NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
360 reportsClear category filter65,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Power Train
MULTIPLE TIMES WAITING ON TRAFFIC AT STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS OR JUST WAITING TO TURN. MY FORD FREESTYLE WILL LURCH FORWARD NEARLY STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR PROPELLING ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONCE NEARLY STRIKING MY WIFE WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FREESTYLE WILL ALSO STALL IN TRAFFIC WHIL…
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MULTIPLE TIMES WAITING ON TRAFFIC AT STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS OR JUST WAITING TO TURN. MY FORD FREESTYLE WILL LURCH FORWARD NEARLY STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR PROPELLING ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONCE NEARLY STRIKING MY WIFE WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FREESTYLE WILL ALSO STALL IN TRAFFIC WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS OR SIMPLE PULLING AWAY FROM STOPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441468
31,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
CAR LUNGES AT STOPS AND LOW SPEEDS. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10437901
74,000 miles · Nov 28, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HAVING THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE DRASTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAD FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HAVING THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE DRASTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAD FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10437498
79,000 miles · Oct 12, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, I WAS WAITING IN A LINE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT SO I WAS IDLING WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STALLED OUT. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START BUT THEN IT WOULD SURGE AGAIN. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT. THE CAR CHUGGED A BIT BUT WHEN I GOT GOIN…
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THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, I WAS WAITING IN A LINE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT SO I WAS IDLING WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STALLED OUT. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START BUT THEN IT WOULD SURGE AGAIN. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT. THE CAR CHUGGED A BIT BUT WHEN I GOT GOING IT WORKED FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHEN IDLING, THE CAR WOULD EITHER CHUG AND STALL OR SURGE. THE PROBLEM WAS PARTICULARLY BAD ONE DAY AND HAD BEEN DOING IT A FEW TIMES. WE THEN WERE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WASN'T GETTING ANY GAS, IT TOOK AWHILE TO GET THE CAR OVER 25 MPH. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT THEY PROBLEM WAS BUT THE READOUT SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY BUT THEY WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH ANYONE ELSE HAVING THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS VERY HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10429567
60,000 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LUNGE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LUNGE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRST FAILURE, BUT NOT THE SECOND FAILURE. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10428431
85,000 miles · Oct 1, 2011
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
WE PURCHASED THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE ONLY ONE MONTH AGO FROM A DEALER IN BLAIR NEBRASKA WHO CERTIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PURCHASED. WE HAVE NOT OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. WHILE DRIVING TODAY WITH THE FAMILY (CHILDREN INCLUDED) DOWN THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE CEN…
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WE PURCHASED THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE ONLY ONE MONTH AGO FROM A DEALER IN BLAIR NEBRASKA WHO CERTIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PURCHASED. WE HAVE NOT OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. WHILE DRIVING TODAY WITH THE FAMILY (CHILDREN INCLUDED) DOWN THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE CENTER OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKY NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED! THE VEHICLE STARTED LURCHING AND THEN WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE PERFORMING THE SAME WAY WITH MANY OTHERS IN CLASS ACTION AND FORUMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428145
80,000 miles · Sep 30, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train
THE CAR STALLS OUT AND I GET THE WRENCH ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR WILL RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND RUNS FINE AT THAT POINT. THIS APPARENTLY MEANS THAT THERE IS A POWERTRAIN FAULT DETECTED. WHEN THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE RAN THEY PULLED THE CODE U0401 AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE ALOT OF FREESTYLES AND MERCURY'S WITH THIS…
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THE CAR STALLS OUT AND I GET THE WRENCH ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR WILL RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND RUNS FINE AT THAT POINT. THIS APPARENTLY MEANS THAT THERE IS A POWERTRAIN FAULT DETECTED. WHEN THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE RAN THEY PULLED THE CODE U0401 AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE ALOT OF FREESTYLES AND MERCURY'S WITH THIS CODE AND THAT IT WOULD BE $280.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10427979
73,196 miles · Sep 30, 2011
Power Train
THE CAR STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD. THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10427978
50,000 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
THROTTLE BODY ISSUES (POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION AS WELL) CAUSE INTERMITTENT SURGING, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PATTERNS, STALLING OR ALL THREE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED WITH A/C RUNNING. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A CROWDED MALL PARKING LOT. THE SUDDEN SURGE AS I WAS BACKING OUT AT IDLE (…
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THROTTLE BODY ISSUES (POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION AS WELL) CAUSE INTERMITTENT SURGING, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PATTERNS, STALLING OR ALL THREE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED WITH A/C RUNNING. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A CROWDED MALL PARKING LOT. THE SUDDEN SURGE AS I WAS BACKING OUT AT IDLE (NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL) NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HIT A PEDESTRIAN. DEALER "COULD NOT REPLICATE" THE ISSUE BUT SUGGESTED A THOROUGH CLEANING OF THROTTLE BODY. HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES SINCE FIRST INCIDENT AND CLEANING DOES HELP FOR A SHORT WHILE BUT THE SURGING RETURNS WITHOUT WARNING. CLEARLY A DANGEROUS ISSUE, AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I'VE LEARNED (ONLINE) THIS IS COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10427941
40,000 miles · Sep 22, 2011
Power Train
UNEXPECTED POWER SURGES WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND WE HAVE HAD A FEW NEAR MISSES. WHILE THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD. IT DOES THIS OFTEN, AND SEEMS LIKE IT DOES IT MORE IN HOT WEATHER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUP…
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UNEXPECTED POWER SURGES WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND WE HAVE HAD A FEW NEAR MISSES. WHILE THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD. IT DOES THIS OFTEN, AND SEEMS LIKE IT DOES IT MORE IN HOT WEATHER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE POWER SURGE, SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I COULD TELL THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS BEFORE, BUT DID NOT WANT TO ADDRESS IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10426845
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
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