NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
893 reports40,137 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
HAVING ACCELERATION SURGES ON 07 FORD FREESTYLE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, THE LAST OF WHICH ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIAN. HAVE TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY. BOTH SAYING NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FINDING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM AND THROTTLE BODY BEING THE REASON AND FORD IS …
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HAVING ACCELERATION SURGES ON 07 FORD FREESTYLE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, THE LAST OF WHICH ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIAN. HAVE TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY. BOTH SAYING NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FINDING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM AND THROTTLE BODY BEING THE REASON AND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ANOTHER SITUATION LIKE TOYOTA FOR FORD TO RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10333999
80,000 miles · May 29, 2010
Power Train
RPMS INCREASE AND CAR LUNGES EVEN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS IT STALLED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PUSHED HARDER WHEN IT LUNGED WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAS NEARLY CAUSED MINOR ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES WHE…
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RPMS INCREASE AND CAR LUNGES EVEN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS IT STALLED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PUSHED HARDER WHEN IT LUNGED WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAS NEARLY CAUSED MINOR ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES WHEN IN PARKING LOTS OR TIGHT LOCATIONS. WHEN IT STALLS, THE WRENCH LIGHT FLASHES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10333831
84,000 miles · May 23, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE APPEARS TO BE HAVING SOME KIND OF IDLE ISSUE. AS I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THE RPMS JUMP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LUNGE. THE RPMS JUMP WITH THE CAR IN PARK, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN TURNED A TINY BIT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CAR ISN'T GETTING ENOUGH POWER UNTIL SOMETHING IS ACTIVATED. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE LUN…
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE APPEARS TO BE HAVING SOME KIND OF IDLE ISSUE. AS I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THE RPMS JUMP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LUNGE. THE RPMS JUMP WITH THE CAR IN PARK, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN TURNED A TINY BIT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CAR ISN'T GETTING ENOUGH POWER UNTIL SOMETHING IS ACTIVATED. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE LUNGING. I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO PROJECT ME INTO ANOTHER CAR OR SOMETHING ELSE. I'VE NOT HAD ANY SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON OR ANYTHING. THIS ISSUE JUST STARTED. MY CAR HAS 85K MILE ON IT, SO IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AS I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I APPEARS TO BE TIED INTO THE THROTTLE BODY. IF THIS IS TRULY AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN MADE ON THE PART. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY FOR A CAR BUILT FOR FAMILIES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331847
40,000 miles · May 12, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR SURGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO WHILE STOPPED AND PLACING VEHICLE IN GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE). FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM (TSB 06-21-1), BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM. SCORES OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET FORUMS. APPARENTLY IS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC …
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CAR SURGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO WHILE STOPPED AND PLACING VEHICLE IN GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE). FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM (TSB 06-21-1), BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM. SCORES OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET FORUMS. APPARENTLY IS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND CAUSES SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. HAPPENS TO OUR CAR REGULARLY FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. CAR HAS APPR. 50K MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330210
66,000 miles · May 5, 2010
Power Train
2007 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 66K MILES, PURCHASED AT 50K MILES. FROM BEGINNING THE CAR WOULD OFTEN LURCH HARD FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR. MY WIFE AND I LEARNED TO FIRMLY HOLD THE BRAKE WHEN MOVING THE CAR. THE CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND TODAY THE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40 MP…
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 66K MILES, PURCHASED AT 50K MILES. FROM BEGINNING THE CAR WOULD OFTEN LURCH HARD FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR. MY WIFE AND I LEARNED TO FIRMLY HOLD THE BRAKE WHEN MOVING THE CAR. THE CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND TODAY THE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40 MPH. AFTER SEARCHING FORD FREESTYLE FORUM, I DISCOVER THIS IS A WELL KNOWN CONDITION TO FORD AND FORD FREESTYLE CUSTOMERS. FORD HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MOST CUSTOMERS REPORT A BAD THROTTLE BODY WHICH FORD COULD NOT PROVIDE (MOST OF 2009). THIS CERTAINLY QUALIFIES FOR A RECALL. WE LIKE THE VEHICLE BUT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF IT. SHAME ON FORD! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328991
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE HAS LUNGING/SURGING OF POWER. I CAN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WILL SURGE EITHER IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. IN PARKING LOTS IS VERY DANGEROUS. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE NO CONTROL WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. FORD SAYS IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THERE …
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE HAS LUNGING/SURGING OF POWER. I CAN HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WILL SURGE EITHER IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. IN PARKING LOTS IS VERY DANGEROUS. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE NO CONTROL WHILE IT IS HAPPENING. FORD SAYS IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN THEIR 2006 AND 2007 MODELS ON THE INTERNET. I REALLY WISH THAT THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED WITH AN INVESTIGATION AND A SAFETY RECALL. SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE NUMBER 1. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325927
64,128 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE; THIS USUALLY OCCURS ON HOT SUMMER DAY AND MORE SO WITH THE AC RUNNING. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE THE BRAKES DEPRESSED AND SWITCH GEARS THE SURGES (REVS HIGH) THEN STALLS.
NHTSA ODI #10323537
47,000 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE; THIS USUALLY OCCURS ON HOT SUMMER DAY AND MORE SO WITH THE AC RUNNING. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE THE BRAKES DEPRESSED AND SWITCH GEARS THE SURGES (REVS HIGH) THEN STALLS.
NHTSA ODI #10323536
28,000 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE REAR BRAKES ON OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE, WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ARE SHOT. WE HAVE READ WHERE OTHER ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME ARE BEING REPLACED AS A WARRANTY ITEM WHILE OTHERS, SUCH AS US, ARE BEING BILLED FOR OVER $300.00. BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 28,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN ISSUE OF THAT …
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THE REAR BRAKES ON OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE, WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ARE SHOT. WE HAVE READ WHERE OTHER ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME ARE BEING REPLACED AS A WARRANTY ITEM WHILE OTHERS, SUCH AS US, ARE BEING BILLED FOR OVER $300.00. BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 28,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN ISSUE OF THAT NATURE WITH OTHERS THAT OWN FORD FREESTYLES. THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF YET. COULDN'T THE BAD BRAKES CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT?
NHTSA ODI #10323391
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2010
Fuel System, Other
THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACING ON MY 2007 FOR FREESTYLE CAR HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. CAR SURGES WHEN DRIVING EVERY 5 MINUTES OR SO. TOOL BAR LIGHT GOES ON DASH I PULL OVER TURN OFF, IT RESETS AND HAPPENS AGAIN 5 MINUTES LATER. FORD STATES MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER.
NHTSA ODI #10322148
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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