NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
893 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 31, 2011
Power Train
2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS STALLING, AND STOPPING IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, MANY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. RPM IS RACING. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES I HAVE CALLED FORD MANY TIMES AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. TODAY, 1-31-2011, THE FORD FREESTYLE 2007…
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS STALLING, AND STOPPING IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, MANY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. RPM IS RACING. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES I HAVE CALLED FORD MANY TIMES AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. TODAY, 1-31-2011, THE FORD FREESTYLE 2007, SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF I-85. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN CAR CRASH IF I DIDN'T THINK QUICKLY ON WHAT TO DO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE BECAUSE OF SO MANY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379703
87,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
2007 FORD FREESTYLE STARTED SURGING ON HIGHWAY AND THE WRENCH ICON CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. WE SLOWED DOWN A DROVE HOME BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE CHARGED 600.00 TO REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378587
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2011
Unknown Or Other
2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS STOPPING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TO COATS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON. THEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN, THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STARTS RACING, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE RENCH LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE RPM NEEDLE ST…
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS STOPPING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TO COATS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON. THEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN, THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STARTS RACING, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE RENCH LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE RPM NEEDLE STARTS TO GO CRAZY. THEN THE CAR STOPS AGAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPEATLY COATS INTO A SAFE POSITION, TURN IT OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10378319
140,000 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Power Train
I BOUGHT FORD FREESTYLE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO,NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE AND ESPECIALLY THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STALLS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. ALSO, WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE IT DOES THE SAME THING. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOME MAJOR WORKED DONE ON THE ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378273
32,723 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT 32,723 MILES. RIGHT REAR WAS DOWN TO METAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378138
36,819 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Power Train
2007 FORD FREESTYLE: WRENCH LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON INDICATING THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CAR STALLED AND SURGED FOR 4 MILES. THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT 36,819 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378133
83,000 miles · Jan 12, 2011
EquipmentPower Train
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WAS DELIVERED IN JANUARY, 2007. IN MARCH 2008, THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND THE DEALER HAD THE FREESTYLE UNTIL THE END OF MAY, 2008. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT "PEOPLE" WERE FLOWN IN FROM "DETROIT." THEN, IN AUGUST, 2009, THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON THE MASS PIKE AT 65 MPH. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT I…
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WAS DELIVERED IN JANUARY, 2007. IN MARCH 2008, THE TRANSMISSION WENT AND THE DEALER HAD THE FREESTYLE UNTIL THE END OF MAY, 2008. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT "PEOPLE" WERE FLOWN IN FROM "DETROIT." THEN, IN AUGUST, 2009, THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON THE MASS PIKE AT 65 MPH. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THE NEW TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD 11,000 MILES ON IT. (AS AN ASIDE, NO ONE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD ANY CONTACT WITH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN 2008.) I CALLED FORD. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A "FORD PROBLEM" BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FIXED BY FORD, BUT RATHER BY THE "TRANSMISSION SHOP AROUND THE CORNER." FORD'S PROBLEM HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE THEM AND I CONTINUE TO PAY FOR FORD'S PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376380
50,000 miles · Dec 21, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
2007 FREESTYLE SEL AWD W/50,000 MILES SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS AND STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE ENTERS "LIMP" MODE UNTIL VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER ERROR CODES WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ALONE HE SUGG…
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2007 FREESTYLE SEL AWD W/50,000 MILES SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS AND STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE ENTERS "LIMP" MODE UNTIL VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER ERROR CODES WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ALONE HE SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, SAYING "THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR THE FREESTYLE, 500, AND EDGE." I AM STILL DECIDING WHETHER TO SPEND THE $1000 THEY QUOTED ME FOR REPLACEMENT (A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER QUOTED ME $750). FOR ONE, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH A DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION IS ALLOWED TO GO UNADDRESSED. TWO, HOW CAN THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONTROLS THE ENTIRE POWERTRAIN, NOT BE COVERED BY A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY? AND THREE, IF IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BY VERBAL DESCRIPTION ALONE, A DEALER KNOWS A MAJOR COMPONENT NEEDS REPLACEMENT, WHY IS THIS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD AT A NATIONAL LEVEL? HERE'S MY VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10371964
81,000 miles · Dec 21, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH APPROACHING A LIGHT TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE THROT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH APPROACHING A LIGHT TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
NHTSA ODI #10371942
64,500 miles · Dec 8, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING ON HIGHWAY AND THROTTLE WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DONNELL FORD, BOARDMAN, OHIO ON 12/8/10 AND WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE BOY NEEDED REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO REPAIR WAS $860.00.
NHTSA ODI #10370193
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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