The defect
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
The risk
A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2001 | 996 | 13 |
| Ford Escape | 2002 | 1,027 | 8 |
| Ford Escape | 2003 | 558 | 7 |
| Ford Escape | 2004 | 499 | 6 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 2012
8 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the vehicle speed control; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 12V574000 11 Dec 2012 | Thor Motor Coach |
| 12V577000 10 Dec 2012 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 12V552000 29 Nov 2012 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 12V357000 27 Jul 2012 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 12V305000 29 Jun 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V303000 26 Jun 2012 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 12V071000 24 Feb 2012 | TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012