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

100,000 miles · Aug 22, 2019

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TRUCK CITY FORD (15301 I-35, BUDA, TX 78610) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL…

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NHTSA ODI #11245832

110,000 miles · Jul 11, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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AUTO WAS REPAIRED 2008 BY NON FORD DEALER BEFORE THE RECALL HAPPENED FOR PROBLEM OF AUTO SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THEN FORD REIMBURSED THE MONEY $700.00 OF REPAIR. NOW CAR HAS 110K MILES AND IS SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AGAIN . VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AGAIN. ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS FOR THE CAR SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AND I FEEL THAT WITH ONLY 110K MILES ON IT, I SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AGAIN!!!

NHTSA ODI #11230945

168,700 miles · Jul 9, 2019

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION MAKES A BUZZIN,WHIRRING SOUND IN PARK AND REVERSE...FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE FROM MANY OTHERS..THIS NOISE PRELUDES TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD...MOST OF THE TIME CAUSING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH PERSONAL INJURY...FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, OR SHOULD BE BY THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS, BUT HAS YET TO OWE UP TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, CAUSING A MONETARY HARDSHIP FOR THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES OR THE ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES VALUE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS SUCH AS THESE, THEN DEMAND THE MANUFACTURERS START THE RECALL PROCESS TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR SAID TRANSMISSIONS ( CVT ) OR REPLACE COMPLETE UNIT AT MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. START THE JOB YOU PEOPLE ARE PAID GENEROUSLY TO DO. U TUBE HAS MANY VIDEOS OF PEOPLE TELLING THEIR PROBLEMS, AND VIDEOS OF MECHANICS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ODI #11230478

115,870 miles · Jul 2, 2019

Unknown Or Other

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IT LIKES TO EXHILARATE AND IF YOU'RE ON PRESSING ON THE BREAK IT WANTS TO EXHILARATE

NHTSA ODI #11229061

89,000 miles · May 6, 2019

Air Bags

A DASHBOARD LIGHT REFUSES TO GO OFF. WE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THIS ON...

NHTSA ODI #11205659

80,000 miles · May 1, 2019

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STOPPED OR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11205029

172,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ONLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ODI #11197028

140,000 miles · Feb 8, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL RUNNING DOWN THE INCLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE ON THE FUEL TANK. ALSO, BOTH FUEL PUMPS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #11175164

140,000 miles · Jan 19, 2019

Suspension

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 MILE…

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NHTSA ODI #11170897

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2018

Electrical SystemPower Train

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11145265

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