2001 Ford Escape: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Aug 1, 2013 · Acceleration · 120,000 miles · IN · crash · 1 injury

I had entered an interstate from an on ramp. I accelerated to get vehicle up to speed and set the cruise control. I approached a sharp curved and attempted to release the speed control by hitting the brakes. The vehicle did not stop and continued to stay moving at 55 MPH. I avoided the outside lane and the traffic that I was merging into by going into the median. The vehicle hit an elevated man hole in the median and went airborne and hit a bridge overpass support head on. I suffered multiple fractures due to the collision.

Filed Jul 24, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 70,528 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that while ascending a hill at 50 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle down shifted and the throttle seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 70,528. Updated 08/27/13

Filed Oct 6, 2012 · Acceleration · 54,715 miles · CA · crash

Over the years of owning the car that I bought new for my daughter we had it in for service several times for a sticking throttle and cruise control problems. I have records of 6 different times we took it back to the dealer for throttle problems. The last time the throttle stuck it caused our vehicle to hit the back of another vehicle stopped at a stop sign. We took it back to the service center complaining of the motor revving up causing the accident. We were ignored of the problem then told the vehicle was no longer worth the cost of the repairs caused from the accident.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 125,872 miles · OR

My wife was driving the escape down residential roads around 24mph and as she let off of the accelerator it still was accelerating. She put on the brakes and the engine still wanted to accelerate but she was able to make a turn. As soon as she let off the brake it started accelerating again without her depressing the gas pedal. She pulled into our parking lot and the engine throttle was still on. She just depressed the brake as much and she could and immediate turned the car off. I looked under the hood and notice the cruise control cable appear out of place. I took the cruise control cable off of the throttle cable and took the car for a test drive around the block and it appeared to be working fine. Then I drove it later that day and the cruise control cable came off the throttle cable so the cruise control wouldn't work. I can see how if the cruise control cable came off the throttle cable it could catch the throttle cable and keep the throttle open.

Filed Aug 16, 2010 · Acceleration · 70,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. While turning into a residential driveway at 5mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact immediately shut off the engine. On a later date while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact then noticed that the cruise control had independently activated. The cruise control light was illuminated yet the contact did not engage the cruise control. The manufacturer advised that there were no similar complaints and that the vehicle should be diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or diagnosis. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current was unknown.

Filed Jul 23, 2010 · Acceleration · 99,405 miles · DE

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH up a hill the cruise control system was activated and the vehicle continued to accelerate beyond the set speed on the cruise control. The contact was not able to deactivate the cruise control. The contact was able to slow the vehicle down when the brakes were applied but the rpms continued to increase excessively. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop without incident. The contact removed the cruise control fuse in an attempt to prevent the failure from recurring. When the vehicle was restarted, the RPM's continued to increase; therefore, the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer stated that the throttle control cable caused the sudden acceleration and it was replaced. The contact was concerned that sudden acceleration could have resulted in a crash while driving. The failure mileage was 99,405.

Filed Oct 13, 2009 · Acceleration · IL · fire

My 2001 ford escape caught fire on the interstate after being on cruise control for approximately 1 hour. As I was driving, the car began to slow down, then I got out to realize the vehicle was on fire. The car was totaled as well as all of the things inside.

Filed Aug 11, 2008 · Brakes · 110,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact received a recall notice and took the vehicle to a local dealer to have the vehicle repaired. The ABS light illuminated intermittently. When the contact exited the vehicle, he could smell something burning, but did not see smoke. Shortly after, the ABS light went out, the vehicle speed control did not work. The contact referenced the owner's manual to check which fuse needed to be replaced. He identified that the ABS and cruise control shared the same fuse. Currently, everytime he replaces a fuse, it fails. The dealer informed him that his vehicle had previously been repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v156000 (service brakes, hydraulic:anti-lock:control unit/module). He was advised to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic at the dealer that performed the repair. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 110,000. Updated 02/19/10. *lj the consumer discovered the ABS and speed control were on the same fuse, and the ABS module was burned out. The consumer went back to the dealer, but was told the repair was completed under the recall once. Updated 02/19/10.*jb updated 09/07/10

Filed Jul 18, 2008 · Acceleration · 83,000 miles · ID

On july 4th, my husband and I were driving on the freeway. Suddenly, the accelerator stuck and my husband was unable to slow the car down with the brakes. He turned off the car and pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to lithia ford for repair. The cause of the problem was "cruise control cable failed". The receipt stated that "cruise control cable failed 1.00 verified, cruise control cable sheath broken and cable end flips over cause throttle to be held open". The ford service advisor stated that he had seen several escape's with the same problem, but his manager says there is no recall and ford will not cover the cost of the repair.

Filed May 11, 2006 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · NC · fire

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was parked in the garage for two days when it suddenly erupted in flames during the middle of the night. The fire department was contacted and concluded the fire originated in the engine compartment. The dealer was alerted, but did not inspect the vehicle. There was extensive smoke damage to the home and no one sustained injuries. The only problem present with the vehicle prior to the incident was the cruise control button was broken and the cruise control would not engage. The cruise stopped working two years ago.

Filed Dec 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 76,000 miles · KY

Cruise control does not work at all, there are so many problems in this vehicle.

Filed Oct 5, 2005 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · MI

Brake fluid from the master cylinder leaked on a wiring harness and caused multiple system failures including the ABS system, the cruise control, the driver's side air bag, and the display on the radio. The service tech indicated that I was lucky I avoided a fire. This seems very similar to the recall on the ford f-150s that is causing multiple fires. *nm per diagnostics for the verification of the airbag lamp, the cause was due to the power fuse of the module/open circuit from ABS internal circuit damage.