IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,358.
2007 Ford Freestyle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Freestyle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 893.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freestyle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320–25K
14125–50K
29550–75K
18775–100K
121100–150K
33150K+
809 reports with mileage · 84 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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 reportsOUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY; THIS BEHAVIOR IS WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS ON AND THE CAR IS IN REVERSE. THE FEELING IS OF FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR; IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR ME ALREADY HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I WOULD HAVE HAD A COLLISION WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE SEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED 1 MINUTE AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AS NORMAL. HE ALSO STATED WHEN HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MOVED FOR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE SEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED 1 MINUTE AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AS NORMAL. HE ALSO STATED WHEN HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,000. UPDATED 12/22/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10*JB
I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO SURGE WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE LEARNED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND NOT LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR. IT STARTED AT AROUND 40,000 MILES AND VISTA FORD IN OXNARD TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I NOW HAVE 95,000 MILES …
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I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO SURGE WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE LEARNED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND NOT LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR. IT STARTED AT AROUND 40,000 MILES AND VISTA FORD IN OXNARD TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I NOW HAVE 95,000 MILES ON IT AND IT DOES IT DAILY. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER AND AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. IT HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AS WELL AS THE WRENCH. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR MAKES THE WRENCH GO AWAY BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY GOES OFF WHEN I GET THE CARE BACK TO A LOWER ELEVATION. IT HAS BEEN WORSE WHEN THE CARE IS ABOVE 4000 FEET ELEVATION. I HAVE HAD FORDS ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THEY HAVE DONE RECALLS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE A LOT LESS DANGEROUS THAN THIS. THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO DO A RECALL ASAP OR SOMEONE IS GOING THE BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WOULD REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WOULD REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
VEHICLE SURGES OR LUNCHES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS. CAR ALSO DIES WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR
CVT TRANSMISSION ON 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WAS MAKING A NOISE IN PARK AND REVERSE, DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED A PART THAT WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER BUT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS LATER, WE EXPERIENCED A MORE SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE CAR SURGING FORWARD WHEN REVERSE OR DRIVE IS ENGAGED. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS …
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CVT TRANSMISSION ON 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WAS MAKING A NOISE IN PARK AND REVERSE, DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED A PART THAT WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER BUT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS LATER, WE EXPERIENCED A MORE SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE CAR SURGING FORWARD WHEN REVERSE OR DRIVE IS ENGAGED. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH AND ONCE FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR QUICKLY LOSES SPEED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. CURRENT STATUS: PART CONTINUES TO BE ON BACK ORDER AND DEALER CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING LOANER CAR AND STATUS UPDATES ETC... *TR
I BOUGHT A USED 2007 FORD FREESTYLE FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REPUTABLE DEALER TWO WEEKS AGO. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD AFTER HAVING PROBLEMS WIT THE CAR ACCELERATING IN REVERSE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE, AND HAVING THE WRENCH LIGHT COME ON THE DASH, THAT I HAVE A FAILED THROTTLE BODY/ TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST IN THE THOUSANDS OF D…
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I BOUGHT A USED 2007 FORD FREESTYLE FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REPUTABLE DEALER TWO WEEKS AGO. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD AFTER HAVING PROBLEMS WIT THE CAR ACCELERATING IN REVERSE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE, AND HAVING THE WRENCH LIGHT COME ON THE DASH, THAT I HAVE A FAILED THROTTLE BODY/ TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON LINE SINCE THEN AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THOUSAND OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION/THROTTLE BODY ON THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND FORD SHOULD REPLACE IT IMMEDIATELY! WHY IS THIS NOT ON A RECALL LIST?? *TR
2007 FORD FREESTYLE SUDDEN LURCHING IN FORWARD AND REVERSE . SOME TIMES FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STALL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT STOP SIGNS, WHILE IN DRIVE THIS, AND BACKING ABOUT OF PARKING SPOTS. IT WAS TAKEN TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM (THEY SAID THAT CODE DID NOT SHOW) I …
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE SUDDEN LURCHING IN FORWARD AND REVERSE . SOME TIMES FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STALL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT STOP SIGNS, WHILE IN DRIVE THIS, AND BACKING ABOUT OF PARKING SPOTS. IT WAS TAKEN TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM (THEY SAID THAT CODE DID NOT SHOW) I T IS NOW IN THE SHOP AGAIN AS IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
CAR SURGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AC IS ON, AND SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO KEEP MOVING UNDER ITS OWN POWER EVEN WHEN MY FOOT IS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON SO I'M TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
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