2007 Ford Freestyle

TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION. VEHICLE PASSED ALL ITEMS EXCEPT THE K MEMBER FRAME (SUBFRAME) HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND HAD CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THIS DEFECT WAS CORRECTED. ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $1000. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 140K MILES AND IS OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITIION.

FROM THE 1ST DAY I LEASED THE VEHICLE FROM PROGRESSIVE AUTO, I COULD HEAR IT RAVING HIGH, STEERING WHEEL REALLY HEAVY, BRAKES SEEMED STRANGE AND HEAVY TO MOVE. BUT THE SALES MAN KEPT TELLING AND SHOWING ME A REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINE, AND KEPT SAYING, ITS THE TYPE OF ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE (CVT) THAT'S WHY IT ALL SEEMS STRANGE. I KEPT GOING BACK TO THEM ADVISING THEM THAT I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT THEY KEPT SAYING THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION, BRAKES AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AND THIS WAS NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS VERY UPSET AND WANTED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE. SO THEY DECIDED TO CLAIM TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION BY INSTALLING A USED ONE. I HAD TO GET THE OTHER THINGS FIXED MYSELF. NOT EVEN A YEAR AND SOME LATER, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED, AS I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED TO STALL TO A POINT I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WITH KIDS IN THE BACK, AS THE CAR KEPT JERKING AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.THIS WAS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED IN MY LIFE TIME. AND THE BEST PART, IS ONE ONE WANTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO BE VERY VERY COMMON. I WISH THE PROBLEMS WERE EASILY DIAGNOSED WHEN FIRST HAPPENING, AND IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME ALOT OF HEADACHES. I AM USUALLY A IMPORT VEHICLE INDIVIDUAL, BUT I CHOOSE FORD AS I HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AS IT HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD. I NEED OVER $3000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH!

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AND FELT A LARGE BANG THEN SHUDDERING WITH THE VEHICLE BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER AND LOSING CONTROL, VEERING OFF THE ROAD EDGE. SHE REGAINED CONTROL AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. SHE CALLED ME FOR ASSISTANCE AND I FOUND THE REAR SUB FRAME IS INFERIOR IN CONSTRUCTION AND HAD EXTENSIVE PERFORATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE REAR CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE FROM THE SUB FRAME. THE REAR WHEEL BECAME UNSTABLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ON THE ISSUE, THEY HAVE RECALLS ON THE ESCAPE AND WINDSTAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THE SAME REPORTS FROM OTHER FREESTYLE OWNERS. FORD REFUSED TO ASSIST ON THE MATTER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED APPROX. 35 MILES PER OUR. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MY DAUGHTER MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED.

DESCRIPTION OF FAILURE FORD MOTOR CASE NO. [XXX] DECEMBER 2, 2014 2007 FORD FREESTYLE SEL FWD ' 89,800 MILES VERY GOOD CONDITION- ORIGINAL OWNER ON NOVEMBER 26, 2014 OWNER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER REAR WHEEL. WHEEL WAS SWAYING IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION ON THE BASE OF THE WHEEL AND DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE AUTOMOBILE. UPON INSPECTION AT METRO FORD SALES (WHERE AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED) ON DECEMBER 2, 2014 IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME HAD FAILED THROUGH EXTENSIVE RUST. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE ACTUAL SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME BODY. THIS ALLOWED THE BASE OF THE WHEEL SYSTEM TO PROJECT IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND TRACTION. THE MAINTENANCE PERSONAL DETERMINED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE THE REMOVAL OF THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY AND THE REPLACEMENT WITH A SERVICEABLE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF THE SERVICE PERSONAL THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS EXTENSIVE AND UNUSUAL RUST. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE FRAMEWORK THERE WAS COMPARATIVELY LITTLE RUST TO OTHER COMPONENTS. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE FAILED SUB-FRAME SYSTEM, HAD VERY LITTLE RUST AND WAS STILL VERY SERVICEABLE THIS IS A VERY TROUBLING SITUATION SINCE THE CAR WAS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. FURTHERMORE, THE AUTOMOBILE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOUSED IN A CLIMATICALLY CONTROLLED GARAGE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT ITS LIFESPAN. AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT IS VERY OBVIOUS TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED THAT THE SUB-FRAME IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SUB-STANDARD STEEL AND ALLOYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIXTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE CAUSE OF THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED RANDOMLY IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN EITHER TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT, SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE CAUSED BY THE CV JOINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,699.

THE CAR DEVELOPED A SERIOUS RIGHT-LEFT JERK WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED OR DECELERATED. THE FORD DEALER TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE. FROM THE OFFICIAL FORD REPAIR MANUAL THE BALL JOINT SHOULD BE AT 85 FT-LBS. IN MY OPINION A NUT SET TO 85 FT-LBS SHOULD NOT HAVE WORKED LOOSE. THE TECHNICIAN HAD NO IDEA WHY THE BALL JOINT NUT HAD COME LOOSE. SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A FORD DEALER AND NO FRONT END MECHANICAL WORK WAS EVER DONE, I BELIEVE THAT THE BALL JOINT NUT WAS NOT SET TO THE PROPER TORQUE WHEN THE CAR WAS INITIALLY ASSEMBLED. ONCE THE FORD DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIR I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK THE RIGHT SIDE AND IN FACT THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT WAS ALSO A LITTLE LOOSE. *TR

2007 FORD FREESTYLE. CONSUMER STATES A VIBRATION/ NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VIBRATION/NOISE INSPECTED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FRONT END NOISE HAD WORSENED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL FOUR PIRELLI P6 TIRES WERE CUPPED WITH FLAT SPOTS. THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE INSIDE EDGE ONLY OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TIRES WERE REGULARLY BALANCED AND ROTATED. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE PIRELLI P6 TIRES FORD INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY HAD BEEN PROBLEMATIC WHEN USED ON THE 2005/2007 FORD FREESTYLES. THE REPORT DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND SHOWED A TYPICAL WEAR PATTERN THAT HE EXPERIENCED WITH HIS VEHICLE. AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE NOISE WAS INDEED COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS AT WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM; THE TIRES OR THE SUSPENSION. *JB