9, 2013
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND MY TRUCK JUST ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO 10 OR LESS MILE PER HOUR. I HAD TO COST OVER TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CARS AROUND ME HAD NO IDEA THAT I WAS HAVING CAR TROUBLES AND JUST WHIZZED BY AT HWY SPEEDS. ONCE I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND RESTART IT AND GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT A TOW. ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP , THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODES ON THE COMPUTER SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL THEY HAD A CODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 9, 2013
WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THEN CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE DIED (BUT THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS STAYED ON) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NO MOVEMENT FROM THE CAR. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON. THE ENGINE STRUGGLED TO START. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ANOTHER HALF MILE AT ABOUT 55MPH, AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN WHILE AT DRIVING SPEED. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, TURNED IT OFF, WAITED 5 MINUTES, THEN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 3 MILES HOME. A MONTH AND HALF LATER, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT ROUGHLY 30MPH AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME THING(STALLED). TURNED IT OFF, STRUGGLED TO START, BUT MANAGED TO DRIVE 5 MILES HOME. I TOOK IT TO FORD IN BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND INCIDENT, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF INVESTIGATION # PE13-003 WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING. FORD HAS NOT HELPED ME IN THE MATTER, BUT I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2013
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TOTALLY WHILE MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE MIDDLE LANE!! AS OUR TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW, SEMI TRUCKS BEGAN FLYING PAST US BOTH ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT AND ALL WE COULD DO WAS WAIT FOR AND PRAY FOR AN OPENING TO OUR RIGHT AND HOPE WE MADE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE TRAFFIC SLAMMED INTO US. REMEMBER - OUR GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK AT ALL SO WE HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO CONTROL OVER HOW QUICKLY WE'D GET THERE. I CHOSE THE HAZARDS OVER THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO ATTEMPT THIS. THE WAY TO GET MOVING AGAIN WAS TO STOP, PUT IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TAKE OUT THE KEY, PUT THE KEY BACK IN, RESTART IT, THEN THE GAS PEDAL WOULD SOMETIMES WORK. WE MADE OUR WAY HOME ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR HAZARDS ON AND HAD TO RESTART 3 MORE TIME IN THE NEXT 5 MILES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 8, 2013
THE FUEL THROTTLE BODY FAILED & THE ENGINE DIED. PULLED OFF THE ROAD & RESTARTED THE ENGINE, WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME, (10 MILES). *TR
Vehicle speed control, Oct 7, 2013
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER ONTO FOUR LANES. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 5, 2013
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ALL THE SUDDEN WITHOUT NOTICE, THE VEHICLE WENT TO 1 RPM AND 5 MILES PER HOUR. TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT, THEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS IMMEDIATELY SO I WOULD NOT GET REAR ENDED BY CARS COMING FAST BEHIND ME. THEN, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. SAT THERE IN THE RAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP AGAIN, TO GET IT HOME. THEN, I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, CALLED THE FORD DEALER TO GET MY VEHICLE IN, THEY COULD NOT LOOK AT IT UNTIL MONDAY OF THE NEXT WEEK, SO HAD VEHICLE TOWED ON SATURDAY TO DEALER---EXTRA COST INVOLVED ON A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT IT, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 9/25/2013. DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS, THEN HAPPENED AGAIN ON 9/29/13 AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING. THEN, DROVE THE NEXT DAY 9/30/13, AGAIN THREW THE WRENCH SYMBOL AFTER GOING TO 1 RPM AND 2 TO 5 MILES PER HOUR AND BUCKING, COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. IT WAS DRY ON THIS DAY. AGAIN, PUT MY FLASHERS ON THIS TIME WAS GOING 30 MPH ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD. REMEMBER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND A CODE THIS TIME. THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY, SO I BEGAN ASKING MORE QUESTIONS AS TO WHY FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS SINCE SO MANY ACROSS THE USA ARE HAVING ISSUES. NO ONE KNOWS, SO AS A CONSUMER ON A TIGHT BUDGET --LIKE MANY OF US THESE DAYS....GETS TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE MONEY PIECES. I GUESS I WILL NEED A THIRD JOB JUST FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS ON A TWO YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AND FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A TWO YEAR OLD MAINTAINED VEHICLE. NOW BECAUSE IT IS OVER THE 36,000 MILES MORE MONEY OUT OF POCKET....GEEZ. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 5, 2013
THE CAR JUST QUIT ON THE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN THE PASSING LANE AND A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE CITY STREET IN TOWN FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLE BAD. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Oct 5, 2013
VEHICLE LOSES POWER DURING OPERATION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ENGINE REVERTS TO IDLE, REVVING BELOW 1000RPM. DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON ENGINE RPM OR SPEED. THE "WRENCH" LIGHT COMES ON, BUT WITHOUT ANY CODE STORED. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE ENGINE RELUCTANTLY STARTS, AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT PRESENT, BUT THE PROBLEM SOON APPEARS (WITHIN SECONDS). AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS TODAY ON MY WAY TO THE AUTO SHOP, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CODE: P2111, "BINDING THROTTLE BODY - STUCK OPEN" AND "TACM OPEN OR SHORTED". TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE AS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, BUT SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A THROTTLE OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THIS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO STORED CODE FOR THE "WRENCH" LIGHT. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. AT THAT TIME THEY WOULD BEGIN REPLACING PARTS UNTIL THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, AS THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN AND CAN ONLY COAST TO A STOP. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Power train, Oct 5, 2013
THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT COVER IT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED TWICE WHEN I LOST POWER AND IT CUT OUT. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. RECALL IS NEEDED ON THIS! *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 3, 2013
WHILE DRIVING TONIGHT I LOST POWER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND LUCKILY NOT ON THE FREEWAY. I AM 21 WEEKS PREGNANT AND THIS REALLY SCARED ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER. WHEN THEY CALLED TO TELL US WHAT WAS WRONG THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE WE GAVE THEM THE OK TO FIX IT WE LOOKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPES. WHEN I CALLED BACK I ASKED IF WHAT WE READ WAS TRUE AND IF THIS PART GETS REPLACED A LOT ON THESE CARS. THE SERVICE PERSON CONFIRMED. I THEN ASKED IF IT BECAME A RECALL WOULD WE GET OUR MONEY BACK AND I WAS TOLD WE WOULD. THIS CAR IS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD AND WE HAD TO REPLACE SOMETHING ALREADY. $475 OUT OF OUR POCKET! *TR
Power train, Oct 2, 2013
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 57 IN ILLINOIS THAT FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO INTERSTATE 94 AT 60MPH, 6AM AND STILL DARK OUTSIDE. JUST FEET AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION OF 57 GOING INTO 94, THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND WITHIN LITERALLY SECONDS 50-40-30-20...0, THE CAR STOPPED. THE "WRENCH" SIGN WAS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD. LUCKILY, I WAS NEXT TO THE SHOULDER, AND WITH ON RESPONSE TO THE GAS PEDAL, PULLED OVER. I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF BOTH INTERSTATES - 57 AND 94 ON THE SHOULDER THEY SHARED. THE PERSON BEHIND ME PULLED SHARPLY OVER INTO THE NEXT LANE TO AVOID ME. SITTING THERE NERVOUSLY, CARS WERE WHIZZING BY ME. I CALLED THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER AND CONNECTED TO THE STATE POLICE WHO ASKED MY LOCATION AND ASSURED ME A TOW TRUCK WOULD COME. AS I SAT THERE NERVOUSLY PRAYING THAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC SAW MY HAZARD LIGHTS, I WONDERED HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN SO RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY, THE TOW TRUCK CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A STATE POLICE CAR NAVIGATED THROUGH 3 LANES OF ONCOMING, FAST GOING TRAFFIC TO GET ME TO A SAFE AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 94. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FROM NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING THE CAR RESPONDED NORMALLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT INCIDENT WHERE THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED AFTER 45 MINUTES OF WORK. I ASK THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE WOULD THIS BE REPORTED TO FORD, HE STATED IT WOULD. I ASK COULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, HE SAID MOST LIKELY NOT. HE STATE THEY GET "LOTS OF ESCAPES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A RECALL." THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST SCARIOUS SITUATIONS I HAVE BEEN IN!!! THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THE CAR HAD STOPPED MINUTES LATER. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 1, 2013
AFTER COMING TO A NEAR STOP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED 6 OR 7 TIMES. AFTER TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BECAME RESPONSIVE AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 1, 2013
AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE ON CONGESTED DALLAS FREEWAY. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, NO OTHER INDICATIONS. VEHICLE LOST ALL SPEED AND WAS FORCED TO CROSS TRAFFIC LANES WITH NO MOTIVE POWER TO SAFETY LANE VERY NEARLY CAUSING THREE DIFFERENT TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. TOTALLY LIMP. ONCE PARKED, SHUT OFF MOTOR AND RESTARTED. ENGINE STARTED AND DRIVE TRAIN ENGAGED AGAIN. WRENCH LIGHT NO LONGER APPEARED, NO OTHER INDICATING LAMPS OR ERRORS. RETURNED TO ROADWAY AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES SAME THING RECURRED. PULLED OVER, RESTARTED ENGINE, DRIVE TRAIN REENGAGED, RETURNED TO ROADWAY AND EXITED TO SIDE ROADS TO HOME. ONCE ON THE SIDE ROAD, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN FRONT OF A SEMI COMING UP FROM BEHIND AND NARROWLY ESCAPED GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND BEFORE PULLING OVER AGAIN. SAME ROUTINE OCCURRED 4 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. LAST OCCURRENCE IN ADDITION TO THE WRENCH LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE CONDITION IS KNOWN, REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE NTHSB ALREADY WITHOUT A RECALL. THIS KNOWN CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO THE OPERATORS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER AND NOTIFY AFFECTED OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. TODAY THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WITH JUST A THOUSAND OR SO MILES OVER WARRANTY, DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND THE ESTIMATED $600 REPAIR IS MY ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Sep 30, 2013
AS I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10 @ 70 MPH OVER LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN NEAR NEW ORLEANS, MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE STALLED; I LOST ALL POWER. ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I RESTARTED AND IT STARTED UP, RUNNING NORMALLY AGAIN FOR ABOUT 2 MILES, WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED WITH THE STALL AND THEN DISAPPEARED ONCE I RESTARTED, THOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON WHEN I RESTARTED. I ALSO NOTICED AT TIMES I HAD TO REALLY HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING EVERY FEW MILES, AND I REPEATED THE SAME PROCEDURE. I ELECTED TO KEEP ATTEMPTING TRAVEL; THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND I WAS IN AN UNSAVORY SECTION OF EASTERN NEW ORLEANS. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD GO 5 MILES, SOMETIMES 5 BLOCKS, SOMETIMES 5 FEET. I NERVOUSLY MANAGED TO GET HOME, AND AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WITH FORD ESCAPES, AS RECENTLY AS 2 DAYS AGO (SEP. 28, 2013), DETAILING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD THESE IDENTICAL ISSUES RESOLVED SAID THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CLAIMED IT WAS THE "THROTTLE BODY." I HAVE ONLY EVER TAKEN THIS VEHICLE FOR ALL SERVICE, ALWAYS ON TIME, TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED IN MANDEVILLE, LA. APPARENTLY THIS "THROTTLE BODY" ISSUE IS COMMON AND CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD ALL IMMEDIATELY BE RECALLED. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A FATAL CRASH OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE AUTOMATIC SURGE PROBLEM IS ABSOLUTELY LETHAL. I'M GOING TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER IN THE MORNING, BUT AM PREPARED TO BE SERVED WITH THE $600-$1200 "THROTTLE BODY" REPAIR BILL. I FOUND THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_ESCAPE.HTM SEARCH "THROTTLE BODY" & YOU'LL FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 29, 2013
ENGINE SPEED BECAME UNSTEADY, RISING AND FALLING DESPITE STEADY, EVEN PRESSURE ON THROTTLE PEDAL. SOON AFTER, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE AFTER RETURNING TO IDLE FOLLOWING A STOP. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, UNSTEADY ENGINE SPEED BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE BOTH AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 28, 2013
I BOUGHT MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE BRAND NEW AND IT HAS ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES. IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAR WITH ALL OF MY TRAVELING AND I'VE ALWAYS TRUSTED THAT IT WOULD GET ME FROM POINT A TO POINT B SAFELY. UNTIL TODAY! I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK-UP LAST WEEK, NO PROBLEMS. THIS MORNING, I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY 4-LANE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STARTED SHAKING AND JERKING. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN IT STALLED AND QUICKLY DECELERATED AS CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME AND SPEEDING PAST. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPPED ON, AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND KILLING SOMEONE OR MYSELF. I WAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND SPOOKED BY THE WHOLE THING. I RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED NORMAL. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT TO AVOID PLAYING CAR ACCIDENT ROULETTE ON THE HIGHWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR THE NEXT FEW MILES. THEN.. IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THIS TIME AS I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. SCARY, SCARY STUFF. IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB! THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND IT TOOK ME TWICE TO GET MY ENGINE TO RESTART. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS VERY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN RELIABLE IN THE PAST. FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. AFTER A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, I DISCOVERED HOW COMMON THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AND WAS SHOCKED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS PART HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET! I FIND IT TO BE EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE OF FORD TO BE SO COMPLACENT WITH A KNOWN ISSUE WHEN PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN JEOPARDY. TURNING YOUR BACK ON A PROBLEM AND IGNORING IT IS NOT SATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Power train, Sep 27, 2013
WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2011 ESCAPE IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING THE ISSUE (AND WHO WOULD BE) IT IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER A FAILING VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ISSUE CLEARED. INVESTIGATING THIS AM I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEM YET. IF THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE AND FORD IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE, THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 23, 2013
MY VEHICLE STALLED TWICE YESTERDAY WHILE GOING THOUGH BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I WOULD PULL OVER AT A SUPER SLOW SPEED AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. FINDING THIS RARE FOR A WELL MAINTAINED 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, I LOOKED UP "ESCAPE STALLING" ON GOOGLE AND FOUND A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND MENTIONED WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR AND WHAT I HAD SEEN ON THE INTERNET AND HE DIDN'T GIVE ANY CREDENCE TO IT. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND HOPE THE PROBLEM CAN BE REPAIRED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME EITHER TIME...BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A VERY NASTY ACCIDENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL. NOTES: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NJ FEBRUARY 2011
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 23, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON MY MORNING WORK COMMUTE I WAS STUNNED WHEN MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE JUST BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND WAS COASTING ON A 5 LANE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH. I REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON SINCE THE ONLY SIGNAL THAT COULD CLASSIFY A PROBLEM WAS THE LITTLE WRENCH LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS ON. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH THE RIDE. MY OBSERVATIONS - RPMS DROPPED BELOW 1,000, SPEED WAS COASTING BUT DROPPING SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION, ELECTRICAL WAS ON, STEERING WAS SLUGGISH LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG, AND A SMALL SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE OCCURRED. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS PUT MY BLINKER TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT MY FELLOW COMMUTERS DID NOT RESPECT THAT VERY WELL. SO I PROMOTED MY DESIRED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY BY TURNING MY HAZARD EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM ME TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. MY EXPERIENCE DID RATTLE ME SINCE I FELT HOPELESS IN A SENSE THAT I WANTED TO HIT THE BRAKE AND REMEMBERED THAT I WAS ON A FREEWAY WHICH WOULD BE REALLY BAD. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER I DID MANAGE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY PULL THE KEY OUT AND GIVE IT ABOUT A MINUTE. AFTER I STARTED IT UP AGAIN I FIGURED IT WAS A SINGLE OCCURRENCE, WHICH I WAS WRONG WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME BUT I WAS DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE.