2008 Ford Escape Electronic Stability Control Esc Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled, but restarted after 45 minutes. The vehicle stability assists system warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY STALL OR FREEZE UP WHEN MAKING TURNS OR PRESSING THE GAS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. BY STALLING I MEAN TAKING A SECOND OR TWO TO ACCELERATE THEN JERKING KINDA HARD ONCE I HIT THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE CAR WOULD FREEZE UP, THE TRACTION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHES AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY STUCK IN PLACE AND I'D HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. IT DOESNT FREEZE OR STALL ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS.

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CROWDED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MANY PEOPLE CROSSING THE ROADS WITH THE WEATHER BEING WARM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR STALLED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, SO I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, HELD THE HORN DOWN AND WAVED FRANTICALLY THROUGH MY OPEN WINDOW. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH SPACE IN FRONT OF ME SO I COULD ALLOW THE CAR TO CRUISE TO A HALT. I UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO ROLL THROUGH A STOP SIGN WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE AWARE THAT I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. UPON STOPPING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF, I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY SMOKE OR OTHER ISSUES. I LET THE CAR SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES, AND THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. I WAS WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF MY RESIDENCE SO I ROLLED THE CAR ALL THE WAY HOME WITH MY HAZARDS ON. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES (SMALL CHILDREN IN AREA). FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR