# 2013 FORD ESCAPE — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `950705` · 2012-11-23 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCAPE
- **Year:** 2013
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 6,300
## Narrative
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A FREEWAY EXIT. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN SET TO 65 MPH, AND WHEN I ACCIDENTLY TAPPED THE RESUME LEVER, THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. HITTING THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.    THE CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL/RESUME LEVER IS LOCATED ON THE LOWER LEFT PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS IN A LOW POSITION, AND YOU MOVE YOUR LEFT LEG, YOU CAN ACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL WITH YOUR THIGH CAUSING IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON A CURVY ROAD LAST WEEK.  THIS COULD BE DISASTROUS IF IT OCCURS AT A CROSS WALK. LUCKILY I ONLY HIT A CAR, NOT A PEDESTRIAN, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES.  ELEVATING THE STEERING WHEEL REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*