TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED R…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 1312391401 AND STATED THE FAILURE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 145,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07//15/11
NHTSA ODI #10402716
65,000 miles · May 25, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO LUNGED WHILE REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MIGHT NE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO LUNGED WHILE REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALSO WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 07/26/11 *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGED FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING OR MOVING VERY SLOWLY. UPDATED 08/01/11
NHTSA ODI #10402655
30,000 miles · May 24, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED WHILE IN REVERSE OR ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR FAILURE WHERE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED WHILE IN REVERSE OR ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR FAILURE WHERE THE BRAKES HOSES AND BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10402529
40,000 miles · May 23, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND AS SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE SPORADICALLY OCCURRED WHETHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD AND WHETHER THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND AS SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE SPORADICALLY OCCURRED WHETHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD AND WHETHER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO UPDATED THE TRANSMISSION CODES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE FILTERS BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10402418
42,090 miles · May 22, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
FIRST, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I LIKE MY FORD FREESTYLE. IT IS A COMFORTABLE CAR WITH A SMOOTH RIDE. THE EVENT OCCURRED ONE WEEK AGO ON SUNDAY MAY 15TH. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, GOOD DRIVING CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 1PM. I WAS EXITING THE CHURCH PARKING LOT WITH THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER ON. I WAS IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING TO TU…
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FIRST, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I LIKE MY FORD FREESTYLE. IT IS A COMFORTABLE CAR WITH A SMOOTH RIDE. THE EVENT OCCURRED ONE WEEK AGO ON SUNDAY MAY 15TH. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, GOOD DRIVING CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 1PM. I WAS EXITING THE CHURCH PARKING LOT WITH THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER ON. I WAS IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING TO TURN ONTO THE MAIN STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR IN THE "D"(DRIVE) POSITION. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, AND MY FOOT WAS IN MID-AIR (NEITHER ON THE ACCELERATOR NOR ON THE BRAKE) AS I WAS ANTICIPATING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO MOVE IN A FEW SECONDS. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED SLIGHTLY AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT ONE FOOT BEFORE I COULD APPLY THE BRAKE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED, AS THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, I HAD LEFT ABOUT 10 FEET ROOM BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ( I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT I DID NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, NOR DID THE FLOOR MAT) IRONICALLY, A FEW DAYS LATER, I READ AN ARTICLE IN OUR NEWSPAPER ABOUT A CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF ABOUT 200 FORD FREESTYLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING THE FORD FREESTYLE. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10403248
81,500 miles · May 22, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR LUNGES BACKWARDS WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. ORIGINALLY IT WAS INTERMITTENT. NOW IT HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. ORIGINALLY, IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE. NOW AFTER I HAVE BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, T…
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WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR LUNGES BACKWARDS WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. ORIGINALLY IT WAS INTERMITTENT. NOW IT HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. ORIGINALLY, IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE. NOW AFTER I HAVE BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, I'M VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL PARKING LOT, IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS AN ONGOING INCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402326
75,000 miles · May 22, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2005 LE FREESTYLE (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE) THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN SURGING/LURCHING OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, BUT IT WAS SO OCCASIONAL AND SUBTLE THAT I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT. THEN THIS WEEK I ALMOST HIT A CAR IN THE SCHOOL CAR RIDER LINE AND IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT MY IMAGINATION. THE CAR SUD…
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I HAVE A 2005 LE FREESTYLE (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE) THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN SURGING/LURCHING OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, BUT IT WAS SO OCCASIONAL AND SUBTLE THAT I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT. THEN THIS WEEK I ALMOST HIT A CAR IN THE SCHOOL CAR RIDER LINE AND IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT MY IMAGINATION. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD (NOT SUBTLY!) WHEN I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT WAS A HOT DAY & I'D JUST TURNED ON THE AC SO MY SON WOULD BE COMFORTABLE (I USUALLY DON'T USE THE AC THAT MUCH). ALSO LAST WEEK I ALMOST HIT A CAR WHEN MY CAR SURGED WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (AGAIN, I'D JUST TURNED ON THE AC BECAUSE I HAD OTHER PEOPLE W/ ME).BECAUSE MY INCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED THIS SUMMER DURING THE HOT WEATHER I FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S A SAFE HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402325
86,000 miles · May 21, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
2005 FORD FREESTYLE THAT LUNGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND KILLS THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN WHICH BOTH TIMES THE AC WAS ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402278
60,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
CAR IS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN HARD ON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. MOSTLY ON LOW PULLING OUT SPEED WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT EVERY TIME. HOPE THE RECALL COMES INTO EFFECT ON THESE HARD TIME OR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO LOOK INTO OUR SAFETY.
NHTSA ODI #10403128
70 miles · May 20, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
PARKING VEHICLE IN LOT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. FRONT OF CAR HITS CONCRETE STOP AND CRACKS SKIRT. *TR
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.
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
2
PE11018 · 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
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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