Cruise Control problems of the 2001 Ford Escape

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while ascending a hill at 50 mph with the cruise control actived, the vehicle downshifted and the throttle seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 70,528.

I had entered an interstate from an on ramp. I accelerated to get vehicle up to speed and set the cruise control. I approached a sharp curved and attempted to release the speed control by hitting the brakes. The vehicle did not stop and continued to stay moving at 55 mph. I avoided the outside lane and the traffic that I was merging into by going into the median. The vehicle hit an elevated man hole in the median and went airborne and hit a bridge overpass support head on. I suffered multiple fractures due to the collision.

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While turning into a residential driveway at 5mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact immediately shut off the engine. On a later date while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact then noticed that the cruise control had independently activated. The cruise control light was illuminated yet the contact did not engage the cruise control. The manufacturer advised that there were no similar complaints and that the vehicle should be diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or diagnosis. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current was unknown.

My 2001 Ford Escape caught fire on the interstate after being on cruise control for approximately 1 hour. As I was driving, the car began to slow down, then I got out to realize the vehicle was on fire. The car was totaled as well as all of the things inside.

: the contact stated the vehicle was parked in the garage for two days when it suddenly erupted in flames during the middle of the night. The fire department was contacted and concluded the fire originated in the engine compartment. The dealer was alerted, but did not inspect the vehicle. There was extensive smoke damage to the home and no one sustained injuries. The only problem present with the vehicle prior to the incident was the cruise control button was broken and the cruise control would not engage. The cruise stopped working two years ago.

Cruise control does not work at all, there are so many problems in this vehicle.

Approaching hiway construction with flagman and about 10 cars stopped, when I hit the brake, cruise control failed to disengage, throttle stuck wide-open. I tried to turn it off with on/off button on steering wheel but no result,approaching stopped line of cars at full throttle, towing camping trailer. Finally, I shifted into neutral and was able to stop the car/trailer, engine racing max revs and making strange noise, faltering as it might when the fuel mixture was too rich. I then turned the engine off, and upon inspection under the hood and locating what we thought was the cruise control, we jiggled a cable going into it and heard a clunk within. I then started the car and it ran normally. Continued trip, just didn't use cruise control !! upon returning from trip, I called my Ford dealer in durango, CO and was told to call customer relations. I did so twice, and was told there was no recall on my car. I then searched the NHTSA website, and found there was a recall on 2001 Escape for this very problem (safety recall 00s18, NHTSA campaign id# 00v210001), but my car's VIN was not included! I submit that this incident illustrates that this VIN (and maybe many others) should have been included. The problem has not been fixed (I just don't use the cruise), so I still have the old part, pending resolution of this issue. Thank you.

Over the years of owning the car that I bought new for my daughter we had it in for service several times for a sticking throttle and cruise control problems. I have records of 6 different times we took it back to the dealer for throttle problems. The last time the throttle stuck it caused our vehicle to hit the back of another vehicle stopped at a stop sign. We took it back to the service center complaining of the motor revving up causing the accident. We were ignored of the problem then told the vehicle was no longer worth the cost of the repairs caused from the accident.

I was driving on the highway today. Went to use the cruise control, and the light came on. Cruise control was not engaged. I was almost rear-ended. Was set at 65 mph, speedometer showed rapid deceleration even though cruise was supposed to be engaged. Had to disengage and manually control speed. Found 5 other posts on yahoo internet site for Escape owners. Same problem. Light on, no cruise.