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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

74 reports

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79,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY CAR LUNGES ON ITS OWN. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN BACKING OUT THE DRIVEWAY, PULLING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH, OR TURNING FROM A STOP. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411872

42,000 miles · Jun 12, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WITH THE TOO COMMON "SURGING" PROBLEM. APPARENTLY FORD AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE IGNORING HUNDREDS OF REPORTED INCIDENTS OF SPONTANEOUS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. MOST LIKELY IT WILL BE AN INNOCENT PEDESTRIAN WHO DIDN'T CHO…

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NHTSA ODI #10406031

83,741 miles · Jun 3, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS GOING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH AND MY FREESTYLE LUNGED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET BEFORE I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE THEN SHUT OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH CAME ON. I DID HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON REALLY HIGH BECAUSE IT WAS 95 DEGREES IN ST. LOUIS TODAY. MY VEHICLE STARTED LUNGING A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS DONE IT 6 MORE TIMES TODAY SINCE THE WORST EPISODE, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT SHUT OFF AGAIN SINCE I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF A CAR OR PERSON HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM VERY FORCEFULLY. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405108

72,184 miles · Jun 2, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

SEVERAL TIMES MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AND REVERSE. MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN THE A/C IS ON. EVEN WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE - THE CAR ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN AND LUNGES FORWARD. I CAN HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING - EVEN THOUGH MY …

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NHTSA ODI #10404950

84,000 miles · May 31, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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2007 FORD FREESTYLE THAT LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. I SAW WHERE FORD WAS LOOKING INTO THIS FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL, MINE DOES THIS ON OCCASION. BUT 5/30/11 MINE DID IT VERY BADLY AND THE CAR DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. I DID GET THE CAR STARTED AND BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT, WITH IT LUNGING FORWARD AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR IS AT CARMAX NOW AS I HAD BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY OFFER. WAITING ON THE OUTCOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10403784

50,256 miles · May 30, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SURGES SUDDENLY AT IDLE SPEEDS IN PARKING LOTS. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN HOT WEATHER. IT ALSO LOSES POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND BECOMES VERY SLUGGISH IN ACCELERATION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATIOAS THE SURGES WILL CASUE THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARD SUDDENLY WITH PEDESTRIANS AROUND.

NHTSA ODI #10404710

20,196 miles · May 23, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CAR SURGES AND "REVS" WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR OR WHEN YOU CHANGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, OR DRIVE TO REVERSE. LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, HAVE HIT THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND HAD SURGES WHERE HAVE BUMPED OTHER CARS (NOT BAD ENOUGH TO FILE A CLAIM). SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE JUST REVS OR SURGES ALL THE TIME NOW. IT HAS GOTTEN WO…

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NHTSA ODI #10403288

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN I COME TO A STOP PRIOR TO PULLING IN THE LAST FEW FEET OF A PARKING SPOT, MY CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD (REV) WITH MY FOOT NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I CAN STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE. IT SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING AND/OR DEFROST ARE ON.

NHTSA ODI #10403251

61,564 miles · May 21, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS BEGINNING ON THIS DATE WHILE DRIVING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR WOULD LUNG FORWARD AND THEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE CAR WOULD STALL. THIS "SURGING" PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR ONCE YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE YOU PRESSED THE ACELERATOR. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE AND AFTER ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, WE TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOISED THE PROBLEM AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT COST. SINCE THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, WE WANTED TO SUBMIT OUR EXPERIENCE TO BE CONSIDERED AND SO THAT WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE CASE OF RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10403209

98,000 miles · May 16, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

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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

Official recalls

No 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

PE11018 · 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