NHTSA complaint: 2001 FORD ESCAPE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TO: FORD MOTOR COMPANY FROM: OWNERS DATE: 6/8/2012 PURPOSE: 2001 FORD ESCAPE ACCIDENT SUMMARY (ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTION) DEAR FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THIS LETTER IS TO FORMALLY DOCUMENT AND NOTIFY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTION ON A 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT. ACCIDENT SUMMARY: ON FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:35 PM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT MALFUNCTIONED WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED, STUCK, AND ACCELERATED BEYOND DRIVERS DESIRED SPEED. THE DRIVER REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. THE DRIVER THEN FULLY APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WITH NO EFFECT. THE DRIVER THEN FULLY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PROVIDING SOME SPEED REDUCTION, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO FORCE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE DRIVER STEERED THE VEHICLE ONTO CURBS AND OBJECTS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SLOWDOWN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER, HAVING TO MAKE A QUICK AND TIMELY DECISION TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PROTECT HERSELF AND PASSENGERS FROM HARM, SERVED INTO A CONCRETE OVERPASS EMBANKMENT IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND AVOID A POTENTIALLY MORE SEVERE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MULTIPLE PARTIES IN A HIGHLY POPULATED LOCATION. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED (PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT) AND BOTH AIRBAGS WERE FULLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, WHILE ALL WEARING SEATBELTS, SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDEN
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation