NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
587 reportsClear category filter63,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY 05 FREESTYLE LUNGES FORWARD, TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND WHEN IN REVERSE, IT ALSO LUNGES. OFTEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IT WILL STUMBLE ALL OVER ITSELF AND DIES. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET ACROSS AN INTERSECTION …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY 05 FREESTYLE LUNGES FORWARD, TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND WHEN IN REVERSE, IT ALSO LUNGES. OFTEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IT WILL STUMBLE ALL OVER ITSELF AND DIES. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET ACROSS AN INTERSECTION OR OUT OF THE WAY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, IT LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. HAD A A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WAS GUMMED UP AND HE CLEANED IT. IT RAN GOOD FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND IT'S BACK TO DOING THE SAME THING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72310 MILES ON IT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.
NHTSA ODI #11113656
100 miles · Jul 1, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE KEEPS JUMPING. THROTTLE BODY
NHTSA ODI #11104972
149,000 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control
AT LOW SPEED OR STOPPED WHILE IN DRIVE THE CAR LUNGES FORWARDS. I WAS AT A DRIVE THROUGH AND IT LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. ALSO WHILE DRIVING IN A LOWER SPEED ZONE 20-35 (SCHOOL ZONES AND NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS) THE RPM'S START PULSING CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE EVERY TIME.
NHTSA ODI #11104674
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND TURNING THE WHEEL, THE CAR SPEED UP WITHOUT THE DRIVERS INTENTION.
NHTSA ODI #11101442
200,000 miles · Dec 7, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE FORWARD AND CAUSE A CRASH. A CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE FORWARD AND CAUSE A CRASH. A CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11053305
107,500 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING 25 AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 55, THE LIGHTS IN CLUSTER OF GUAGES WENT OUT. THE WRENCH ICON LIGHTS UP AND ALL POWER GOES OUT TO THE GUAGES. ALL NEEDLES DROP. CHECKED THE FUZES. NOTHING BLOWN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE A.C. ALSO STOPS BLOWING COLD AIR.
NHTSA ODI #11048378
148,508 miles · Jun 5, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,508. UPDA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,508. UPDATED 08/09/17*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #10993252
160,000 miles · Feb 24, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE IDLING, ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING (APPARENTLY FAIL SAFE MODE). MAY OR MAY NOT START AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING. ALTERNATIVELY, ENGINE WILL ROAR WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, WITH NO ACCELERATION; OR WILL JOLT/SHUDDER WHILE MOVING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. NEW FUEL PUMP ALREADY INSTALLED. A…
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CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE IDLING, ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING (APPARENTLY FAIL SAFE MODE). MAY OR MAY NOT START AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING. ALTERNATIVELY, ENGINE WILL ROAR WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, WITH NO ACCELERATION; OR WILL JOLT/SHUDDER WHILE MOVING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. NEW FUEL PUMP ALREADY INSTALLED. ALL ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ALREADY GONE OVER AT DEALER. TWICE NEW INERTIA SHUTOFF VALVES INSTALLED. ($800) IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY, I WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION.
NHTSA ODI #10956858
136,000 miles · Feb 13, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY VEHICLE ENTERS ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, EXPERIENCES IDLE ISSUES AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS RESPONSIBLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL PRESENT - WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE YOU FIND MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE …
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MY VEHICLE ENTERS ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, EXPERIENCES IDLE ISSUES AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS RESPONSIBLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL PRESENT - WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE YOU FIND MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PUT IN SERIOUS DANGER DUE TO THE SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING INTERSTATE DRIVING. THE ENGINE FAILSAFE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, WHILE ACCELERATING, THERE IS NO WARNING OR SPECIFIC PATTERN.
NHTSA ODI #10954306
194,000 miles · Nov 18, 2016
EngineVehicle Speed Control
WHILE VEICHLE IS STATIONARY, THE ENGINE REVS BETWEEN 500-1000 RPM. TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED SHIFTING AND MADE THE RPM GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. WHILE TURNING AT A SLOW SPEED IT SEEMED TO MAKE THE ISSUE WORSE. WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA ODI #10927045
Official recalls
2Oct 5, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Nov 9, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE11018 · 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
PE07058 · Instrument Cluster Failure
Opened Nov 16, 2007 · Closed Mar 11, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF PROPER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OPERATION.TYPICALLY, THE PROBLEM APPEARS AS THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND/OR TEMPERATURE) SWEEPS AND RESETS INTERMITTENTLY.FORD REPORTS THE PROBLEM AS MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTION CAUSES THE GAUGES TO SWEEP AND THEN RECOVER TO NORMAL FUNCTION.IN AUGUST 2006, FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-17-9) TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THIS CONDITION.ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S INFORMATIONREQUEST LETTER REVEALS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTS TO FORD (63%) INDICATE THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER.FORD REPORTS THAT THISLASTS FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS.ALSO FORD STATES, THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD NOT FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVEN IN THE EVENT OF POWER INTERRUPTION TO THE CLUSTER BECAUSE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE POWERED SEPARATELY AND DO NOT RELY ON ANY SIGNAL FROM THE CLUSTER.ADDITIONALLY, ODI CONTACTED COMPLAINANTS WHO AFFIRMED THE INTERMITTENT CONDITION AND THAT NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY POWER INTERRUPTIONS TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.ODI LAST RECEIVED A REPORT REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN AUGUST OF 2007.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.ODI WILL HOWEVER CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ISSUE AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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