Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 428 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 360 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine complaints

93 reports

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96,000 miles · Dec 1, 2012

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, MY FORD FREESTYLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE JUMPED CURBS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT CAUSES SOMEONE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486644

85,259 miles · Nov 17, 2012

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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AT 49,660 MILES WE HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY CHANGED BECAUSE THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED OUT. ON JUNE 19, 2012 OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WAS SERVICED WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FLUID CHANGE, AND A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD. ON NOV. 5, 2012 IT WOULD REV UP WHEN DRIVING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER RESEARCHING, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT IN THE 2005-2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT POSES NUMEROUS SAFETY CONCERNS. FORD DOES NOT EVEN MAKE THE TRANSMISSION ANY MORE, SO OUR ONLY CHOICE IS TO PAY OVER $5000 FOR A USED/REBUILT ONE THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. OUR CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. WE NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. PLEASE HAVE FORD RECALL THESE FAULTY CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE MORE CONCERN FOR SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485017

35,000 miles · Nov 2, 2012

Engine

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MY 2007 FREESTYLE LUNGES WHEN I AM STOPPED. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THE CAR AND FORD SEEMS TO TURN A BLIND EYE. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER, DEFROST, HEATER IS ON. IT IS VERY SCARY AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, I HAVE GOTTEN VERY CLOSE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WENT BANKRUPT SO THE PARTS ARE HARD TO FIND. NOW MY CAR DIED COMPLETELY AND MY MECHANIC IS STATING I NEED A NEW ENGINE. HOW CAN THIS CAR NOT BE RECALLED DUE TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES REPORTED. I SEE THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED, BUT CAN"T FIND ANY FOLLOW UP INFORMATION. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483150

84,300 miles · Oct 18, 2012

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DARKEN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL ACCELERATION AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES BUT THE AIR BAG AND SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, WHICH CAUSED WATER AND MOISTURE TO PENETRATE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,900.

NHTSA ODI #10481028

51,000 miles · Oct 16, 2012

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT LUNGES FORWARD AND WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT LUNGES BACK. IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKE YOU CAN HURT SOMEONE. ITS WORSE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480766

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2012

EngineCrash

MY CAR IS CUTTING OFF WHEN I DRIVE IT. IT ALSO RACES WHEN I SHIFT THE GEARS. AND WHEN I TURN THE AC AND SHIFT THE GEARS THE CAR ACCELERATES. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE MAY 2012. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A CAR DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480635

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2012

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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I PURCHASED MY 2007 FF DEC OF 2010. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED MILD ACCELERATION SOMETIMES WITHOUT APPLYING MY FOOT TO THE PEDAL. IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE BY MID JUNE. SO MUCH SO THAT I CONTACTED DRIVETIME WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR & THEY GAVE ME SOME TRANSMISSION SHOP TO TAKE IT TO, ONLY BE TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. WELL, BY 2012, THE UNINITIATED ACCELERATION HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN & RAN SLAM INTO THE BACK OF A LADY'S CAR CAUSING MORE THAN $2000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO POLICE THAT MY CAR ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING BUT SLIGHTLY LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE (NEVER TOUCHING THE GAS). HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A TICKET BUT SAID IT WAS STILL MY FAULT. MY KIDS CALL THE CAR A TRANSFORMER BUT IT IS THE WORSE TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM PLUNGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD & HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE! I HAVE TO MAKE ABSOLUTE SURE NO ONE IS AROUND WHEN I AM IN SHOPPING LOTS BECAUSE I AM AFRAID WHEN THE CAR TAKES OFF BACKWARDS FROM PARKING SPACES. I USUALLY HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BUT THEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF &ON COMES THE ENGINE LIGHT. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FREESTYLE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479215

102,000 miles · Sep 20, 2012

EngineVehicle Speed Control

MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I HAD THE CAR IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED. IT HAS DONE SO ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SINCE. IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476538

100,000 miles · Sep 12, 2012

EnginePower Train

AS I WAS STOPPING TO GET GAS, THE CAR SURGED WHEN I WAS APPLYING BRAKES. IT IS ALSO SURGING AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE GRANDKIDS THAT RIDE IN THE CAR WITH ME. CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475250

61,463 miles · Sep 10, 2012

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW 8/18/07 FROM PALM COAST FORD. IN MAY OR JUNE 2010 I BEGAN NOTICING THE CAR LUNGING WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS OR ONCE YOU HAVE BACKED OUT AND THEN PLACED INTO DRIVE. I ALSO ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STALLING IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE. ON 7.5.10 THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITH PALM COAST FORD FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE "ISSUES." AS THIS "ISSUE" DID NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE I VISITED THE DAYTONA BEACH FORD DEALERSHIP BUT THIS WAS NOT A DOCUMENTED VISIT AS WAS THE PALM COAST FORD VISIT. THE DAYTONA FORD SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED IT WAS A JUST THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT STALLING WHEN BACKING UP OR PULLING FORWARD. SO I LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM HOPING THAT IT WOULDN'T LUNGE AND HIT SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT. MY BROTHER FINALLY RODE WITH ME AND SAID THIS IS NOT CORRECT SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NON-FORD REPAIR SHOP WHO RECOMMENDED A TUNE-UP BE ACCOMPLISHED. THIS OCCURRED OCT. 25, 2011 AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NOW WHATEVER THEY ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE TUNE-UP IS NOW WEARING OFF AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN IT'S LUNGING PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THAT'S WHEN I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THESE INCIDENT REPORTS SO I WANT TO REPORT MY PROBLEM TO HELP YOU DOCUMENT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. I LIKE MY FREESTYLE BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE LUNGING SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474576

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

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

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO