2002 Ford Escape: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Jun 18, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 145,000 miles · MT · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked in her driveway. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The fire department stated that the master brake cylinder and the cruise control cables were melted. The vehicle was deemed a total loss, but was not towed from the contact's residence. The dealer (lithia ford of missoula, 3943 brooks st, missoula, mt 59804) and the manufacturer were called and the contact was awaiting a call back. The contact stated that she had not received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 12v005000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 145,000. .*bf

Filed Jan 2, 2014 · Acceleration · 130,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, he attempted disengage the cruise control but the vehicle maintained 75 MPH. The contact stated that he depressed that brake pedal but the engine continued to rev. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the throttle cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2013 · Acceleration · 190,179 miles · KY

I was driving at 70mph on a highway. I went to take my exit and pushed the button to turn the cruise control off, but that did not slow the vehicle down at all. It kept accelerating all the way up to 90mph. I tapped the brakes but it did not slow the car down. I was afraid to keep my foot on the brakes due to heating the brakes up so much that it would catch my car on fire. I put it in neutral but the rpms revved between 5000-6000 so I switched back in to drive. When I finally had an area where there were no other cars around me I slammed on the brake pedal to slow it down as much as I possibly could before putting it into park. When it was in park the rpms jumped all the way up to 5000 and sounded as though the car was going to blow up so I turned the car off. Then I opened the hood and removed the cruise control cable. I have had the recall done on this vehicle and never had a problem with this til now. My car is no leaking oil and smells like something is burning. I have contacted ford and they seemed as though this was an unimportant issue. They stated that they were not responsible for repairs. This should be an issue for them since they are the ones who fixed it in the first place with the last recall they had on this issue.

Filed Oct 3, 2012 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 135,320 miles · VA

Vehicle has begun to accelerate unexpectedly since early september. There has been at least four incidents involving vehicle suddenly accelerating when its was at low speed or stopped (with foot on the brake). The accelerations last a few seconds and lurch the car forward. The vehicle has been taken to ford for the recall notices involving the cruise control cable (11s24b on 30 june 12 and 12s37b on 20 sep 12). This vehicle did not experience this problem prior to the recall repairs.

Filed Jul 17, 2012 · Acceleration · 119,000 miles · AZ · crash

Attorney for driver's family and media reports indicate that the vehicle was being driven immediately after purchase in the phoenix / mesa area along arizona state route 87 towards payson. The final approach to payson involves a prolonged upward grade, which would have required heavy accelerator use by the driver. Along the way, the driver was unable to disengage the accelerator or otherwise bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The vehicle struck other vehicles as it traversed an intersection, and rolled, ejecting the driver, who suffered fatal injuries. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle documented that the cruise control cable connector was lodged against the underside of the engine cover and that the throttle was open to 84%. The vehicle had received the accelerator cable replacement for recall 04v574 in january of 2005. (note: this record was received via telephone interview between odi investigators and counsel for the driver's family in late june of this year. It has been added to our complaint file to document the incident for an investigation opening. It will be updated as appropriate as more information is received)

Filed Mar 14, 2012 · Acceleration · 147,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving or passing approximately 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal jammed. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact was then able to turn the ignition off and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic and they informed the contact that the cruise control cable was the cause of the failure. The cruise control cable was disconnected to remedy the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000. Updated 04/19/2012*lj the consumer stated the cruise control cable was disconnected after the 4th occurrence.updated 04/30/12

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Engine · 134,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor emitting from the vehicle. The cruise control, ABS and check engine warning lights suddenly illuminated as smoke begin emitting from the front end of the vehicle. The contact then noticed that the vehicle was on fire as flames poured from under the hood. The fire was extinguished but independently re-ignited . The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police/fire report was available. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not repaired and had not been driven since the failure. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2010 · Acceleration · 64,111 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford escape. While driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact moved switched to neutral gear and moved the vehicle off the roadway. He was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 64,111. Updated 07/29/10 *bf the consumer stated the cruise control cable became stuck. The consumer has since traded the vehicle. Updated 09/07/10

Filed May 1, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX · fire

2002 ford escape was recalled for several reasons. Something with the power train, the cruise control, the ABS system..... Finally it caught on fire. The engine was melted. Fire and police department got there. Contacted ford and they just said we will record your call on your profile. Don't understand how lives and property have been lost and ford doesn't do anything about it.

Filed Apr 2, 2010 · Electrical · 89,000 miles · KS · fire

I drove my 2002 ford escape to church sunday morning, about 5 miles, when the ABS light came on. The car had not been previously driven that day. We parked the car and went in for services that morning and at the end of mass were called to the back by the priest who informed me that there was a fire. Sure enough the local fire department was there and had extinguished a fire in the engine compartment. The official report stated the fire originating in the cruise control/ brake fluid reservoir area. The escape was a total write-off. All recalls pertaining to the ABS/cruise systems were serviced about 2 years previous to this event.

Filed Oct 13, 2009 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · WI

For the current ford recall, the recall does not include ford escapes. I have had the same problems with my vehicle; malfunctioning cruise control (cruise will just disengage on the freeway or will all of a sudden start accelerating), brake light on dash, and difficultly with disengaging vehicle out of park. I contacted ford and was told my vehicle is not on the recall and there was nothing they could do about it. They issued me a "case number".

Filed Jun 12, 2009 · Acceleration · 88,000 miles · VA

While driving on a highway at normal speed with small kids in their carseats the accelerator pedal went limp and the engine revved up to full acceleration. After moments of terror and temporary loss of control, the car was brought to the side of the road and shut down by fighting the engine power with the foot brakes and hand emergency brake. It's a miracle there was no crash. At my expense the ford dealership replaced the cruise control cable and/or cruise control cable housing. The service manager said, "looking at the part, I can see why it goes to full acceleration when that part fails" to me, that is a major safety concern and design failure. I noticed other similar incidents (oid id # 10199728 and 10128545). I lodged a complaint with the ford motor company and, not surprisingly, was told there's nothing they can or will do to compensate me. Now I'm trapped owning an unsafe car. Please investigate and remedy this problem before someone gets hurt.