I own a 2007 Ford escape, 45,000 miles, car is outside of warranty. On 12/7/10, I was driving to work & tried to lane change ,the gas pedal became stuck, I could not accelerate. Luckily I was able to merge back into my lane & repeatedly force the pedal down to get the car to finally accelerate. The problem persisted the remaining part of the day & next, and I took the car to my Ford dealership on…
2007 Ford Escape cruise control problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 31 cruise control complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Ford Escape has a documented pattern of stuck accelerator pedals and throttle body failures that create serious safety hazards, especially in cold weather and at low mileage. While similar failures triggered recalls on 2009–2012 Escapes, the 2007 model is excluded, leaving owners to pay $300–$550 out of pocket and risking power loss on highways.
Owners of 2007 Ford Escapes report a dominant and recurring accelerator pedal sticking problem. The pedal freezes, resists depression, or locks up—especially in cold weather, at morning cold starts, or after the vehicle sits idle. Owners must apply excessive force, tap or flutter the pedal repeatedly, or restart the engine to get it to respond. When the pedal finally unsticks, the vehicle often lurches forward suddenly, creating collision hazards during traffic merges, turns, and intersection crossings. Several owners report nearly rear-ending other vehicles or having to swerve into driveways or curbs to avoid crashes. The issue occurs across a wide mileage range (2,000 to 180,000 miles) and worsens over time.
Dealership diagnostics point to throttle body defects—one service manager confirmed a groove in the throttle body, and another noted Ford had done "many" of these repairs on this model. One owner discovered the parts supplier was redesigning the component, suggesting Ford knew of the defect. Repair costs run $300 to $550 for throttle body replacement.
A separate but serious failure appears on hybrid models: complete power loss and engine shutdown at highway speed, triggered by transmission cooling pump failure. Error codes P1AOD, P0A3E, and B139 were retrieved. Ford acknowledges this via TSB 08-24-5 but describes only "reduced power," whereas owners experience total loss of acceleration.
One owner also reports cruise control accelerating the vehicle beyond set speed, especially after ascending hills, with brakes unable to immediately regain control.
Same Ford Escape cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Stuck or Sticking Accelerator Pedal
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck, frozen, or resists depression, requiring excessive force to move or fluttering to unstick. Occurs intermittently or persistently, often worse in cold weather or after vehicle sits idle.
When: Cold weather conditions, early morning cold starts, after vehicle sits idle, occurring from 2,000 miles to 180,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal stuck and will not depress; Pedal resists depression; excessive force needed; Pedal locks into position; Must flutter or tap pedal multiple times to get response; Delayed acceleration response or no response initially; Vehicle lurches forward suddenly when pedal finally responds; Loss of ability to accelerate during traffic maneuvers; Pedal sticks more frequently in cold weather
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement ($300–$550); throttle cable replacement mentioned; carbon buildup cleaning; groove detected in throttle body on at least one unit; dealership noted 'many' repairs of this type on the model
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Consumer Affairs stated no recall issued; 2009–2012 Escape throttle bodies were recalled (CSP 13N03) but 2007 model excluded; no manufacturer assistance or compensation offered despite acknowledged pattern
Loss of Power and Limp-Mode Activation
Engine shuts down or enters fail-safe/limp mode, causing complete or near-complete loss of power and acceleration on highway at speed. Vehicle coasts to lower speed or roadside. Occurs without warning; repeated episodes on same trip.
When: Highway driving at speed; documented on multiple occasions during same trip; no specific mileage pattern given
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of power and acceleration; Engine shut down with 'Stop Safely Now' message and audible chime; Red warning triangle with exclamation mark displayed; Vehicle coasts from highway speed down to 35 mph or lower; Loss of power repeated multiple times during single trip; No warning before power loss occurs; Hybrid electric power continues, allowing vehicle to move to roadside
Codes mentioned: P1AOD, P0A3E, B139
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission cooling pump (MECS water pump) replacement; part numbers 5M6Z8C419A and AL8Z19E66F; repair cost $554 mentioned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 08-24-5 acknowledges 'reduced power' condition and fail-safe activation; however, owners report total power loss, not just reduction; parts are part of hybrid drive system but not covered under 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid warranty according to Ford
Cruise Control Overspeed/Malfunction
Cruise control fails to maintain set speed; vehicle accelerates beyond set speed after going uphill or when road elevation changes, even with brakes applied. One complaint of cruise control ceasing to function entirely.
When: While driving with cruise control activated, typically after ascending a hill or elevation change
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates beyond cruise control set speed; Overspeed condition continues after hill ascent; Braking does not immediately regain control of speed; Speed control mechanism ceases to function entirely
Bent or Defective Throttle Body
Throttle body becomes bent or develops internal defect, preventing normal pedal operation. One owner reports throttle part was being 'redesigned' by parts supplier, suggesting systemic defect.
When: At 45,000 miles; issue discovered when pedal stuck; part redesign suggested ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal stuck and unable to accelerate; Throttle bent (physical deformation); Throttle body malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement cost $300; parts supplier redesigning part; parts not immediately available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; Ford refused compensation citing lack of recall despite acknowledging part was being redesigned
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2007 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2007 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 46,000 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 105,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.