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2007 Ford Freestyle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Freestyle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 893.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

809 reports with mileage · 84 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • 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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74,000 miles · Jul 22, 2012
EnginePower Train

MY CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE MOTION BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR A PEDESTRIAN IN A PARKING LOT. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT ON MY CAR. THIS IS VERY SCARY TO ME AND …

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MY CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE MOTION BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR A PEDESTRIAN IN A PARKING LOT. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT ON MY CAR. THIS IS VERY SCARY TO ME AND HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN IN A DRIVE THROUGH OR WHEN I AM BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466942

75,000 miles · Jul 21, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineSteeringCrash

PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE. WHEN BACKING UP, CAR LURCHED AND RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BACKING UP. I WAS IN REVERSE WHEN THE OTHER CAR BACKED UP. FOOT ON BRAKE AND CAR LURCHED INTO OTHER CAR. NO PERSONAL INJURIES THAN GOODNESS. *TR SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS LURCHED IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT T…

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PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE. WHEN BACKING UP, CAR LURCHED AND RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BACKING UP. I WAS IN REVERSE WHEN THE OTHER CAR BACKED UP. FOOT ON BRAKE AND CAR LURCHED INTO OTHER CAR. NO PERSONAL INJURIES THAN GOODNESS. *TR SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS LURCHED IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT SOMEHOW MY FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW I WAS DOING THIS. I ALSO THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE FLOOR MAT HAD SOMEHOW BOUND THE GAS PEDAL, BUT, I CHECKED AND IT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. SENSOR REPLACED ON CAR AS MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT FOR ABOUT 1,500 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MADE WORSE IF THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 90 OUTSIDE OR IF THE CAR IS SITTING AND IDLING OR OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR PERSONAL INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #10466856

33,000 miles · Jul 18, 2012
EnginePower Train

HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUE WITH MY FORD FREESTYLE: ENGINE SURGES/LUNGES, THEN STALLS AT LIGHTS OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER EXPLAINING THIS TO FORD BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR DAYS AND CLAIM ISSUE WAS NOT DUPLICATED...WHEN I CAME BACK TO THEM A MONTH LATER I REPLACED THE (ETC) AT FORD'S RECOMMENDATION. TH…

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HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUE WITH MY FORD FREESTYLE: ENGINE SURGES/LUNGES, THEN STALLS AT LIGHTS OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER EXPLAINING THIS TO FORD BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR DAYS AND CLAIM ISSUE WAS NOT DUPLICATED...WHEN I CAME BACK TO THEM A MONTH LATER I REPLACED THE (ETC) AT FORD'S RECOMMENDATION. THEY CHARGED ME FOR THIS. AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE DASH LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT ONE BY ONE. WHEN THE FIRST ONE WENT, IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT, FORD CLAIMED IT WASN'T COVERED AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $200 TO REPLACE A .10 CENT LIGHT BULB. I TOLD THEM NOT TOO AND THEY STILL CHARGED ME $50.00 FOR THE INSPECTION. THOUGH THE SURGING STOPPED FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER REPLACING THE ETC, THE SURGING/LUNGING HAS RETURNED. AND SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS LONG SINCE EXPIRED AND I AM UNDER-EMPLOYED, I HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS PART AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466393

81,500 miles · Jul 18, 2012
EnginePower Train

IN JUNE 2011 I HAD TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, I NOTICED PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH EVEN THOU MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (IN FORWARD OR REVERSE). THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS IN THE LOW 90'S. I HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN THE FALL OF 2010. NOW TODAY (18 JULY 2012) I AM ONCE AGAIN …

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IN JUNE 2011 I HAD TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, I NOTICED PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH EVEN THOU MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (IN FORWARD OR REVERSE). THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS IN THE LOW 90'S. I HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN THE FALL OF 2010. NOW TODAY (18 JULY 2012) I AM ONCE AGAIN TAKING MY CAR IN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS (PARTS REPLACEMENT). THE TEMP YESTERDAY WAS NEAR 90, I HAD THE AIR ON AND WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN MY VEHICLE LURCHED BACK INSTANTLY WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR (I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES) SO I DID NOT CRASH INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE STALL BEHIND THE ONE I WAS BAKING INTO. ALL THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE STALLED; I RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE (AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IS NOW ON CONSTANTLY AS IT WAS BACK IN 2011). WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING SLOT I WAS IN I ATTEMPTED TO GO HOME; THE VEHICLE LURCHED THE WHOLE TIME I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT, ONCE I WAS ON THE MAIN ROAD THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY; ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. AGAIN; THESE ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAD IN 2011. I CREPT MY CAR TO THE SUPERIOR FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE WORK DONE BEFORE. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT WORKER IF SHE KNEW OF ANY TECH-ISSUES OR CONCERNS AND SHE SAID NO....I WAS NOT BUYING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466362

83,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012
EnginePower Train

I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE REPLACED LAST YEAR AROUND JUNE 2011 AND LATELY (ONLY A YEAR LATER JULY 2012) THE THROTTLE IS ACCELERATING ON ITS ON OWN ONCE AGAIN WHEN I'M PARKING MY VEHICLE AND WHILE BACKING OUT (REVERSE). WHY ISN'T THIS ON A RECALL LIST BY NOW??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466311

98,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING IN 90 DEGREE + TEMPERATURES, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR LURCHES WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPOT, OR AT A STOP. BRAKING DOES STOP THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, HOWEVER IT STILL FEELS UNSAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-6 TIMES, AND AS RECENTLY AS TODAY (7/17/12). IT IS NOT DRIVER ERROR - AGAIN HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TH…

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WHILE DRIVING IN 90 DEGREE + TEMPERATURES, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR LURCHES WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPOT, OR AT A STOP. BRAKING DOES STOP THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, HOWEVER IT STILL FEELS UNSAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-6 TIMES, AND AS RECENTLY AS TODAY (7/17/12). IT IS NOT DRIVER ERROR - AGAIN HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ANALYZE THAT THE FOOT IS NOT ON THE GAS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466294

40,000 miles · Jul 16, 2012
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE ROUTINELY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE IS IDLING. THIS BEGAN DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009, AND CONTINUES TODAY. IT IS ESPECIALLY COMMON DURING WARM WEATHER. SOMETIMES AFTER THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND TRY TO ACCELERATE ON MY OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465890

96,000 miles · Jul 7, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND COMES ON. VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER. WHEN VEHICLE RESTARTS IT OPERATES OKAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464540

135,000 miles · Jul 6, 2012
EnginePower Train

VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGES FROM STOPPED POSITION WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED, OCCURS IN FORWARD AND REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464373

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

OVER THE MONTHS, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WERE INCONSISTENT OCCURRENCES OF SURGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD AT LOW SPEEDS WITHOUT ACCELERATING. TYPICALLY THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN PARKING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT/GARAGE. IT HAS INCREASED LATELY AND THIS PAST FRIDAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED GREATLY AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. T…

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OVER THE MONTHS, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WERE INCONSISTENT OCCURRENCES OF SURGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD AT LOW SPEEDS WITHOUT ACCELERATING. TYPICALLY THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN PARKING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT/GARAGE. IT HAS INCREASED LATELY AND THIS PAST FRIDAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED GREATLY AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER IDLING. THE ONLY "REMEDY" IS SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464313

Official recalls

0

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

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

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