NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
893 reports46,901 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train
I OWN A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE THAT WAS SURGING WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE I HAD TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE SURGE WAS OVER IT WOULD ALSO STALL THE ENGINE SOMETIMES WHEN IT SURGED. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THE PART TO COME IN. THE…
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I OWN A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE THAT WAS SURGING WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE I HAD TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE SURGE WAS OVER IT WOULD ALSO STALL THE ENGINE SOMETIMES WHEN IT SURGED. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THE PART TO COME IN. THE DEALER PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING WORSE. I WOULD SHAKE YOU AROUND AT TIMES THE SURGE WAS SO STRONG. IT SEEMED OK WHEN WE PICKED IT UP BUT I HAVE PUT ABOUT 8000 MILE ON IT SINCE THE REPAIR AND I AM STARTING TO NOTICE THAT IT IS STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN NOT TO A BAD POINT YET BUT THAT IS HOW IT STARTED OUT THE FIRST TIME. THE REPAIR WAS 650.00 AND IT IS LOOKING LIKE IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401061
36,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE SURGED WHEN COMING OFF OF IDLE, BOTH IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKING. THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPRING OF 2009 AND AGAIN IN THE SPRING OF 2011. BOTH TIMES THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH DID SEEM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY RESULTED FROM THIS PROBLEM…
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THE VEHICLE SURGED WHEN COMING OFF OF IDLE, BOTH IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKING. THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPRING OF 2009 AND AGAIN IN THE SPRING OF 2011. BOTH TIMES THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH DID SEEM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY RESULTED FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401053
59,080 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train
OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS EXHIBITING VEHICLE LUNGING AND/OR ENGINE REVVING WHEN A FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND OCCASIONALLY AT LOW SPEED WHEN IT IS.. THIS IS NOW OCCURRING DAILY, AND HAS WORSENED SINCE HAVING ONE REPAIR (REPLACED ENGINE/TRANSMISSION MOUNT) DONE LAST WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401041
50,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WHERE HE RESIDED WAS WARM AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD FORCING HIM TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WHERE HE RESIDED WAS WARM AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD FORCING HIM TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. UPDATED 06/233/11
NHTSA ODI #10401029
50,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WILL JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE AIRCONDITONER IS ON OR IF YOU HAVE HAD YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK WHILE THE CAR IS IN GEAR. AT TIMES WHEN IT JUMPS IT CAUSES THE CAR TO GO DEAD AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401014
46,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train
2007 FORD FREESTYLE SURGING. OUR FREESTYLE HAS THE SURGING ISSUE. FIRST STARTED LAST YEAR WHEN WE TURNED ON THE AIR, THE FORD SURGED AND THREW 2 RODS. FORD REBUILT THE ENGINE, LUCKILY STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN IT HAS DONE THE SURGE AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES, IT SEEMS TURNING ON THE DEFROST, AIR CONDITION, OR WHEN THE A…
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE SURGING. OUR FREESTYLE HAS THE SURGING ISSUE. FIRST STARTED LAST YEAR WHEN WE TURNED ON THE AIR, THE FORD SURGED AND THREW 2 RODS. FORD REBUILT THE ENGINE, LUCKILY STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN IT HAS DONE THE SURGE AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES, IT SEEMS TURNING ON THE DEFROST, AIR CONDITION, OR WHEN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE STARTS, IT HAPPENS. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO FORD 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES AND THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400999
26,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE IT RESPONDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO LUNGE FORWARD. HE QUICKLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE IT RESPONDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO LUNGE FORWARD. HE QUICKLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.
NHTSA ODI #10400990
53,267 miles · May 14, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train
WE OWN A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IT HAS ROUGHLY 51,000 MILES ON IT WHICH HAVE BEEN ALL CITY/HIGHWAY MILES. WE HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SURGING FOLLOWED BY LACK OF POWER FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TO GET POWER BACK, YOU MUST PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAIT FOR IT THE POWER TO KICK B…
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WE OWN A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IT HAS ROUGHLY 51,000 MILES ON IT WHICH HAVE BEEN ALL CITY/HIGHWAY MILES. WE HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SURGING FOLLOWED BY LACK OF POWER FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TO GET POWER BACK, YOU MUST PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAIT FOR IT THE POWER TO KICK BACK IN. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE IN TO LITHIA FORD IN BOISE, ID WHERE WE RESIDE AND WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD IT MAINTAINED. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS REQUIRED FOR THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE ESTIMATED COST IS $954! I GUESS WE ARE LUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT FAILED ON US YET AS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FRIGHTENING STORIES ABOUT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. WE WILL NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITHIN THE WEEK AND WILL BE RETAINING THE OLD PART. HOWEVER, THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH FORD FREESTYLES AND CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED A FORD ALL OF MY DRIVING LIFE AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AM REGRETTING BUYING THIS ONE. WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE NOTE OF THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FREESTYLE OWNERS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 2007, AND IMMEDIATELY OPEN AN INVESTIGATION ON BEHALF OF US CONSUMERS. THANK YOU! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400878
80,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS SURGING FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SURGE FORWARD WITH PEDESTRIANS CLOSE BY. I HAVE TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $600. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS CHANGED SO MANY OF THESE AND TOTALLY AGREES THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND RECALL THIS DEFECT IN THEI…
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS SURGING FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SURGE FORWARD WITH PEDESTRIANS CLOSE BY. I HAVE TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $600. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS CHANGED SO MANY OF THESE AND TOTALLY AGREES THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND RECALL THIS DEFECT IN THEIR CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400766
50,600 miles · May 10, 2011
Power Train
I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED THIS SPRING. TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD TO HAVE MY A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACED. ON 5/8/11 I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT APPLIED GENTLY TO THE BRAKE WHEN MY FORD FREESTYLE SUDDENLY SURGED AND THEN SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY…
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I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED THIS SPRING. TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD TO HAVE MY A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACED. ON 5/8/11 I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT APPLIED GENTLY TO THE BRAKE WHEN MY FORD FREESTYLE SUDDENLY SURGED AND THEN SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY, NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AS IT IS OUTSIDE THE ENGINE. I RESEARCHED THESE ISSUES ONLINE WHEN I GOT HOME AND THERE ARE MANY DISCUSSIONS REGARDING ALL OF THESE ISSUES. SOME EVEN STATE AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SURGE AND HAS EVEN HIT OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399812
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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