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.
While driving down the high way at approx. 65mpg the "check engine" light and the orange wrench light came on indicating an issue with the power train. At the same time the gas pedal became unresponsive while the engine rpms dropped to a rough idle the fluctuated between 800-1200 rpms. After turning the car off and then back on the "check engine" light was on but the orange wrench symbol was no longer lit. I continued to drive home, multiple times after that the wrench light came on, throttle became unresponsive and the engine dropped to a rough idle. Each time this happened I turned the engine off and then turned it back on and the engine operated as normal for a time till the wrench light came on and the throttle became unresponsive. Upon plugging the car to a diagnostic I had 3 error codes that indicated that the throttle actuator was stuck open.
The first incident occurred around June 3, 2013, but I don't remember the exact date. After backing out of my driveway and shifting into drive, as I accelerated through 2nd gear, it dropped out of gear into idle and I had no engine acceleration response from the gas pedal, no matter which gear I put it in. The wrench light also came on. After turning the engine off and restarting, the wrench light went out and the car worked normally. This happened approximately 5-7 times beginning around June 3, 2013 until I decided to take it to the dealership on June 18, 2013. I paid Ford $120 to diagnose the problem. They were unable to find anything wrong, but did reset the shift points. It did not happen again until July 12, 2013. While driving to work at approximately 60mph, the engine dropped out of gear and the wrench light came on. I had no engine response with the gas pedal and had to carefully coast over to the service/emergency lane. While on the side of the road, I called Ford and they told me after I brought my Escape in, multiple Escapes and Fusion had come in with the same problem which was troubleshoot down to the throttle body. They ordered the throttle body and said they would call me when it came in. I turned off the ignition, restarted, and continued driving. Approximately 2 minutes after getting back on the road it happened again, only this time the check engine light came on along with the wrench light. This time after restarting the engine, the check engine light stayed on. I drove to Ford and left it running so they could acquire any codes that were active. The throttle body was ordered on July 12, 2013 and Ford has no estimate of a shipment date. The car is currently with Ford awaiting the part while they pay for my rental. There are also two vehicles ahead of mine at the dealership waiting for the same part.
I was driving home going around 50 mph uphill when suddenly my car done a big lurch and began to lose power. Thankfully I was able to pull over. Vehicle was not under warranty so I took it to my repair guy who owns his own shop. The dealership charges too much. On 6-18-13 he informed me that the part was on backorder, possibly 3-4 weeks. Well guess what its now 7-20-13 and it still has not come in. Not only am I pissed but when I emailed Ford Motor Company about my concern and problem, they basically told me nothing useful, only that there were no open recalls or warranties open for my vehicle. I told a recall needs to be issued before someone gets killed. So many of these complaints I have read were of people driving on the interstate. And fortunately I am able to borrow my grandma's vehicle and not having to rent one. I had to rent, that would be a whole different story in itself. Fix the problem Ford. Take care of your customers!!! I just hope when the part does finally come, the problem will be fixed and won't reoccur.
I was driving to work and my car started to jerk. Then my power train light came on and my car totally stopped on me in the middle of the road. I took it to the shop that day and the told me it was my throttle body. My warranty didn't cover it, so I had to pay over 300 dollars for a new part.
My vehicle has been running great until the last week. Three times in the span of an hour drive from one location to my house my vehicle has begun to shake and then quit running. Two of the three times we were driving 65mph on a busy freeway and were unable to control the vehicle, having to allow the car to idle to a stop on the shoulder. Thankfully we were able to do so safely. We drove the vehicle to our dealership for inspection today and the car shook, as if ready to shut down again, the entire trip. I received a call saying the electronic throttle body needs to be replaced. I have since seen several similar safety complaints regarding the same engine part and have requested the original part be returned to me. My vehicle is only three years old and in good condition, and it is entirely unsafe for a car to unexpectedly quit running, period.
- Katy, TX, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Driving vehicle at appx. 40 mph when engine started to sputter, lost all power and got no response from accelerator pedal. Wrench light illuminated on dashboard, indicating a "throttle/powertrain" problem. Had to coast to side of road, very dangerously in rush hour traffic. Turned car off, waited 15 minutes, restarted and the car worked normally for approximately 100 yards, then the exact same thing happened-- no response from accelerator, car would not go faster than 2-5 mph, had to coast to side of road.
Was sitting at light on a Friday night taking a turn when the light turned green it started to die then got it out of the middle of the intersection turned it off and turned it back on and it was fine. Took it in to Ford sheehy that Saturday after it happened wrote the complaint and they said they know what it is and cleaned the throttlebody but there wasn't much more that they could do than that and it was drivable now. Well, this month of July 2013 July 10 I had my son in the car with me going 45 it went to 3 mph in 2 seconds in the middle traffic and the little wrench light came one was able to pull to the side of the road and restarted the car, it seemed fine then went exactly 4 feet and it did it again and the wrench light came on pulled to the side this time when I restarted the check engine light came on did this 5 miles the whole time trying to get home. The next morning check engine was off so thought it was good to go drove it on the highway at 65 miles per hour and got off and the engine went from 40 down to 3 mph with in 2 seconds and got the wrench again, got it started and into work garage and parked it for the day. Thought okay it should be fine to drive it back 26 miles home was going 65 and the car went down to 3 mph on the highway was able to pull coast off as I was coasting it died wrench light came on again. Today coming into work I got 3 miles from home and it repeated the process of 40 down to 3 wrench light on, got it going got to work and 2 blocks from work it repeated the process of 40 down to 3 been sitting all day. Each time I get P2112. This has gotten to be too dangerous for me to drive this car with anyone in it and including myself during rush hour. This has become a daily occurrence.
My 2010 Ford Escape limited has completely lost power when driving on four different occasions. The vehicle will be running find and then you suddenly lose all power. I took the vehicle to my local dealer and they informed me that it was a problem with the electronic throttle body. They also informed me that they did not have the replacement part and were unsure of when they could get it. I find it very dangerous driving a vehicle that could suddenly lose power at anytime. Although I believe Ford should have to replace these defective parts, Ford could at least be responsible enough to have these parts so that I could at least pay to have my vehicle fixed.
Problem occurred several times and appears to be more frequent. The first time it occurred I was driving 55 miles per hour and all of a sudden the check engine light came on and the gas pedal did nothing, the car did not accelerate. I had to pull over and shut the car off. When I started the car beck up it hesitated, the check engine light turned off, and worked fine. The same thing happened approximately 2 weeks later. Now I noticed that the RPM gauge fluctuates quite a bit when I start the car and then again when I am stopped at a traffic light. Today, I was driving with no problem and stopped because the car in front me was stopped to make a turn. When I tried to continue driving, my car stalled and I had to turn it off and then back on. There were a line of cars behind me and I was almost rear-ended.
I was driving at 50mph and next thing I know is my whole car was shaking it was a 2010 Ford Escape and I checked the dash and the orange wrench light is on. I tried to step on the gas pedal so I can find a place to pull over but I don't have any power on my gas pedal it just wont accelerate.
Escape sputtered & stalled. Restarted & was serviced by Ford to 'clean' the throttle body. Within a few days, it exhibited the same behavior but much more frequent rendering the car unreliable. Replacement parts are not available from the dealer for another 3-4 weeks.
As I was turning onto a busy street (turning right on red) my car without any indication suddenly lost power. I managed to coast into a parking lot and put the car into park and turn it off. I noticed a wrench symbol appear in the left panel, and the car immediately started again. I had just had my car serviced the day before (Jan 19, 2013). This occurred approximately 3-4 times more over the next few days. I called the service department and described the problem, and took it in. They said they could fin no problem with my car that would cause this to happen. A week or so later it happened again. I called by to the service department and described that the same thing was still happening. They explained that they could see nothing on the machine that indicated a problem. I called Ford and ask about any recalls and was told there were none for my vehicle. The service department recommended that I wait until the problem manifested and call because they were unable to duplicate the problem. Months( late June) then it happened again. I took it in again and was told that everything was fine. On a trip to charlotte nc going approximately 70 mph in the left lane, my car suddenly lost power (scary!!!) I was able to make it to the right shoulder without incident. My car did this approximately eight times between concord nc and goldsboro nc (with two young children in the car). Upon return, I called the service department and took it in again. This time they identified the throttle body--a day late and a dollar short--my car's warranty expired approximately two weeks earlier. My car is at the Ford dealership as I write this waiting to be repaired. I am told the throttle body is on a national backlog. I feel that I have been mistreated as a consumer on so many levels.
I was driving about 55 mph when the wrench dashboard indicator light comes on. At the same time my gas pedal ceases to work and car speed decreases. I have to coast onto the shoulder of the road. Thankfully brakes work. Car is still running. I turn car off and wait a minute. Turn back on. It starts. Light is gone and car feels shuddery but continues running.
I was driving down the street and about to enter the beltway and I stopped because it was a red light. I pressed the gas as the light turned green and my car felt like it was about to cut off. This wrench symbol showed up on the instrument panel and then my car started acting funny. I had to cut my car off in the middle of the road and was almost hit by cars entering the beltway. I was deathly afraid. I have 2 small grandchildren and I will not put them in harms way. Unfortunately my car has been doing this for the past month. I am afraid to drive my car. I have taken it in for repair and the part I need to fix it is on back order. I have been paying for a rental out of pocket.
While accelerating slowly from a stop, the car went about 30 feet and then stalled. After pulling over, and restarting the car, I arrived at my destination without incident, about 8 miles. 2 days later, the same incident occurred after stopping at a red light. The North Carolina consumers council investigation is the same incident as my vehicle.
I was driving to work and all of the sudden I lost power to accelerate. The wrench came on and then the red lock icon came on. It seemed that my car went dead. I pulled over to the side of the road and turned off my car. I had to get to work so I started it back up and drove in the slow lane. I was very scared as I was in rush hour traffic.
I was driving 55mph and the Escape suddenly lost power, decelerating and coming to a stop. The powertrain light came on and the vehicle had a difficult time turning over. The vehicle was taken to a dealership where nothing was found. The incident then occurred again a week later at the same speed. This time the check engine light and oil pressure light came on as well. The vehicle would only start in neutral and then it was taken to the stop. This time it was determined that the throttle body sensor needed to be replaced.
The Ford died on the interstate the second day(2/11/13) I owned it. It totally lost power and I had to coast onto the shoulder and wait. I returned it to the dealer where they kept it for a day and found nothing. It occurred three times the next week and I returned to the dealer. They cleaned something and the car worked without incident for a couple weeks. The car has intermittently quit over the last couple months. It got real bad this week (7/10/13) and when I took it to the dealership the computer finally registered a throttle problem. The part is on national back order and should take a month to get.
My 17 year old daughter has had two occurrences of the vehicle losing all power within the last two days (7/10/2013 and 7/11/2013). Once she was starting from a red light and the other she was driving down the road. Both times she was able to pull off to the side of the road and start the car and continue travel.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raeford, NC, USA