Ford Escape stalling complaints prompt request for U.S. study
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today that it will review a request to investigate 1.6 million 2005-12 Ford Escapes for alleged engine problems.
The North Carolina Consumers Council asked NHTSA to investigate alleged electronic throttle body failures that cause engines to stall or surge.
The petition includes two recent complaints of stalling in 2009 Ford Escape SUVs that had throttle body failures. Owners of both vehicles said they experienced repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging.
Ford said it would cooperate with the agency.
Said Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel: "We have just begun our investigation and we have very limited information so far."
NHTSA SUMMARY
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles.
As supporting evidence, the petitioner cites two recent complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2222, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.
The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. In addition, the petitioner states that Ford has "released a number of technical service bulletins that cover a wide range of vehicles and throttle body issues related to hesitation and stalling, including 08-18-2 and 09-23-5." A copy of the petition will be placed in the public file. The petition will be evaluated for a grant or deny decision.
