2007 Ford Freestyle

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 WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

MIDDLE ROW, MIDDLE SEAT, SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. THIS SEAT BELT WAS NOT IN THE FEMALE LOCK, 3-POINT SEAT BELT POSITION. IT WAS UN-ENGAGED. SEAT WAS PUT IN THE DOWN POSITION AND SEAT BELT LOCKED EVEN TIGHTER. THE SEAT WOULD NOT GO IN THE UP POSITION, THE UN-ENGAGED SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT SO THAT THE SEAT WOULD GO IN THE UP POSITION. *DT

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ONTO A SOMEWHAT BUSY STREET. AS I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, I NOTICED I COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 10 MPH DESPITE BEING IN A ZONE OF APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN A MILE AT THIS SPEED, I TURNED AROUND AND RETURN THE CAR TO THE DRIVEWAY. I THEN PROCEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPORTED THIS WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THIS REPAIR SHOP ASKED FOR OUR PERMISSION TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP WHO SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WE AGREED THEN LATER RECEIVED WORD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "SHOT" AND THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF APPROXIMATELY $4,500. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE VALUE OF THE CAR ON LINE, IT WAS SHOWING IT'S RUNNING VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THEY WERE TOLD BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT THE MODELS OF 2005 THROUGH 2007 FORD FREESTYLE'S CVT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE ALSO TOLD THAT FORD DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT INVENTORY OF PARTS TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, AND BY THE WAY THERE WAS NO RECALL NOTICE OUT ON THEM SINCE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WILL NOT RUN, NOR CAN I SELL OR TRADE IN AS IT HAS LITTLE TO NO VALUE AT THIS TIME. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY DESIGNED CVT TRANSMISSION'S. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHILE LIFTING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE, THE SERVICE JACK BUCKLED ABOUT ONE INCH FROM THE PIVOT WHERE THE SADDLE THE PINCH RAIL RESTS ON AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS ON LEVEL GROUND WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET. THIS IS DISTURBING AS I WAS A FORD MECHANIC FOR FIVE YEARS AND HAVE WORKED IN NUMEROUS SHOPS AND HAVE NEVER COME CLOSE TO DROPPING A VEHICLE. THE JACK CREASED AT THE BUCKLE POINT AND BESIDES THE BUCKLED SECTION STILL APPEARS NEW. THE JACK WILL BE SAVED IF THE UNIT OR PICTURES ARE NEEDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JOLTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD ONLY CIRCULATE WHILE DRIVING. WHILE AT A STOP, THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT RELEASE COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION AND A DEFECT WITHIN THE AIR LINES, WHICH POTENTIALLY CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONING TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

SO I USED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE RPM SURGE IN MY CAR THEN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (CSP) CAME OUT AND I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY DEPOSITS CLEANED AS PER THE CSP12N03 IN APRIL OF 2013. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES UNTIL JULY 2014. MAJOR ISSUE- I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE ON JULY 27TH AND MY CAR BEGAN DECELERATING REALLY QUICKLY. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON DURING THIS DECELERATION AND I HAD TO COME TO A STOP IN THE V WHERE CARS ARE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE MY CAR SLOWED SO DRASTICALLY THAT I WOULD HAVE NOT MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY STILL RUNNING, I MANUALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER I SAT FOR A MOMENT, I DECIDED I WOULD SEE IF MY CAR WOULD CRANK. THE CAR CRANKED AND DIED AND FINALLY STAYED CRANKED, I DECIDED TO TRY TO MOVE THE CAR. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON AND THE CAR DID EXACTLY WHAT A NORMAL CAR WOULD DO. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP TO SPEED AND EXIT AND DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. I TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS, THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE SAY THAT IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY (THE PART THAT HAD A CSP ON IT). I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 1000 DOLLARS OR MORE TO HAVE A FAULTY PART REPLACED. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS OTHERWISE FORD WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE PART CLEANED. I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE PART ON MY CAR AND ANYONE ELSE'S VEHICLES THAT IS HAVING THE THROTTLE ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH AFTER SOME OF THE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE ISSUE STARTS AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO FORD THROTTLE ISSUES INCLUDE YEARS 2009 AND NEWER FOR THAT LIMP MODE THING, HOWEVER, MY CAR IS A 2007 AND TOTALLY DID THE DECELERATING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BECOME A RECALL FOR A REPLACEMENT. I CALLED FORD AND FILED A COMPLAINT TODAY, 9/15/2014. *TR