Home / Auto News / News article: Ford Escape Sticky Throttle Recall Under NHTSA Investigation
 |  Jul 17, 7:45 PM 8 Comments

After a recall, a petition and a fatal accident, NHTSA is once again looking into stuck throttle incidents in model year 01-04 Ford Escapes and Mazda Tributes.

In December of 2004, 470,000 Escapes and 121,000 Tributes were recalled because of interference between the speed control cable and the appearance cover at the throttle body cam. This interference causes the throttle to become stuck, so when your foot is lifted, the throttle does not decrease.

In January of 2012, there was a fatal accident because of this problem, which is prompting NHTSA to re-assess the case. The claim being investigated is that the alleged fix performed on the recalled vehicles is actually part of the problem.

99 reports of alleged stuck throttle have been collected in all, with sixty-eight reports from Ford Escape owners, and thirty one reports from Mazda Tribute owners. The issues only affect vehicles outfitted with the 3.0L V6 engine.

NHTSA is going to assess the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of alleged defect, and take action accordingly.

Filed under: American Featured Articles Ford Japanese Mazda Safety
Tags: , , , ,
More Auto News...
Ford Recalls 6,500 New Vehicles Over Child Safety Lock Defect
Ford Recalls 6,500 New Vehicles Over Child Safety Lock Defect		Ford says Software Update Will Fix Engine Fires
Ford says Software Update Will Fix Engine Fires		2013 Ford Escape, Fusion Recalled for Engine Fire Risk
2013 Ford Escape, Fusion Recalled for Engine Fire Risk		Ford Escape Might Undergo Another NHTSA Investigation
Ford Escape Might Undergo Another NHTSA Investigation
  • T. Roll

    Add the Escape to the same pile as the Windstar. Ford makes some quality junk.

  • Renaissance_nerd

    I love my 2003 Escape but I just had a stuck throttle incident tonight (11/15) which resulted in a collision AFTER it was supposed to have been repaired with longer engine cover brackets. Someone is getting sued.

  • Wienke2

    Anyone having issues with their 2005 Ford Escape throttle (gas peddle) not depressing, aka sticking, call Ford 800-392-3673. Log you complaint. I was told without complaints called into them, they do not have enough info to do recalls. Recall should stipulate that if you paid to get this fixed you should receive a refund. Keep calling Ford until something is done.

  • C Rodriguez

    I am having issue with my 2010 Ford Escape. Wrench light comes on, car powers off then starts up like nothing. This happened on the freeway recently and it was scary. I took my car in and the Ford mechanic wants to charge 400 to fix it. I did some online research and 470,000 2004 Ford Escapes were recalled for this same issue- with one fatality. Something must be done.

  • C Rodriguez

    The issue is a “Stuck Throttle”.

  • Catrina

     I am having the same issue with my 2010 Ford Escape. I had a scary incident last week on the freeway, took my car in and it was diagnosed w/having a stuck throttle. Something must be done.

  • Ddgrode

    I has the same throttle problem with my 2012 Escape, engine racing.  The road service man from Ford showed me  something red on the top of the engine and said it was part of the throttle, followed mt to the Ford dealer and showed it to the service mechanic.  They checked the car and then insisted I must have hit both the break ans gas petel at the same time.

  • Martinj803

     I’ve had the same “throttle sticking” problem as well in my 2008 V4 Ford Escape. The problem has gotten progressively worse and is becoming a major safety concern since I do a lot of highway driving and have nearly been run over by 18 wheelers on several occasions because the throttle picked a bad time to stick. I’m definitely calling Ford to complain about this so they will fix the problem for all model years.