NHTSA has announced that an investigation into about 1.6 million Ford Escape SUVs is being considered.
The organization recently received a petition from the North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) saying the throttle body in many Escape vehicles can become lodged open, or closed.
A stuck throttle body can lead to either engine stalling or the engine unexpectedly surging forward. Ford has issued technical service bulletins about the issue, but according to the NCCC, it is not enough to fix the issue. Three Escape variants are part of the issue according to the NCCC: 2005 through 2012 Escapes, 2005-2007 Escape Hybrid Electric Vehicles and 2005-2012 Escape Hybrids.
Owners have reported that while driving, their Escape suddenly lurched forward, would not accelerate or the gas pedal was getting stuck. Many owners report that the problems become more prominent when the outside temperature is around or below 50 degrees.
NHTSA is reviewing the petition and deciding if a full investigation is warranted.