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

Power Train complaints

360 reports

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70,300 miles · Jul 2, 2011

Power Train

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OUR PROBLEMS WITH OUR 07 FORD FREESTYLE STARTED OCCURRING ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I WENT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, MY CAR SORT OF STUTTERED, THEN TOOK OFF. IT HAS DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHERE IT IS CRUCIAL TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, AND I HAVE BEEN SO AFRAID OF GETTING HIT BECAUSE OF IT. IT IS LIKE PUSHING ON THE GAS AND NOT REALLY GETTING MUCH OF A RESPONSE WHERE THERE SHOULD BE. SO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENCE OCCURRED WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE STORE WITH A FRIEND AND MY CHILDREN. I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO EXIT MY PARKING SPOT, AND MY CAR TOOK OFF AGGRESSIVELY. I HAD TO KEEP APPLYING THE BREAK TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANYONE OR OTHER CARS. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE IN THE DRIVE GEAR, MY CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED WITH NO APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS COULD BE SEVERELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND TO OTHER PEOPLE! PLEASE RECALL THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10411148

75,019 miles · Jul 2, 2011

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EquipmentFuel System, Other

97,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE, NEW TRANSMISSION- HOLE I N THE DRIVE SHAFT. 3 REAR BRAKE JOBS- THE 1ST ON WAS BY RECALL. CRACKED MOTORHEAD 12,000 MILES AFTER NEW TRANSMISSION. THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES, SQUEAKS, AND POPS SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN. FROM THE CV JOINTS AND BACK BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410292

38,000 miles · Jul 1, 2011

Power Train

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THE ENGINE SURGES DURING BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD (DEPENDING ON GEAR) THEREFORE BRAKE MUST BE FIRMLY APPLIED TO MAINTAIN SAFE CONTROL. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING AND YOU ARE NOT ACTIVELY CONTROLLING THE CAR OTHER THAN APPLYING THE BRAKE. IT OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY ON 2007 FORD FREESTYLE AND AM GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410166

101,234 miles · Jun 30, 2011

Power Train

2007 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES WHEN AIR IS ON MAKING SMALL TIGHT TURNS OR INCREMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410092

78,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I JUST PURCHASED A FORD FREESTYLE 2007 AND TOOK IT TO A TACH DAY AFTER THE PURCHASE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SURGES AND CUTS OF AND THEN WILL LOOSE POWER. TECH ADVISED ME HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG TEST DROVE IT SEVERAL TIMES AND IT NEVER HAPPENED AFTER WE GOT HOME WITH THE CAR IT BEING TO DO IT A FEW MORE TIMES THIS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL GET YOU KILLED OR YOUR FAMILY KILLED I SURE HOPE FORD REALIZES IF SOMEONE DOES GET HURT BUT THE CAR SURGING LIKE THIS THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE AT FAULT AND I HOPE THEY FIX THE ISSUE SOON FOR GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409119

60,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011

Power Train

2007 FREESTYLE LUNGES FORWARD AFTER PUTTING IT IN GEAR. REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER FOR IT NOT TO DO AN COMMANDED FORWARD MOVEMENT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409116

62,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011

Power Train

FORD FREESTYLE 2007 I HAVE HAD 2 THROTTLE BODIES REPLACED CAR CONTINUES TO SURGE IN FORWARD COMING OUT OF REVERSE. JUST WAITING FOR A BIG WRECK FORD DOES NOT CARE WHAT CAN I DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409115

70,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011

Power Train

2007 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES AT LOW SPEEDS IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. I NOTICED THIS ACTIVITY FOR ABOUT A YEAR BUT THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY FOOT WAS SLIPPING OFF THE BRAKE. I FINALLY TESTED IT ENSURING THAT I WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IN ANY WAY. THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AFTER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND LUNGES IN REVERSE. THI…

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NHTSA ODI #10407628

75,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011

Power Train

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I OWN A 2007 FROD FREESTYLE. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SINCE THE SUMMER I BOUGHT IT IN 2010 WITH LUNGING FORWARD AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATIONS. IT DOES THIS WORSE IN THE SUMMER. I ALMOST RAN OVER THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A DRIVE THRU THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE HAD IT DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN TRYING TO PARK, CAUSING MANY NEAR MISS FENDERBENDERS. I HAVE STOPPED AT CROSSWALKS AND HAD IT LUNGE AND ALMOST RUN OVER PEOPLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES BY AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10407605

60,000 miles · Jun 17, 2011

Fuel System, OtherPower Train

CAR SURGES WHEN AT A STOP OR WHEN TRYING TO PARK. SOME TIMES THE SURGE IS SO STRONG IT IS HARD TO KEEP FROM HITTING PEOPLE OR OBJECTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407297

Official recalls

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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