# 2017 FORD ESCAPE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `1436271` · 2017-12-29 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** Yes
- **Vehicle towed:** Yes
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCAPE
- **Year:** 2017
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 3,922
## Narrative
I TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT INTERSECTION IN EAGLE RUN SHOPPING CENTER, NW OF WENDY'S, FROM WEST TO SOUTH ONTO THE PARKING LOT ROAD THAT ACCESSES THE W MAPLE RD & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION.      I COMPLETED MY TURN AND DROVE SOUTH DOWN THE PARKING LOT ACCESS ROAD TO THE W MAPLE & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED.    I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO WAIT FOR A GREEN LIGHT.  I STOPPED A WAYS BACK FROM THE MEDIAN CURB OF THE INTERSECTION TO ALLOW FOR TURNING TRAFFIC FROM THE WEST.  SHORTLY LATER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, I NOTICED A VIBRATION OF THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TACHOMETER WHICH SHOWED 1,200 RPM & RISING (600RPM IS NORMAL).    IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN TO PHYSICALLY LUNGE FORWARD WITH INCREASED ENGINE NOISE SO I INSTINCTIVELY PLACED MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH HAD NO AFFECT.  THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS NOW RACING WIDE OPEN & I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR'S RAPIDLY INCREASING FORWARD MOTION.    AT THIS POINT, TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY BEING PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION, I STEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE SHOULDER HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*