NHTSA Probes Sticky Throttles on Ford Escape

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into complaints about throttles that stick in the open position in 730,000 Ford Escape crossovers and Mazda Tribute clones.

The probe involves vehicles from model years 2001-2004 that were equipped with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine.

The agency says it had received 99 complaints, including reports of 13 crashes and one death blamed on the problem.

Some of the complaints received by the agency allege the sticking throttle problem results from damage caused by repairs to the accelerator cable made during a 2004 recall that involved 470,200 Escape and Tribute vehicles from the 2002-2004 model years.