10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 103,694 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
In colder temperatures, below approximately 45 degrees, the accelerator becomes "stuck" and unable to be pressed down. After several times of stomping on it, it releases and the car accelerates. This continues to occur at every stop, red lights, stop signs, etc., until the car/temperature warms up. While waiting to pull out into traffic, upon releasing the brakes the car merely idles into traffic as the accelerator is stuck and unable to be pressed, leaving the car creeping on to the road/highway until the accelerator loosens and is able to be pressed. As told by a Ford service technician and others with this same problem, the issue is with the throttle body. This same issue does not occur during warmer seasons/temperatures.
- Villa Rica, GA, USA
Throttle sticks shut, especially when vehicle is cold. Applying pressure to the throttle will sometimes snap the throttle open, causing the vehicle to surge. Sometimes the throttle will not move until the vehicle is warm. Throttle pedal assembly and cable appear to be free moving and not sticking. When moving throttle body shaft by hand (vehicle cold, not running), the throttle body sticks shut but can be freed with some effort. Once moved from the shut position, the throttle body shaft moves freely against the return spring. Cables attached to throttle body shaft are not under stress and do not appear to be impeding throttle body movement. Lubricant applied to cabling pivots and attachment points have minimal if any effect.
- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
"stuck gas pedal": as I was driving to work in moderately heavy traffic on us 127 in Michigan at approximately 8 a.M., on 10 October 2014, the gas pedal froze on my (manual transmission) 2008 Ford Escape and I began to lose speed quickly from the 70 mph I had been traveling. The pedal would not move up or down no matter how hard I pushed or pulled at it. I tried kicking it as best as I could but it would not budge, and the floor mat was not near the pedal at all. I had to maneuver to the shoulder of the road and continued 'coasting' while I tried to get the pedal to move. The area I was at was not conducive to a full stop unless absolutely necessary due to the clearance on the side of the road and the curve I was on. My speed had dropped to less than 55 mph when the gas pedal finally released and I was able to push it down to increase my speed again and eventually work back into traffic, though with caution in case it happened again as I was still not in an area safe for a full stop. The temperature at that time was around freezing. I took the Escape to the Ford dealer and they said no codes appeared when scanned so there was nothing to indicate it had happened. They also told me that neither my vehicle, nor the throttle assembly in it are listed as part of the recall for "sticky accelerator pedal" for Ford Escapes. This is a 2008 manual transmission, 4 cy., 4-door, 2wd Escape. Why was it not included in the recall? I've had problems with the gas pedal 'catching' and then immediately releasing since we bought it (at about 16000 miles), but the dealer could never duplicate the problem and thus did nothing about it. My online research indicates this "frozen" or "stuck" pedal (where the pedal will not depress at all) is not a new issue and across all model years, yet nothing has been done by Ford and they refuse to acknowledge it.
- Leslie, MI, USA
The gas peddle sticking and affecting being able to accelerate and therefore to drive safe. Took it in for diagnostics and it is a $500 + repair to fix the throttle body. Lots of other Ford Escapes are reporting the same problem per research on this issue. Very disappointed in Ford for not having a recall to fix this dangerous issue. I can continue to drive with this issue but decided to pay the $500 to make it work correctly and not put myself and others at risk.
- Lake Odessa, MI, USA
For a few months now, the gas pedal has been intermittently sticking in either the fully depressed or non-depressed position. The first few times this has happened, I was on the expressway and traveling approx 70 mph. Once the gas pedal was released, I realized that the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. The gas pedal was lying completely in the depressed position. I could lift the gas pedal with my foot but it would limply fall back to the floor. I was able to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal, but the acceleration continued when I went off the brake. I exited the highway and turned the vehicle off. I continued to lift the gas pedal and wiggle it and it seemed to go back into place. I noticed over time, that this seemed to happen more when the gas pedal was more fully depressed, like when on the highway. At other times, the gas pedal is sticking in the relaxed (un-depressed) position. This seems to be happening during very cold temperatures but continues while driving and when pressing the gas pedal. The vehicle will "jump" forward with the sudden release of the gas pedal after pressing hard enough to make it release. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of pressure to make it release. I have read about a recall for these complaints in older vehicles and there are multiple complaints online in the 2008 model. This is a hazard for people, as it happens suddenly and without warning. I don't feel safe having my children in the car.
- Fenton, MI, USA
May 30th, 2012 2008 Ford Escape stopped at a stop light, gas pedal was stuck rendering vehicle unable to move. Mileage was approximately 70,000 miles. Had vehicle towed to local Ford dealership. They replaced the entire pedal assembly. Within about 3 months, the pedal seemed to start catching again. Problem is intermitted not continuous but very dangerous in heavy traffic. Owner must press firmly to get the gas pedal to work which causes the SUV to leap forward. Just over a year after the pedal assembly was replace, it is being replacing again due to the same sticking problem.
- Altona, IL, USA
While driving my 2008 Ford Escape this morning the gas pedal got stuck and would not accelerate. This problem happens often in cold weather and occours when durring the first start of the day. This happend to me when pulling out of the driveway into traffic. I was able to safely roll into an adjacent parking area where after allowing the vehicle to warm up and testing the gas pedal a few times it resumed normal operations after about fifteen mins. If you google gas pedal stuck on cold mornings..Ford Escape 2008 quite a few complaints come up. This needs attention as it is very dangerous.
- Mount Laurel, NJ, USA
Gas pedal sticks, especially in cold weather. Have had to put car into neutral on more than 1 occasion due to pedal sticking at high speed. Also sticks when accelerating at low speed, making acceleration almost impossible.
- St Clair Shores, MI, USA
When the weather gets cold the gas pedal becomes stuck and will not depress. After repositioning foot, the pedal would depress. Yesterday on 12/27/12 the pedal would not depress while driving, which almost caused an accident because I could not accelerate when needed. I took the car to the Ford dealer and the issue was with the throttle body, which had to be replaced. This seems to be a dangerous issue and a recall should be issued.
- Columbus, OH, USA
I noticed that on cold mornings the gas pedal would not depress until a certain amount of force would be exerted on the pedal. Sometimes you would have to stomp on the gas to get it free. Sometimes a quick press-release-press again would free the gas pedal. As the engined warmed the problem would decrease. On occasions I would stop at a stop sign and roll halfway through the intersection before I could get the pedal free. Dealer indicated that they couldn't find anything wrong although I am aware of 1 other Ford Escape and 2 Mazda tributes with the same problem.
- East Berlin, PA, USA
My third Ford and fuel tank straps had to be replaced due to it being rotted.
- Dighton, MA, USA
As the weather has been getting colder, I started to notice how difficult it was for me to accelerate. This incident has been occurring every morning. On Wednesday I mentioned it to the Ford service person and he said that it could be the body throttle. On Thursday I noticed that the acceleration problem continued more frequently as I drove to work. Upon internet searching I saw an article about your investigation and wanted to add my information. Today I had the car serviced and the body throttle was replaced. With the weather getting colder and this part will mostly like will work hap hazardly, I feel that this is something that should be recalled by Ford. How many fatal accidents and innocent people must become victims before safety procedures are implemented? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Waterford Works, NJ, USA
- Templeton, MA, USA