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

What owners actually said

893 reports

80,000 miles · Mar 7, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 2 YEARS AGO. CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, BUT WHEN PUT IN DRIVE, IT QUIETS A LITTLE. NOT RUNNING WELL AT ALL. TOOK IT TO GET IT LOOKED AT, 1ST REPLACED A BAD WATER PUMP (ALMOST 700) AND THEN WAS TOLD IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. THEY WANT $6K FOR, WHICH I DON'T HAVE. I STILL OWE $6K ON THE CAR. SO, I AM …

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NHTSA ODI #10567818

152,347 miles · Mar 5, 2014

Steering

I HAD JUST EXITED A FREEWAY OFF RAMP AND PROCEEDED A FEW MILES, MADE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT - HEARD A LOUD METAL NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE TIE BRACKET BROKE FREE FROM THE FRAME. THE OTHER TIE BRACKET IS POORLY WELDED AS WELL AND ABOUT TO BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567444

50,914 miles · Feb 25, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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MY WIFE & I WERE VISITING A FRIENDS HOUSE WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. SHE PUT THE VAN INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED & WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH BOTH. FEET ON THE BRAKE. WE SHOT OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT HIGH SPEED & CONTINUED DOWN THE ROADWAY UNTIL MY WIFE LOST CONTROL & CRASHED INTO A DITCH; THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VAN WAS HITTING A LARGE ROCK. THIS OF COURSE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. MY WIFE SUFFERED A SMALL CUT TO HER CALF; I WAS UNINJURED. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE ROADWAY AT THAT TIME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS !! MY WIFE IS SO SHOOK UP BY THIS INCIDENT THAT SHE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE HER VAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565770

70,500 miles · Feb 22, 2014

Power Train

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WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THIS NOISE STOPS TEMPORARILY WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM "PARK" TO "DRIVE". THE NOISE THEN BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. GAS MILEAGE HAS DECLINED WHEN DRIVING. WHEN PARKING ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN/MATERIALS IN THE "CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION" (CVT). FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION AT NO CHARGE AND HAS NOT MODIFIED CVT TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565409

73,000 miles · Jan 30, 2014

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND INCREASE RPMS. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. ENGINE IDLE IN PARK MAKES A LOUD HELICOPTER SOUND WHEN ENGAGED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE SOUND IS NOT HEARD AS LOUD. AFTER DOING LENGTHY RESEARCH THIS COMMON PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS BY FORD AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE (70,000MI).FORD HAS YET TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES VOLUNTARILY. DEALERS INSIST TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING (COMMON THEME).NO WAY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 70,000! THIS IS A MANUFACTURER AND SAFETY ISSUE. I'M JUST THANKFUL I DIDN'T HAVE MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562152

145,000 miles · Jan 22, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WILL NOT OPERATE OVER 1,000 RPM. IT HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED ON 15 AUG 2013 UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL 12N03. FOR THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT, THE IDLING SPIKED WHERE IN THIS INSTANCE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 1,000 RPM. THE CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT ARE: P060B; P061B; P0122; P0155; P0222; P0…

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NHTSA ODI #10561056

90,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014

Electrical SystemFire

WE WENT OUT TO THE GARAGE TO GET IN THE CAR TO LEAVE. I OPENED THE BACK OF THE CAR TO PUT A BAG IN. MY DAUGHTER WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET IN AND THE MIRROR WAS SMOKING. WE WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT BURNED OUT ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM BEHIND THE MIRROR GLASS. I UNPLUGGED THE MIR…

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NHTSA ODI #10560690

52,000 miles · Jan 7, 2014

Power Train

2007 FORD FREESTYLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10558804

70,734 miles · Jan 4, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR ACCELERATES FORWARD WHEN I TRY TO PARK IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND LUCKY THAT IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I'M ONLY GOING A COUPLE OF MILES AN HOUR AS I AM TRYING TO PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558464

64,000 miles · Dec 26, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY WHICH WAS DISPLAYED IN THE RED MARKINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE M…

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NHTSA ODI #10557252

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