2005 Ford Freestyle

ON TUESDAY, OUR CAR LOST ENGINE POWER IN TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND "ENGINE IN FAILSAFE MODE" APPEARED ON THE DASH. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON, AND IT WORKED FINE. SHE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, AND SOLUTIONS IN TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON. I CHECKED ONLINE, FOUND IDENTICAL FAILURES, A LONGSTANDING SHORTAGE OF THROTTLE PARTS, PRESUMED A DEFECT IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL, FOUND NO FHTSA RECALLS, BUT DISCOVERED SURGING DOCUMENTED IN PE11-018 (OPENED MAY 11, 2011). OUR CAR HAS ALSO HAD HIGH RPM SURGES, OCCURRING INFREQUENTLY, BUT USUALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. OUR AU PAIR EXPERIENCED SURGING 2 WEEKS EARLIER WHEN SHE BACKED OUT OF A GARAGE PARKING LOT AND BUMPED ANOTHER CAR. BELOW ARE REPRESENTATIVE WEBSITES THAT DOCUMENT 21 INSTANCES OF SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND ENGINE WARNING "FAILSAFE MODE" IN THE FORD FREESTYLE DESCRIBED AS SUDDEN STALLING, CAR GOING TO IDLE, ENGINE DYING, RUNNING LIMP, AND GOING INTO "NEUTRAL." MY WIFE'S EXPERIENCE IS CONSISTENT WITH THESE DESCRIPTIONS. ALSO, MANY COMPLAINTS REPORT SURGES (PE11-018) AND LOSS OF POWER IN THE SAME VEHICLE COMPLAINT, ALSO CONSISTENT WITH OUR EXPERIENCE: HTTP://WWW.MYFORDFREESTYLE.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=1&T=2197&SID=78CBEB4F4AAA7DD9C571F0CF9C804D74&START=0 15 COMPLAINTS: FRAGGLE, TMAD, MRDINMN, LMARQUELING, FORDMAN351, SANLEN, FUXXY, GAVIN, STOCK MACH, SCOUTMAN97, LMTECH, METALAGES, INDIEFILMGUY, BOSTON_FREESTYLE, MKRAMER HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-FORD-FREESTYLE-THROTTLE-CONTROL-TRANSMISSION-LIGHT-CAME-ON-ALSO-ENGINE-FAILSAFE-MODE-ACTIVATED-WHAT-S-WRONG-40589.ASPX 1 COMPLAINT: BOOTS7714 HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FREESTYLE/2005/ENGINE/THROTTLE_BODY_MALFUNCTION.SHTML 4 COMPLAINTS: MICHELLE O, DENNAL, SALLY W, OLDSCHOOL77 HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T1531392-ENIGINE_FAIL_SAFE_MODE 1 COMPLAINT: HANDYT. *TR

THE CAR STARTED SHOWING HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND MAKING A STRANGE NOISE EARLY IN 2010. THIS CONDITION GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL ONE DAY, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO JONES FORD THE NEXT DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT TO THE TUNE OF $638.97. DATE OF SERVICE WAS APRIL 1, 2020. MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 61,540 EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT I STARTED NOTICING THE HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AGAIN. TOOK IT TO SUMMERVILLE FORD ON JULY 21, 2010. I DIDN'T WAIT FOR A COMPLETE FAILURE SINCE IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER ON THE FREEWAY WITH A WHOLE CAR LOAD OF KIDS! JONES FORD SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AGAIN AND REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME. CHECKED FOR CODES AND GOT CODE #U0141. MILEAGE AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT WAS 65,207. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAVE NOTICED SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO THE LAST TWO TIMES THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. YESTERDAY I WAS PARKING AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS I LET MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN THE SPOT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE BY FORD ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO HAVE REPLACED THE 2/3 ROW SEAT PIVOT ONCE DURING WARRANTY BUT IT FAILED AGAIN IN 2010 AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. THE A/C COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING THIS SUMMER. STILL NOT FIXED. I HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES TWICE IN SEVEN YEARS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SETS OF BRAKES. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE COMMON FAILURES. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *TR

THE VEHICLE STARTED SURGING WITHOUT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN STOPPING. HAVE HAD TO RAPIDLY PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HOLD IT TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. WHEN THE SURGING OCCURS, MANY TIMES THE VEHICLE GOES INTO FAIL-SAFE ENGINE MODE WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW ONE TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER OCCURRENCE AND FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE WAS SOLVED BY PULLING OVER, KILLING THE MOTOR, WAITING, AND THEN RESTARTING. *KB

ON THE DATE NOTED, I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD (MAYBE 6-9 INCHES). I TURNED THE CORNER TO ENTER A PARKING GARAGE AND WHILE STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CAR STALLED. I RESTARTED IT PULLED FORWARD TO THE GARAGE GATE AND STOPPED. IT LURCHED A THIRD TIME, STALLING AGAIN AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS THOUGH I RELEASED THE CLUTCH (ON A MANUAL SHIFT CAR) WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. IN SUCH A SITUATION, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND STALL. HOWEVER THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC AND THE REASON THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE IS FROM ACCELERATION. I RECALL THE MOTOR REVVING UP PRIOR TO THE LURCH WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE EVENT. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FINALLY NARROWED THE PROBLEM TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ELECTRONICS ATTACHED TO IT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ($700+). I WOULD SAY THIS EVENT OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, ALWAYS WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED BUT NEVER 3 TIMES IN SUCCESSION. IT STALLED MAYBE TWO OF THOSE TIMES, ENTERED 'ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE' BUT WAS FINE AFTER RE-STARTING THE ENGINE. I RESEARCHED THIS OCCURRENCE ON THE INTERNET FINDING IT TO BE AN ISSUE ON MANY OCCASIONS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL. I SEE THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL OPEN. I NOTED ONE REPORT REFERENCING A DESIGN FLAW AS TO THE RELEASE OF GASES IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND HOW THEY ARE RE-ROUTED BACK THROUGHOUT THE BODY. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER NOTED TO ME THAT THE NEW BODY INSTALLED ON MY CAR WAS A NEW DESIGN WHERE THE GASES ARE RELEASED AWAY FROM THE BODY. I TAKE THIS AS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FLAWED, LEADING TO ITS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR. NOTE THAT THIS LAST EVENT OCCURRED IN 90+ DEGREE WEATHER WITH THE AC ON AND AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR 3 HOURS. *KB

MY FORD FREESTYLE 2005 HAS BEEN LUNGING FOR MONTHS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. OF COURSE IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ANY ISSUES HE DID NOT SHARE THEM WITH ME.THE VEHICLE DID HAVE SOME MINOR DINGS WHICH HE CLAIMED OCCURRED WHEN HE BACKED INTO A FENCE.HE HAD BEEN HAVING SOME SEVERE MEDICAL PROBLEMS SO I AM WONDERING DID HE JUST THINK IT WAS HIS FAULT, NOT REALIZING THE CAR HAD LUNGED. I SEE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE? IT IS VERY SCARY AND DOES IT IN FORWARD AND REVERSE. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO PARK IN ANY TIGHT SPACES WHERE IT MAY LUNG AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT OR INJURE SOMEONE.I HAVE A HANDICAP PARKING TAG BUT HAVE BEEN LEARY OF PARKING IN THOSE SPACES SHOULD THIS HAPPEN. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING ONLY OPERATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING, I SAW OTHERS HAVE THAT ISSUE ALSO. PLEASE TAKE ACTION SOON BEFORE THESE VEHICLES SUDDENLY LUNGE ON A INTERSTATE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THANK YOU. *TR

THE VEHICLE STARTED SURGING WITHOUT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN STOPPING. HAVE HAD TO RAPIDLY PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HOLD IT TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. WHEN THE SURGING OCCURS, MANY TIMES THE VEHICLE GOES INTO FAIL-SAFE ENGINE MODE WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW ONE TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS. THIS CAUSED A PROBLEM ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN CAUGHT IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AFTER SURGE-ENGINE DYING-FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER OCCURRENCE AND FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE WAS SOLVED BY PULLING OVER, KILLING THE MOTOR, WAITING, AND THEN RESTARTING. SURGING IS CAUSING A STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION WHICH NOW APPEARS TO HAVE SLACK IN IT. *TR

ENGINE / SPEED SURGING ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKING. WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE ENGINE MODERATES ONLY SLIGHTLY BUT CAR LURCHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF THE SAME CAR, SAME DAY, SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. EXTRA PRESSURE WAS NEEDED ON BRAKE TO PREVENT CAR FROM HITTING OTHER CARS IN PARKING LOT. . . . CIRCUMSTANCES: HOT DAY ( 90+ F), AIR CONDITIONING ON, ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED WHILE MANEUVERING INTO / OUT FROM PARKING, TURNING WHEEL OR HOLDING WHEEL TURNED DURING MANEUVER. *TR

MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE SEL HAS EXPERIENCES ISSUES WITH SURGING, STALLING AND INABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEMS STARTED AT LEAST 2 YEARS AGO (2009) AT WHICH TIME I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ON RECALLS (WARRANTY WAS OUT) AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. SINCE THE SURGE HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY, MOST ANY TIME I START THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN GEAR, IT WILL SURGE (RPM'S REV UP ON THEIR OWN). HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT TIMES STILL DOES NOT HOLD THE CAR COMPLETELY STILL AND HAS CONCERNED ME ON MORE OCCASIONS THAN NOT WHEN IN PARKING LOTS AT STORES WITH PEOPLE MOVING AROUND MY VEHICLE. THE STALL & INABILITY TO ACCELERATE HAPPENS LESS FREQUENTLY BUT HAS HAPPENED A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND ALWAYS RESULTS IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (WRENCH) COMING ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PERFORM AS IT SHOULD UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE HAS BEEN CLEARED. I RECENTLY BACKED INTO A TREE AT MY WORK AND FIRMLY BELIEVE IT HAPPENED DUE TO A SURGE AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND STARTED BACKING UP. I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT (STOPPING THE VEHICLE) BEFORE IT HIT THE TREE. I'VE OWNED MY CAR SINCE 2007 - MY SISTER HAS A LINCOLN LS THAT WAS RECALLED JUST BEFORE MY CAR STARTED THESE EPISODES. HER CAR WAS RECALLED FOR EVERYTHING I'VE STATED ABOVE (EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NEVER DONE IT) - THE THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, EVEN STATING THAT HER LINCOLN RECEIVED THE RECALL THAT MY CAR NEEDS, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO HELP OR SUGGESTIONS. *TR

WE JUST BOUGHT A USED 2005 FORD FREESTYLE AND THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM TOLD US THE AWD MALFUNCTION ALERT WOULD COME ON, BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY ON LONG ENOUGH FOR A MECHANIC TO CHECK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. WE DID NOTICE THE ALERT COMING ON, BUT ON OUR 4TH DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WE WERE PULLING AWAY FROM A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND PREPARING TO MANEUVER AROUND TWO VEHICLES STOPPED IN FRONT OF US AND I HAD JUST TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND NOT EVEN TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THEN SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT AWAY AGAIN AND THE CAR LUNGED AND THE ENGINE DIED. THE CAR STILL HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM AFTER THE ENGINE DIED TO ALLOW ME TO COAST AWAY FROM THE TWO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT LUNGED AND DIED AGAIN. ON THE THIRD TRY, IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, BUT I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. I DID MAKE IT HOME ALRIGHT, BUT THE AWD MALFUNCTION ALERT STAYED ON AND AT TIMES THE ALERT WOULD ALSO READ "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE". ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL ALERT ICON LIT UP AND A WRENCH WAS LIT UP UNDER IT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WE HOPE FORD WILL HELP FREESTYLE OWNERS SOON BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR