NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
893 reports98,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I BEGAN NOTICING A FAIRLY CONSISTENT "SURGE" IN THE VEHICLE JUST AFTER PLACING IT IN GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE) AT AN IDLE STATE. JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU FEEL A SUDDEN LUNGE BUT SINCE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, IT IS EASILY CONTROLLED AND THE SURGE IN RPMS IS VERY BRIEF (LESS THAN TWO SECO…
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I BEGAN NOTICING A FAIRLY CONSISTENT "SURGE" IN THE VEHICLE JUST AFTER PLACING IT IN GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE) AT AN IDLE STATE. JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU FEEL A SUDDEN LUNGE BUT SINCE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, IT IS EASILY CONTROLLED AND THE SURGE IN RPMS IS VERY BRIEF (LESS THAN TWO SECONDS). THIS OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IS TYPICALLY NOTICED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN THE ENGINE IS IDLING AND JUST AFTER BEING PLACED INTO GEAR. AGAIN, THIS LUNGE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR SINCE I FIRST NOTICED IT LAST JUNE.
NHTSA ODI #10401896
68,500 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
MY FORD FREESTYLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. MAYBE 2-5 MPH AND YOU WOULD NEED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY (SCARY). I TOOK IT TO A FORD DISTRIBUTORSHIP (LOGANVILLE FORD, 3460 HIGHWAY 78, LOGANVILLE , GA 30052, 770 554-9994 TO GET THE ACCELERATION FIXED. A MR. JASON CORRELL SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ACCELERATION IN THE FORD FREE…
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MY FORD FREESTYLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. MAYBE 2-5 MPH AND YOU WOULD NEED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY (SCARY). I TOOK IT TO A FORD DISTRIBUTORSHIP (LOGANVILLE FORD, 3460 HIGHWAY 78, LOGANVILLE , GA 30052, 770 554-9994 TO GET THE ACCELERATION FIXED. A MR. JASON CORRELL SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ACCELERATION IN THE FORD FREESTYLE AND IT WAS MY PROBLEM NOT FORD'S I CALLED THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF FORD AND WAS TOLD THE SAME--NO KNOWN PROBLEMS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD FILE A REPORT, BUT WOULD NOT HELP ME ON THE REPAIR. ON MAY 26, 2010, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND PAID $1,056.89 TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSY. THE CAR HAS WORKED FINE SINCE.
NHTSA ODI #10401887
80,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Unknown Or Other
AFTER WARMING UP THE VEHICLE, AND LETTING THE ENGINE DROP DOWN TO 1000 RPMS, WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR THE TACH JUMPS UP TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS AND THE VEHICLE WANTS TO LURCH. I AM ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING FORWARD BY REMAINING ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT IS A DEFINITE LURCHING SENSATION
NHTSA ODI #10401881
72,500 miles · May 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE OR JERK BACKWARD WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING PLACE. THE ENGINE WILL REV ON ITS OWN WITHOUT HAVING TO PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING THE JERKY FEELING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401181
50,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE IDLING. IT HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE ALSO INCLUDING THE ENGINE JUST SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF. IT LURCHES UNCONTROLLABLY AND I'M AFRAID IT MAY HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401162
60,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 A FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 A FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,522 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DEFROSTER OR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS IN USE, AFTER IDLING OR STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT HER FOOT ON BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE BACKWARD AND THEN STALL. UPDATED 06/21/11
NHTSA ODI #10401160
81,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE OR IT MOVED SLOWLY, THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE AND IT WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,549. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 07/18/11
NHTSA ODI #10401130
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2011
Unknown Or Other
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE LIMITED WILL SURGE, EVEN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. USUALLY OCCURS BACKING IN/OUT PARKING SPACE, OUT OF CARPORT, ETC. IT IS A VERY STRONG SURGE, AND THE BRAKE DOESN'T ALWAYS STOP IT. HAVE HAD MECHANIC CHECK IT BUT HE FINDS NOTHING WRONG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401092
37,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND SHE WAS INFORMED TO DEACTIVATE THE HEATING SYSTEM WHEN ATTEMPTING TO IDLE THE VEHICLE. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND SHE WAS INFORMED TO DEACTIVATE THE HEATING SYSTEM WHEN ATTEMPTING TO IDLE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,371. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
NHTSA ODI #10401086
75,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train
CAR LUNGES ACCELERATES FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACES. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401068
NHTSA investigations
2PE11018 · 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
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