A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.
Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.
6.4
fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,285 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The engine died twice while being driven resulting in loss of power to the steering and brakes. In both cases, the vehicle was going down a slight grade at 30-35 mph, my foot was off the accelerator. There was no advanced indication that there was an ignition problem. Following the first incident (5,400 miles) the dealer checked it our and said there were no codes indicating any faults. The second time (12,350 miles) the same dealer called the Ford hotline and was advised to replace the iac valve and PCV hose. Thus far, the vehicle has not failed but I do not have complete confidence in the repairs. In both cases, I called the Ford customer hotline and lodged a complaint. This is very serious and could result in death or injuries. I have heard of other Escape drivers with the same problem.
Ford Escape 2001 stalled on my wife as she drove home. The power went out in the car and she barely had the power to stop the vehicle since the brakes were out. This has historically been a problem with Ford (recently settled case with other Ford vehicles) where stalling cause many (66%) fatalities. This problem has happened to 3 others that we know of. Ford is aware of the problem (per cust. Serv. Mgr-patrick dorrington) but are not buying us out of our deal since the problem only happened once. My wife is 4 months pregnant and with 2/3rds of Ford stalling events ending in death she is never driving this car again. Any help with this problem would be appreciated.
Vehicle has stalled 3 times at speeds of 30-40 mph. Vehicle taken to dealer 3 times, only ground wire of battery was replaced, but it did not resolve the problem.
When driving or idling, my 2001 Ford Escape has stalled 7 times in the past three weeks. The auto has only 8600 miles. I first took it to the Ford service shop, who replaced the air flow valve and the idle regulator, but this did not solve the problem. The car stalled again two days later. I returned the car to the shop without any help from the dealer because the shop could not duplicate the problem. I explained to the shop manager that I had read on the internet that a PCM relay could be the culprit. The frod delaer shop very hesitantly replaced the part today. I feel this is a very serious problem because I have almost been hit twice when the engine has stalled. I lose power steering and power brakes, thus losing control of the car.
While the Escape is driving at no particular speed, the steering wheel tugs a little then it locks completely up, then the brakes fail, the engine light comes on and the only way to get the car to stop is to use the emergency brake. My Escape has done this three times since I bought it in may of this year. Two of the incidents almost resulted in car accidents because the car can not be steered. The car totally freezes up with all engines lights coming on. The speed doesn't seem to be a factor. All three occassions my cd player has been on, the air has been on low and my lights have been on. After the car finally stops by using the emergengy brake, I shut everything off and it starts right back up again.
- Fairfax Station, VA, USA
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Engine has shut off 3 times while driving, since car bought 6 weeks ago. Always on hilly, curvey roads, doing 35-40 mph, coasting and braking lightly. Check engine light comes on. Power steering and brakes go. Have to muscle car to roadside. Turning off key and restarting seems to work. Have also put in neutral, turned key off and restarted, shifting back into drive. Been to dealer once last week for problem. They could not detect or recreate. Dealer contacted Ford hot-line, who made suggestions, to no avail. Dealer says they nor Ford have heard of this problem. Hard to believe this. Have spoken with Ford customer service twice, sympathetic reaction but with no advice or solution. Happened again yesterday. Car back to dealer now for week while on vacation. Very afraid I'm going to kill myself or someone else in accident. Expressed concerns to dealer and Ford. There are 16 like complaints on NHTSA sight. Is anything being done?
While driving at any speed vehicle completely shutdown without warning, causing loss of power brakes and steering control, nearly causing a collision. Dealer replaced engine which has not corrected the problem.
Engine check light keeps coming on and stays on. Dealer has attempted to fix defect 5 times, but cannot fix defect even after replacing computer and within emmission control device sparts.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Long Valley, NJ, USA