SUDDEN ABRUPT STOPPAGE OF GAS MOTOR (IN HYBRID VEHICLE) WITH SLOWING TO < 30 MPH WHILE IN FREEWAY DRIVING. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOTOR SIMPLY CUT OFF. *TR
2008
ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR LOST POWER, SPEED DECLINED TO 25 MPH AND WENT INTO HYBRID MODE. "PULL OVER SAFELY" LIGHT WENT ON. WE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT RESTARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NORMAL SPEED. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGH--IN THE 90S--AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON HIGH WHEN THE POWER FAILED. WE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE CAR ON A HOT DAY WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON..SPEED WAS MINIMAL BECAUSE WE WERE PARKING BUT CAR LOST POWER AND PULL OVER SAFELY LIGHT WENT ON. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT WE TOOK CAR TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE HYBRID SYSTEM COOLING PUMP HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE THE PUMP WAS $470. *TR