NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
360 reportsClear category filter65,588 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
STARTED MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IN A PARKING LOT PUT IT IN REVERSE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT LUNGED BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE WAS ALMOST HIT. IT USUALLY DOES IT WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE FROM NEUTRAL TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP IT …
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STARTED MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IN A PARKING LOT PUT IT IN REVERSE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT LUNGED BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE WAS ALMOST HIT. IT USUALLY DOES IT WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE FROM NEUTRAL TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP IT FIRST STARTED AND THEY DID SOME SORT OF SOFTWARE UPDATE ( THEY CLAIM) BUT IT HAS NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
NHTSA ODI #10414739
55,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Power Train
CAR'S ACCELERATION FALTERS OR APPEARS SOMETIMES UNEXPECTEDLY. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10414705
32,102 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD. THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL COME ON AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO GET RID OF THE LIGHT. YESTERDAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. SO FAR I HAVE KEPT FROM HITTING ANYTHING BY REA…
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I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD. THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL COME ON AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO GET RID OF THE LIGHT. YESTERDAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. SO FAR I HAVE KEPT FROM HITTING ANYTHING BY REACTING QUICKLY AND SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES OR TURNING THE AIR OFF OR SITTING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS I MAY HIT A CAR OR A PERSON. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413928
70,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WILL LUNGE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE. IT STALLED LAST NIGHT WHEN IT WAS IN REVERSE AND THIS HAPPENED. IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413900
105,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE ON MAY 05 2011 AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SECOND MONTH OF HAVING THE CAR BUT I ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, AND I TOLD THE FINANCE PERSON AND HE SAID OK WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND THEY NEVER DID. THEN NOW WE ARE IN THE THIRD MONTH OF HAVING T…
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I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE ON MAY 05 2011 AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SECOND MONTH OF HAVING THE CAR BUT I ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, AND I TOLD THE FINANCE PERSON AND HE SAID OK WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND THEY NEVER DID. THEN NOW WE ARE IN THE THIRD MONTH OF HAVING THIS VEHICLE, AND NOW IT CUTS OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ME BACKING UP AND THE AC ON AND I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART AGAIN. THEN THE CAR ACTS AS THOUGH ITS REVVING UP AND YOU COULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT WILL REV UP AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO REALLY PLACE YOUR FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT KNOW. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK UP AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE LAST TIME THEY TELL ME ITS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THEN THE GENTLEMAN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT'S BEEN A BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS SINCE THEY HAVE CAME OUT. SO THIS COMPANY KNOWS THEY ARE SELLING LEMONS TO PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T EVEN CARE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413879
54,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN MY FORD FREESTYLE IDLES (IT SEEMS MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER) FOR MORE THAN EVEN 2 MINUTES WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR FORWARD AND REVERSE THE CAR LUNGES EVEN IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME THE WEATHER IS HOT OR IF MY CAR IDLES FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE JUST BEGAN RESEARCHING WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND S…
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WHEN MY FORD FREESTYLE IDLES (IT SEEMS MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER) FOR MORE THAN EVEN 2 MINUTES WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR FORWARD AND REVERSE THE CAR LUNGES EVEN IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME THE WEATHER IS HOT OR IF MY CAR IDLES FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE JUST BEGAN RESEARCHING WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND SEE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED ANY PARTS. MOST OF WHAT I READ STATED TRANSMISSION TROUBLE OR THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS IS THE CAUSE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413848
49,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE HAS LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ME STEPPING ON THE GAS. TYPICALLY IT HAPPENS AS I AM IDLING AND I GO TO STEP ON THE BRAKE (FORCING ME TO BREAK HARD), OR WHEN I AM EASING UP ON THE BREAK (I.E., INSTEAD OF SLOWLY MOVING, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD). *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413777
80,112 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE OCCASIONALLY. USUALLY HEAVILY APPLYING THE BREAK WILL STOP THE CAR. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHEN I AM PARKING THE CAR OR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (AT THE GROCERY STORE, ECT...). THE INSTANCES OCCUR MORE OFTEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, IN HOT WEATHER A…
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE OCCASIONALLY. USUALLY HEAVILY APPLYING THE BREAK WILL STOP THE CAR. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHEN I AM PARKING THE CAR OR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (AT THE GROCERY STORE, ECT...). THE INSTANCES OCCUR MORE OFTEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, IN HOT WEATHER AND WHEN THE A/C IS ON. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT OCCURS OFTEN IN PARKING LOTS OR AT SCHOOL WHEN I AM DROPPING MY KIDS OFF, AS THERE ARE LOTS OF PEDESTRIANS. I HAVE SUBMITTED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413735
91,096 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. ONE DAY WHEN ME, MY DAUGHTER, AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WENT SHOPPING , IN WARNER ROBINS GEORGIA MY CAR STOPPED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CUT OFF . WE JUST ABOUT HAD PEOPLE HIT US IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE INTO T…
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ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. ONE DAY WHEN ME, MY DAUGHTER, AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WENT SHOPPING , IN WARNER ROBINS GEORGIA MY CAR STOPPED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CUT OFF . WE JUST ABOUT HAD PEOPLE HIT US IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT AND CALLED THE PEOPLE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEY TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR TOO THEM. WELL A COUPLE DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS SUPPOSE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THEM IT TURNED OFF TWO TIMES IN ONE DAY! I HAD BOUGHT ALL OF THE AVAILABLE WARRANTY I COULD BUY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT TODAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY, AND THAT NO MATTER IF YOU FIX IT, IT CAN CONTINUE TO MESS UP (AND IT IS NOT ON THE WARRANTY!!!) , AND THE COST OF THE PART TO FIX IT IS 670.00. I AM UNSATISFIED AND SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND I FEEL LIKE ITS A BIG SAFETY RISK!!! I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT WITH IT TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT MAKES ME SCARED AND I AM NERVOUS FOR MY FAMILY!! I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY FOR THERE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE!! *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413596
53,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY CAR HAS BEEN LUNGING FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. LAST WEEK, WHEN I GOT IN, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED DRIVING TO THE DEALER. I LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN MY CAR WOULD HARDLY SHIFT. THE LUNGING WAS THE REALLY SCARY THING, AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO…
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MY CAR HAS BEEN LUNGING FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. LAST WEEK, WHEN I GOT IN, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED DRIVING TO THE DEALER. I LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN MY CAR WOULD HARDLY SHIFT. THE LUNGING WAS THE REALLY SCARY THING, AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY ONE MONTH. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413538
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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