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.
On Friday, May 14th, 1999 at approximately 9:15 pm, I was driving my Ford Explorer on the NY thruway when the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own to speeds up to 70 mph without any explanation. I applied the brakes, but the vehicle only slowed down to 50-55 mph. After driving the vehicle with the brakes applied for a few minutes (since I didn't know what else to do), I decided to turn the ignition off and that caused the engine to shut off. Fortunately, I was able to glide the vehicle to the shoulder road on the highway without damage to the vehicle, ourselves or anyone else. I had the vehicle towed back to the dealership where I purchased it from to investigate and find out what caused this problem. To my amazement, the service dept. Indicated that they found nothing wrong with the vehicle and that I could take it home. I told them I can't accept his response as an answer for almost losing my life, and that I want them to further investigate the cause of why the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexplained acceleration. Since then I have been given the run-around and need your assistance in getting this matter resolved quickly before someone else's life is put in danger with this vehicle, or other ones in this class that may have the same problem. Thank you for your attention in this matter and please call me if you need any futher information regarding this matter.
Intermittently when the ignition key in turned on and when coming to a stop vehicle will suddenly surge forward. The dealer has repaired the vehicle twice prior to this incident.
Accelerator sticks. Went out of cruise control, vehicle just kept going and did not slow down. Throttle replaced. Dealer cannot remedy problem. Problem still exists. Provide further information.
Vehicle crashed into rock wall of building after unscheduled acceleration as we were parking it. Barely rolling, foot on brake, vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, jumped 6" curbing, engine revving, went down hill, under low I-beam of roof and crashed into rock wall of city hall. It buckled wall, split sheet rock in interior. Although we survived the incident, the roof was ripped open by the I-beam and sunroof glass filled vehicle. We narrowly escaped with our lives. Vehicle was not driveable after accident. Police report exonerated us of any blame. First incident with vehicle.
While dropping off my vehicle for problems with a rear wiper, the dealer informed me that there is a recall on the cruise control for my truck. I called Ford, and they said the information was sent out in a letter yesterday. When I called the Ford consumer line I was told they had no information available to read as of yet. I should wait until I receive the letter. It seems like a very serious problem no one knows about. The cruise control can force the car to stay at the same speed. Ford does not have the cable ready to fix the problem until at least May 1999.
Sticking accelerator pedal. Repaired four times and the problem returned after each repair within 60 days. No explaination is forth coming from the dealer or Ford.
Throttle sticks in idle position frequently. Most often happen when backing out of parking spot, but can occur at any time. Throttle assembly was replaced twice and reparied twice by 2 different dealers, but the replacements perform as poorly as the original equipment.
When accelerating from a stopped position, engine stalls. Only occurs after vehicle has stopped after being at highway speed for any length of time. Never occurs during city driving, but does occur frequently after I stop the vehicle after leaving the highway, then try to accelerate again. Two dealerships have looked at, but not been able to duplicate the problem. The throttle assembly was replaced because of a different problem.
Gas pedal sticks after removing your foot. You must exert extra pressure on pedal to break it loose before accelerating. Does not seem to stick while driving. Dealer had already replaced defective throttle body 3 times so far - I am currently on my fourth throttle body part inside the first 15 months of ownership. Currently, it needs replacing again. The dealer indicated they replaced it with the new redesigned part on the last repair, but it did not seem to help. After the part is replaced, the problem goes away for a few months, and then returns.
General description of event that occurred 27 separate times from 5/31/98 to 7/13/98; foot off accelerator preparing to stop. Foot on brake, engine begins to accelerate (generally to 2500 RPM while car is in drive). Brakes strain while trying to stop car. Engine remains at 2500 RPM until foot removed from brake, than engine returns to idle. If car is placed in neutral (automatic transmission) during event, engine will accelerate and maintain 5000-5500 RPM as long as foot remains only on brake. If foot is removed from brake or parking brake is applied, while in gear(drive, reverse or neutral) engine will decellerate and return to idle. During four separate visits to dealer, the dealer put 870 miles on car. The dealer could not fix or stated could not duplicate. The fouth visit of the car to the dealer lasted 46 days. Dealer had car for a total of 65 days from 5/30/98 till 9/1/98, when owner received a new car from another local Ford dealer. Nw Ford customer service rep. Agreed to replace car at no cost to owner. Owner received new car 9/1/98 from another local Ford dealer who took defective vehicle described above. Car dealer installed "flight recorder" on car during one visit and owner was able to record several events on recorder. Dealer reported to owner that the recorder verified acceleration, but not caused by computer. Dealer changed speed control servo on this visit (7/6-7/98). Event repeated on 7/10/98 and 5 more times on 7/13/98. Car returned to dealer for final time on 7/14/98 through 9/1/98. Seems similar to NHTSA action item EA99001 reported 2/23/99.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ocala, FL, USA