THE INQUIRY: U.S. safety regulators are looking into problems with sticky throttles in older Ford Escapes, another safety issue for the trouble-plagued small SUV. If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decides to open a formal investigation, it could lead to a recall.
THE MODELS: The inquiry, started at the request of a nonprofit consumer group in North Carolina, covers 1.6 million Escapes from model years 2005 to 2012.
THE PROBLEM: NHTSA is looking into two complaints from drivers who say the small SUV stalled or surged forward, possibly because of faulty throttles. The Escape has been recalled four times since July. An all-new version of the SUV went on sale during the summer.