I tried to speed up getting on the highway and it would not accelerate passed 60 MPH and shift down and stalled out. When I let off the gas it does not slow down on its own. It backfires.
2001 Ford Escape acceleration problems
107 complaints (11% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 99,405. 17 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 107
- of this car's complaints
- 11%
- typical mileage
- 99,405
- crashes
- 17
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Accelerator pedal15
- Cruise control8
- Cables7
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Escape acceleration problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 Ford Escape acceleration
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
- Risk
- A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V353000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable can have a cracked or missing speed control cable servo cap locating tab. The locating tab could enter the servo clutch cavity and interfere with the speed control servo clutch. Also, water could enter those units that contain a cracked or missing servo cap locating tab, eventually causing corrosion that could interfere with the function of the speed control.
- Risk
- If either of these conditions occurs and the speed control is used, the speed control could prevent the throttle from returning to idle, resulting in a stuck throttle. A stuck throttle could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the speed control cables. Vehicles with speed control cables from cavities 3 and 4 will have the cable the speed control servo replaced.
Recall number 00V210001 · Recall details
Related investigations
Stuck Throttle
In a letter dated July 25, 2012 Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑353 to the federal safety agency identifying a safety defect involving inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which could result in a stuck throttle condition.The vehicles involved are model year (MY) 2001 through MY 2004 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed (cruise) control.A redesigned engine cover was implemented in production beginning in MY 2005, which provided additional clearance of the speed control cable to the engine cover.Similarly on July 26, 2012 Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) on behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan submitted a DIR to the federal safety agency, the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑357, identifying the safety defect described above in MY 2001 through MY 2006 and MY 2008 Mazda Tribute vehicles (no Tribute vehicles were produced in MY 2007) equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control.Unlike the Ford Escape recall scope, the Mazda Tribute scope is broader as Mazda Tribute vehicles incorporated a similar engine cover design as related to the clearance to the speed control cable in MYs 2001 through 2006 and MY 2008.The failure report summary above reflects reports identified by ODI in review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and reports submitted to Ford and to Mazda.ODI identified 44 reports likely related to the safety defect described in the DIRs; 39 involving Ford Escape vehicles and 5 involving Mazda Tribute vehicles. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10116267, 10128545, 10128681, 10137520, 10153327, 10165007, 10199728, 10234846, 10335779, 10466261, and 10468307.
PE12019
Gasoline vapor intrusion
There is no summary currently available
RQ01001
What 2001 Ford Escape owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I bought this vehicle used recently. This didn't happen until it got cold but, the gas pedal sticks when I am driving making it extremely hard to stop even if my vehicle had been warmed beforehand. The vehicle has done this more than once. The most notable ones were when I was driving to work on the highway. One time the vehicle was warmed and the other was not. Both times the gas pedal got stuck after I tried to accelerate and kept propelling me forward. Both times I had been driving.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic), 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling), and 14v165000 (structure, vehicle speed control). The contact did not receive any recall notifications. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. While the vehicle was parked in a residental parking space, a security guard noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. After making a second round, the guard informed the vehicle owner that the vehicle was consumed by flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was filed and the contact took pictures. The vehicle was parked and had not been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that they would follow-up in writing, but did not provide a time frame for the recall repair. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. While driving between 5-10 MPH, the throttle became stuck when the accelerator pedal was fully depressed. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the differential pressure feedback egr (dpfe) sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Despite numerous calls to ford, I still receive recall notices on this vehicle, however it was a cash for clunkers vehicle. I participated in this program and the vehicle was permanently disabled back in 2009/2010.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. While driving 80 MPH, the vehicle accelerated when the contact released the accelerator pedal. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 ford escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number; 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). While driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to accelerate causing the vehicle to crash into a commercial vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Was running fine then started the car one morning and idle was out of control and is unsafe to drive with the idle as high as it is
I was going to pull into a parking space and the accelerator stuck. I then crashed into a light pole and a building. I did research and found that there is a recall for some part of the throttle on those models from 2001 too 2004. Never had any notice of a factory recall form when I bought the vehicle at carhop, or from ford dealership , or from the dmv on this matter. Very lucky no one was injured in this incident including myself. There is already claim through my insurance agency statefarm on this matter. All my yrs. Of driving nothing like this had ever happened.
While parked in employee's parking lot the ford escape engine started to smoke then caught fire .
Questions about the 2001 Ford Escape acceleration
Does the 2001 Ford Escape have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 107 complaints about the acceleration of the 2001 Ford Escape, 11% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Escape acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 99,405 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Ford Escape acceleration?
Yes, 2 recalls: 12V353000, 00V210001. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Escape have the most acceleration problems?
The Ford Escape model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2010 (558 complaints), 2009 (279 complaints) and 2011 (245 complaints).
Other 2001 Ford Escape problems
Engine 309Brakes 163Electrical 136Transmission 128Airbags 63Steering 58Fuel system 55Body 54Suspension 42Tires 37Visibility 36Locks 30Seat belts 29Lights 9Wheels 7Seats 5Driver assistance 4
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