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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

43 reports

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55,000 miles · Jul 10, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

MY VEHICLE LURCHES WHEN IDLING AND JUMPS IN RPM UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER SLOWING WHICH IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE BRAKES CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNCONTROLLABLY AND RAPIDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10411679

45,000 miles · Jun 23, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

UNEXPECTED VEHICLE SURGING, NEAR MISSES HAVE OCCURRED, HAPPENS IN REVERSE AND DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408720

55,649 miles · Jun 16, 2011

Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

LURCHING OUT OF CONTROL CAR HAD TO BE HELD WITH EXTREME FORCE ON THE BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER JUNE 15, 2009 REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSY. COST $732.86 JUNE 15, 2011 CAR HAS BEEN LURCHING AGAIN, ALMOST TOOK OUT OUR KITCHEN WALL, HOLDING BRAKE HARD SAVED HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407063

60,200 miles · Jun 15, 2011

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406973

53,290 miles · Jun 7, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

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WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAR HAS DONE A SIMILAR THING SIX ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. THINGS COMMON TO THE INCIDENTS WERE THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE SPEED OR JUST ABOVE, WARM OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WITH A/C ON, STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED IN 6 OF 7 INCIDENTS. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE APPARENTLY RECEIVES SIGNAL TO APPLY TOO MUCH POWER. WAS TOLD AT DEALERSHIP THAT ADDING INJECTOR CLEANER WITH EACH TANK OF GAS MAY HELP, BUT IT HAS NOT. REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND HAVE A LEAD TIME OF MANY MONTHS. WILL A NEW REPLACEMENT BE A MODIFIED DESIGN? I'D TAKE A MECHANICAL THROTTLE BODY ANY DAY OVER THIS MESS. THIS IS A THREAT TO PROPERTY AND LIFE. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS I FEEL IT WOULD BE INVITING A CRASH. CAR IS ALSO NOT VERY MARKETABLE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL IN HOT WEATHER WITH A DEMO DRIVE WHILE A/C IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #10406381

36,000 miles · Jun 2, 2011

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

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THIS STARTED LAST YEAR, WHEN WARM WEATHER STARTED, TRIED TO BACK UP AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLING FOR AWHILE, FREESTYLE STALLED OUT AND TRIED TO JUMP, ABOUT THREE TIMES IN A ROW, BEFORE WE COULD GET IN DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER. TOOK A FRIEND TO THE HOSPITAL ON 05/25/11. DROVE TO EAST GATE FROM MY HOUSE TO PICK HER UP, STOPPED AT FAST FOOD PLACE, HAD TO WAIT FOR FOOD, NOTICED GAUGE NEEDLES ALL JUMPED UP AND THEN FELL BACK DOWN WHILE WAITING W/A/C AND ENGINE RUNNING IN PARK. PULLED OUT, WENT TO DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, GOT INTO PARKING GARAGE, VEHICLE STARTED TO LURCH WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. I SLAMMED BOTH FEET ON BRAKE, TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANYONE, OR ANYTHING, VEHICLE STALLED. I RESTARTED, AND KEPT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE AGAIN TRIED TO LURCH OUT, AND THEN DIED. THIS HAPPEN 3 OR 4 TIMES IN SUCCESSION, FINALLY GOT VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, AND PARKED IT. IT WAS PARKED ABOUT 30 MINUTES, DROVE BACK TO EASTGATE, AND THEN HOME. WRENCH AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AT TIME OF INCIDENT. IT WAS STILL ON WHEN I GOT HOME. IT WENT OFF AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. ON 5/30/11, DROPPED OFF FRIEND FROM WORK, ON MY WAY HOME, TALKED IN CAR FOR AWHILE WITH ENGINE AND A/C RUNNING WHILE IN PARK. UPON DRIVING TO MAIN ROAD, VEHICLE STALLED, RESTARTED NO ACCELERATION, WHEN I HIT THE GAS, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. PULLED OVER TO SIDE, TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, REMOVED KEY, RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME. DEALERSHIP CALLED TODAY, SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND WILL COST ME ABOUT $600.00 TO INSTALL A NEW THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING, AFTER READING INFO ON EDMUNDS.COM UPDATED 06/0/8/11*BF

NHTSA ODI #10406396

69,400 miles · May 17, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

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I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS FOR SURGING. NEITHER DEALER ADMITTED HEARING OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THE CAR WILL SURGE URGE TO ALMOST 2000 RPMS AND THEN DIE BACK TO AROUND 500 RPMS AND STRUGGLE TO RUN. IT WILL REPEAT THIS UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. IN THE 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES AS RECENTLY AS LAST FRIDAY. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WILL DO THIS AT INTERSECTIONS AND SHE DOES NOT TRUST THE CAR TO BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401365

87,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011

Fuel System, Gasoline

2007 FORD FREESTYLE STARTED SURGING ON HIGHWAY AND THE WRENCH ICON CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. WE SLOWED DOWN A DROVE HOME BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE CHARGED 600.00 TO REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378587

64,500 miles · Dec 8, 2010

Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING ON HIGHWAY AND THROTTLE WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DONNELL FORD, BOARDMAN, OHIO ON 12/8/10 AND WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE BOY NEEDED REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO REPAIR WAS $860.00.

NHTSA ODI #10370193

153,000 miles · Oct 27, 2010

Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

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BOUGHT A USED 2007 FORD FREESTYLE LIMITED 3.0 DURATEC ENGINE, CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. HAD FORD DEALER TUNE-UP THE ENGINE, REPLACE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON ENGINE AND REPLACE THE CVT FLUID & FILTERS AS WELL AS PERFORM A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. AFTER WORK PERFORMED (WHICH REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD W/THROTTLE BODY ATTACHED FOR THE TUNE-UP) THE VEHICLE NOW SURGES BADLY WHEN IN REVERSE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. DOES SO QUITE POWERFULLY AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO ANY LIFE & PROPERTY THAT IS AROUND THE VEHICLE WHEN SURGING OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD HAVE PANICKED AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE OR PROPERTY. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING AND MANAGED (JUST BARELY) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. TOOK BACK TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND WAS QUOTED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE R/R'D. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER FORD WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS FAILED TO RESPOND WITH A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362662

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