Ford Escape Recall Issued Due to Throttle Problems

Flooring it in a Ford Escape could be more dangerous than drivers suspect, as throttle problems with the SUB have reportedly caused at least one death and have now resulted in the recall of about 423,634 vehicles this week. 

The Ford Escape recall (PDF) was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 25, after the agency notified Ford Motor Company that a driver’s throttle got stuck in late January or early February.

Ford indicates that it was not able to inspect the vehicle until June 20, after which it decided to recall the model year 2001 through 2004 Ford Escapes. The NHTSA launched its own investigation this month.

The problem, and the recall, is limited to Ford Escape vehicles with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control. Technicians discovered that there is not enough room between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector. This can lead to a throttle getting stuck when the gas pedal is fully pressed down or almost fully pressed down.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) uncovered 99 reports of alleged incidents where the throttle got stuck open. However, those reports came from owners of both Ford Escape vehicles and Mazda Tribute vehicles. Of the reports, 68 were from Ford Escape drivers and 31 were from drivers of the Mazda Tribute. One of the reports included a fatal crash that occurred in January.

It is unclear whether a Mazda Tribute recall may also be issued due to the same throttle problems.

The recalled Ford Escape vehicles were built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant and the Ohio Assembly plant from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004.

In a customer information sheet (PDF), Ford notes that the parts to repair the vehicles are not currently available, which will delay when dealers can fix the problem. In the interim, dealers will do a temporary repair that will disable the speed control system, which should prevent the stuck throttle problem. Permanent repairs would be made once parts became available.

The recall comes just days after Ford announced another Ford Escape recall, affecting more than 11,000 vehicles from the 2013 model year, due to engine fires caused by defective fuel lines.

Photo Courtesy of noelweathers via Flickr CC by 2.0