2005 Ford Escape: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Oct 25, 2013 · Acceleration · 104,000 miles · MI

1. While driving on freeway using cruise control, I tapped the brake to disengage. Cruise control did not disengage but instead the car accelerated and I almost hit the car in front of me. Very scary and dangerous. 2. Two days later when I got in my car to leave, the gas pedal was completely stuck like there was an invisible rock under the pedal. My friend followed the gas pedal cable under the hood and removed the black cover and un-froze (un-stuck) the end of the cable so I can at least get the car back home. I was up-north at that time and very scared driving the car home because what if this happens when I'm going at a freeway speed. I promptly leased a new car because these two issues scared the heck out of me. I still have the car but would like it to get repaired. I contacted ford hqs on 10/25/2013 to communicate the issues I experienced and to assist in resolution as I do know there were re-calls on other escapes with the same issue. They stated my car was not one of the cars under re-call for this issue. I further expressed that the car should as there are many others with a 2005 escape with the same complaints as I researched the web. She stated if there is a recall in the future I would receive a letter in the mail. I asked is there anyone else I could accelerate this issue to and she stated my issue is documented in the system. The repair for this issue is very expensive. Why is the re-call not covered on 2005 escapes but on 2004 escapes? My 2005 escape was actually built in 2004. According to ford hqs, my VIN# does not come up for the re-call!!! Can you help me out on this and for others with the same issue? Just search the web and you will see many people with the same complaints and dangers of this. Thank you.

Filed Feb 25, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · AK

I have a random incident with my ford escape 2005, where at times when on cruise control, the engine will accelerate unexpectedly. After many years of driving, and attempting to file a complaint about the issue with ford but refused as it wasn't reproducible when allotted, I think this issue occurs because the cruise control has self adjusted itself when towing a trailer. But after detaching the trailer and taking the truck for a long hilly ride, the engine computer may think it's still towing a trailer and strongly accelerate the engine when going uphill with the cruise control on. This is only based on what I have experience, and include no computer log examination. Not the best thing to happen if a police car is around, and being a safe driver. I'm not too concerned about this issue, as I self manage the issue. (tend to self manage a lot of things these days.) this vehicle has served me quite well, except for a loud knock on the front drive axle on this awd - likely a bad bearing that they didn't fix when they fixed it initially. Shrugs.

Filed Jul 27, 2012 · Acceleration · 93,000 miles · TX

Entering the interstate, I sped up to merge, but could not push accelerator pedal to even get out of overdrive. (making things worse, the merge was from the left.) pedal was full down. After dodging go home traffic, I limped to right hand lane and got off at next ford dealership. Service rep and I looked at the depression made in the plastic housing to the steering column, where pedal hardware had indented it. Service said engine appeared to be operating ok; he tested it by revving the engine in the garage. He remarked the visible symptom was the pedal being so low there's no room for travel. I continued on 150 miles back home and called ford to look at the "speed control malfunction" issue. Vehicle appears to accelerate ok with cruise control; the pedal is sitting so low there's no travel to accelerate. This could have been seriously dangerous - merging in metro traffic is no game.

Filed Jul 19, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 150,000 miles · NY

While driving on the expressway, my gas pedal snapped forward by itself and accelerated my car. Then snapped back and hit my foot in the position it was already in. This has happened before, several times over the course of my ownership of this car. (I bought it new) I ignored it the first few times because I thought it was related to being on cruise control, but this was not always the case. I saw on fox news that there is an ongoing investigation; and called ford to see if they would repair my car and they said no. I am hoping they will have a recall, because I plan on keeping this car for awhile, and don't want to pay for the repairs. Thanks.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration · MI

When the weather gets cold, the gas pedal sticks. This seems to only happen when the car is cold. You start out driving and all of a sudden the pedal won't move. You can't accelerate at all. The pedal is stuck. After a few minutes and the car warms up the pedal usually will start moving again. We have had mechanics look at it and they can't find any problems. However when they get the car it's usually warm. One mechanic thought it was related to the cruise control panel. This has been going on for years. I made sure there was no floor mat interfering too. Luckily we have not been in a situation where it would cause a crash. When it happens, you have no choice but to sit on the side of the road and wait for the pedal to free itself.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration · 140,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer previously for the same failure which was diagnosed as being related to the cruise control, which was repaired at that time. The vehicle recently started exhibit the same issues. The dealer was not notified of the second failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure either. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 178,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration · 88,500 miles · SC

The vehicle speeds up 10 to 15 MPH by itself for 5 to 7 seconds when cruise control is activated and, then, slows down to original set speed. When this happens, the gas pedal goes all the way down and kick back when it releases and making sounds when hits hard the shoe. It has been happening since november 2011 only when cruise control is being use and not all the time. It happens at least 2 each month since then. It was reported july 18 around 9:45am to ford motor company after recall news about ford escapes 2002-2004 with v6 engines (like mine) suffer from mechanical flaw that leads to sudden acceleration. At the time, there were no recalls for my VIN.

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · Acceleration · 77,378 miles · MO

Accelerator pedal freezing up while driving or a stop sign/traffic light. Engine is 2.3l, 4 cylinder with a 3-speed automatic with overdrive, front wheel drive, cruise control, power steering and A/C. The temperature was six degrees and it was snowing with five inches on the ground. Started car and the pedal would not moved, after 15 minutes of warming it up, it began to work, but kept sticking. Got to a stop sign and went to hit pedal to go; nothing, I just coasted into the intersection with cars approaching both ways. Finally, I let go and went. It did the same thing at two lights on the way home. On the way home, which is 10 miles from work, the pedal kept freezing up every time I gave it gas. The speed limit was 65 MPH and the road was clear at the time. Got home and pulled the vehicle into the garage where I keep it when not being used and turned the heat on and started to work on it. I cleaned the speed control cable and accelerator at the throttle body connection point. Disconnected both and checked the throttle body and hooked it back up. I put wd-40 on the cable and it started to work like new. I put everything back together and pulled it outside to get cold again. The next morning, I started the vehicle and the pedal was frozen again. This time it was worse than before. After 5 minutes it started to work some, I put the vehicle back in the garage. I arrived home the next morning, and it would not work at all. I checked under the hood and all was ok. This time I went under the dash and sprayed some dw-40 on the pedal bracket assembly. I sprayed a long burst of wd-40 onto the cable and it started to work again. It looks like the cable is fraying on the shield. Updated 02/14/11

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Acceleration · 18,000 miles · IL

I have a 2005 ford escape (4wd), not the hybrid. I have approx. 63,000 mi on it now. Three times since I've owned it the car has suddenly started accelerating on it's own. The last time was approx. The date below, and that was the only time I was using the cruise control. One time I was in town and luckily there wasn't anyone close in front of me. So far braking, or pressing the accelerator has "reset" it, but now seeing this problem with the toyota's I'm concerned. I e-mailed ford about the problem, however I kind of got the brush-off, and they just said if I was concerned I should take it to my dealer and have it checked. I know a "check" would cost me a large amount of money for an intermittent problem for which they won't find the problem. I just wonder if you've heard of anyone else having this problem? It now worries me that if I were nearing a crosswalk, with pedestrians crossing and it happened, I might hit someone. Please advise. Thank you for your time.

Filed Jan 16, 2008 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · AZ

Cruise control would take over without warning and without the switch being depressed. The engine would accelerate. At times the cruise control would drop out for no apparent reason. The cruise control could be engaged by merely sliding the thumb across the switch without depressing it. Vehicle was taken to galpin ford in dewey, az for repair. The problem was explained to the service department. The vehicle was returned without repair. The service rep said they had taken the vehicle for a test drive and found no problem. When I got home I read the invoice in detail and found a notation from the mechanic that stated the switch needed replaced. I visited the service manager of the parent dealership, galpin ford of prescott, az and indicated my displeasure with a dangerous problem not being corrected. He stated the defect had not been recalled yet but promised if it did get recalled in the future, they would reimburse the cost of the repair. The switch was replaced 1/15/08 at a cost of $69.34 parts and 133.58 labor.

Filed Jul 8, 2006 · Acceleration · 3,700 miles · AZ · 1 injury

The cruise control on the right side of steering wheel of 2005 ford escape has a very sharp cutting edge on it resulting in injury.