2011 Ford Escape: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Jul 19, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 35,000 miles · MI

I was in the process of turnig off our street and driving a short distane up our driveway to park outside our garage when my vehicle lunged forward into the garage doing considerable damage to the contents and structure. I then backed the vehicle out of the garage to avoid further damage.since I had the distinct impression that the engine was overpowerinhg the brakes I decided to turn the ignition switch off to stop the vehicle. It was then I determined that tongue of the boat trailer had severed the filter on the vehicle engine spurting the contents of the oil sump on the driveway and the trailer was impaled in the grill of the vehicle. It was also observed that the trailer had propelled the high pressure washer stored alongside it when the trailer was pulled from the garage by the vehicle.07

Filed Jun 3, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · NC

This 2011 ford escape is my son's car. We bought the car used in 2015. The car currently has 69,000 miles. In april 2017 my son complained of the car surging while stopped at a light. We drove the car that night and could not get it to duplicate this issue. A month later he called me and stated the car surged again while stopped in a turn lane. He made it to a side street but within 50 yards the car came to a screeching stop. The car would not move. Ended up with a seized transmission. We replaced the transmission in may 2017. Within a week the car is now becoming unresponsive and still surging while stopped. He has to turn the car off and back on to gain control of the car again. When stopped the car engine is shutting down. Today the vehicle surged forward while at a stop. Today I researched this problem online and came across the electronic throttle body issue in ford escapes including the 2011 model. I feel that this etb issue was the direct cause of the seizure of the transmission on this car. I spent $2500 on a new transmission and still have an issue with the car acting the same was as before. This is a very dangerous malfunction on a car driven by an 18 year old. He could have easily surged into another car or pedestrian. A recall was the only solution the federal safety agency should have accepted from ford on this issue. I would like to be reimbursed the $2500 for the new transmission that this faulty part has caused.

Filed May 8, 2017 · Engine · 128,000 miles · WI

Started car up in driveway and engine revived (RPM's went way up) just for a few seconds. Drove to destination pulled into parking stall as I applied the brakes, the engine revived up again and I was unable to stop, even while applying the brakes, the vehicle lunged forward over the parking block. The vehicle then stopped just short of hitting a tree.

Filed Oct 28, 2016 · Acceleration · 77,188 miles · MA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 ford escape. While stationary, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a stone wall. The driver sustained a fractured left arm, various body bruises, right and left leg injuries, and facial lacerations. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was not filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 77,188. Updated 12/23/16*lj updated 01/05/17.

Filed Oct 20, 2016 · Acceleration, Transmission · 80,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford escape. While driving at any speed, the rpms increased and the contact heard a clicking noise. Afterwards, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The issue recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Apr 10, 2015 · Transmission · 15,180 miles · PA

While entering a main artery of traffic from a side road, during the acceleration between 35-45mph, the transmission disengaged from the engine. The engine, not being subject to transferring energy to the transmission began to gain RPM exceedingly faster on its own with the operators foot still only applying the equal force applicable to normally execute the entrance on to the main road. The transmission regained traction with the engine and the vehicle suffered a violent lunge forward than disengaged once more and repeated the same again with the disengage and lunge forward. The operator was able to drive the vehicle around the block at no more than 10mph around the block to garage the vehicle and call ford to report the incident.

Filed Apr 10, 2015 · Transmission · 21,150 miles · PA · crash · 2 injuries

While slowing to come to a complete stop in a turning lane behind two other vehicles, the subject vehicle's transmission slipped from gear and disengaged the engine. When the vehicles transmission reengaged the engines remaining torque not yet displaced, the vehicle lunged forward causing a lose of control and the brakes to lock up from attempting the braking action already taking place. The subject vehicle had previously been in the dealerships service dept. To have its transmission that previously and completely burnt its clutches out at only 14,775 miles driven. The symptoms of the transmission burning the clutches out was presenting itself in an increasing manner from around 5,000 miles. The newly rebuilt transmission failed at only 21,150 miles at the time of the total loss incident.

Filed Apr 10, 2015 · Engine · 25,000 miles · DC

I was accelerating to merge onto I-495 in northern virginia, attaining a speed of approximately 55 MPH. When I removed my foot from the gas pedal (because I had reached my desired speed), the car continued to accelerate uncontrollably. I applied full pressure to the break with both feet, but the car continued to surge forward. I attained a speed of almost 100 MPH, even with both feet fully decompressing the break. Both shoulders of the interstate had construction, so there was no shoulder to utilize on either side. After weaving in and out of traffic, I finally found a suitable off ramp. After pulling the emergency break, putting the car in neutral, and eventually park, the car came to a very abrupt stop (just before I reached a busy intersection at the end of the off ramp). The breaks continued to smoke for another 45 minutes after coming to a stop and cutting the engine. I do not know how I'm alive, but I am grateful.

Filed Jan 30, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

1st time I was coming to a stop at a light and the vehicle wanted to surge forward several times, when light turned green I tried to accelerate and it hesitated. This would happen every now and again, not a continuous issue. In dec 2014 it happened again this time with the vehicle stalling, put in park and it started right up but hesitated when accelerating, did this several times within a 5 mile span. Parked, did my 8 hour work day came out, started right up and no issues driving home. Later that night my husband drove it and it stalled on him 3 times with the check engine light coming on. Code p144a came up, took it to my mechanic and was told the code thrown should not cause stalling issues. This has been an ongoing battle, sometimes the vehicle running great, sometimes I don't know if I'll make it to my destination. This happens at all speeds; in city, interstate, or at a complete stop. I only have 72000 in mileage and my vehicle is well kept, what is going on?!?

Filed Dec 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,880 miles · TX

I was driving on a regular street in my area at the rate of 35. The speed limit is 40, so I decided to increase my speed to that of the speed limit. When I proceeded to accelerate, it appeared that the engine was just spinning, but not accelerating, when all of a sudden, it just lunged forward, not once, but twice. This was quite frightening as I had no advanced warning this was going to happen. After that incident, it appeared to be driving normal, until it happened again about a week later. I am afraid whenever I get behind the wheel now, but it is the only vehicle I own and I use it to get back and forth to work, so I am proceeding with extreme caution.

Filed Jan 30, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 29,000 miles · IL

Pulling out of the driveway of my home, the car surged forward on its own and narrowly missed the neighbor. This surging of the engine on its own is going to cause a death one of these days. Ford really needs to look into this.

Filed Aug 1, 2013 · Transmission · 47,480 miles · IN

I was driving on the highway going about 55 MPH. The vehicle began to lunge forward and then stopped running. I was able to get off of the highway, but it was dark. I let the car sit for a moment. It then started up and I went back on the road. It then began to lunge and stopped again. The wrench light showed on the instrument panel both times. By the manual, it showed a throttle body issue. The car was towed to the ford dealership. They said that the throttle body was faulty, but that due to the mileage, it was not under warranty. I paid $426.00 to get it fixed. When I picked the vehicle up I asked them if this was a recall as I saw complaints on the internet. The technician said not yet, but to keep my paperwork as it probably would be a recall at some point.