NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
199 reports69,500 miles · Sep 16, 2012
EnginePower Train
CAR ACCELERATES WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON (MORE SO WHEN TURNING WHEEL) WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALREADY HAD ACCIDENT IN REVERSE. NOTED SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS FROM OWNERS ON GOOGLE. ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN JACK IN THE BOX DRIVE THRU WHERE CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. MISSED CAR IN FRONT OF ME BY INCHES. HAD F…
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CAR ACCELERATES WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON (MORE SO WHEN TURNING WHEEL) WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALREADY HAD ACCIDENT IN REVERSE. NOTED SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS FROM OWNERS ON GOOGLE. ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN JACK IN THE BOX DRIVE THRU WHERE CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. MISSED CAR IN FRONT OF ME BY INCHES. HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT NOT MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPEN. ACCELERATION OVER POWERED BRAKE PRESSURE. VERY, VERY SCARY. PLEASE HELP. OTHERWISE LOVE CAR. PLEASE CONTACT MY COUSIN. SEE BELOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10475548
49,000 miles · Sep 14, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE LURCHES OR JUMPS WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE BRAKES NEED TO BE HELD DOWN FIRMLY OTHERWISE THE CAR HAS A CHANCE TO SMASH INTO ANYTHING THAT MAY BE IN FRONT OR BEHIND YOU WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND STOPPED VEHICLES AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THIS CONDITION SEEM…
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VEHICLE LURCHES OR JUMPS WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE BRAKES NEED TO BE HELD DOWN FIRMLY OTHERWISE THE CAR HAS A CHANCE TO SMASH INTO ANYTHING THAT MAY BE IN FRONT OR BEHIND YOU WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND STOPPED VEHICLES AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE SAYING THE SAME THING. SHOULD SOMEONE BE KILLED OR AN ACCIDENT OCCUR BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED? I HOPE NOT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10475467
150,000 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 150,000. UPDATED 10/16/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND EVENTUALLY HIT A METAL WHERE A SIGN ONCE WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS JERKING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 10/24/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10474242
62,000 miles · Aug 13, 2012
EnginePower Train
WHEN CAR WAS PLACED IN GEAR THROTTLE SURGED CAUSING CAR TO JUMP WHILE FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE., ALSO SURGES WHEN PULLING SLOWLY INTO PARKING PLACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10470369
73,800 miles · Aug 12, 2012
EnginePower Train
WHEN AFTER STARTING CAR AND GEAR SHIFT PUT INTO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE THE ENGINE WILL SURGE CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE. IF NOT AWARE OF ISSUE AND HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE WOULD HIT WHAT EVER IN THE WAY OF CAR. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY CAR FIXED AT A FORD DEALER AND THEN CONTACTED FORD MOT…
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WHEN AFTER STARTING CAR AND GEAR SHIFT PUT INTO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE THE ENGINE WILL SURGE CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE. IF NOT AWARE OF ISSUE AND HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE WOULD HIT WHAT EVER IN THE WAY OF CAR. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY CAR FIXED AT A FORD DEALER AND THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO TAKE THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY. ACCORDING TO MY FORD DEALER THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER FORD 500 OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME THING. THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS THAT FORD DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10470290
42,561 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE THE ENGINE AND LEAP FORWARD WITHOUT GIVING IT ANY GAS. NO CREEP, JUST LEAPS FORWARD SEVERAL YARDS. .. UPDATED 08-27-12 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10472182
79,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. WHILE SHOPPING TODAY IN 90+ TEMPERATURES TODAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON MORE THAN THREE OCCASIONS AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SPACES. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON AT LEAST…
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WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. WHILE SHOPPING TODAY IN 90+ TEMPERATURES TODAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON MORE THAN THREE OCCASIONS AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SPACES. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE STOPPED FOR PEDESTRIANS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. TODAY, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO CRASHING THROUGH MY GARAGE CABINETS WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED AS I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND WAS INCHING FORWARD TO CLEAR THE GARAGE DOOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10467178
90,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION KIT BUT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION KIT BUT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10467046
40,000 miles · Jul 18, 2012
EnginePower Train
THE CAR SURGES WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN ALSO WHILE GOING SLOW BACKING OUT OF GARAGE OR DRIVING SLOW IN A PARKING LOT. I AM AFRAID I WILL HIT SOME OR SOMEONE WHEN CAR IS SURGING THE TACH WILL JUMP TO 2000 OR MORE RPMS WHILE SITTING OR GOING SLOW..SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE !!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466486
70,000 miles · Jul 18, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED. THE INCIDENT HAS YET TO RECUR SINCE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. 08/30/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10466382
NHTSA investigations
1PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in
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