The Ford Escape is being recalled again, but this time it's not the newer models that's affected.
Ford's popular SUV has taken a beating in the past few weeks, after two major recalls affected 2013 Escape models, reports The Detroit Free Press. Now, the automaker is recalling an additional 485,000 Escapes, although for all intents and purposes they are completely separate vehicles from the ones that have been having trouble lately.
The Escapes included in this recall are from the 2001 to 2004 model year, so the vehicle is entirely different from the new escape. The Escapes, which are called Mavericks overseas, are being recalled for a possible issue related to the throttle sticking.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the car after receiving numerous reports of problems with the throttle. The issue resulted in 13 accidents, with one fatality - a 17-year-old girl who was killed in Arizona.
According to Ford, the accelerator has a small chance of becoming stuck in models with a six-cylinder engine and cruise control. This would only happen if the pedal was pushed just about all the way to the floor, the automaker says.
Drivers ultimately can't control if their car has a problem related to a design flaw, but they can stay safe on the road through regular brake service and new tires.