NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
360 reportsClear category filter52,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. THIS HAPPENED ON 7/02/2011 FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE HAD THIS OCCUR SEVERAL MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ALWAYS WHILE STOPPING OR PARKING THE CAR. IN ONE INSTANCE THE CAR WOULD OF STRUCK A LIGHT POLE, HAD THERE NOT BEEN A CURB THERE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHETHE…
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THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. THIS HAPPENED ON 7/02/2011 FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE HAD THIS OCCUR SEVERAL MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ALWAYS WHILE STOPPING OR PARKING THE CAR. IN ONE INSTANCE THE CAR WOULD OF STRUCK A LIGHT POLE, HAD THERE NOT BEEN A CURB THERE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHETHER THE CAR IS COLD OR HAS RUN FOR AWHILE. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO DRIVE THIS CAR LIKE IT MAY LEAP FORWARD AT ANYTIME. FORD NEEDS TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #10412634
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
50,000 miles · Jul 10, 2011
Power Train
ON 07/21/2007, I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH WAS USED AS A DEMO. RECENTLY AT 50,500 MILES I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LIGHT THUMPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA WHILE IDLING. PER MY VISIT OF MID JUNE 2011 TO THE DEALER SERVICE AREA, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE…
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ON 07/21/2007, I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH WAS USED AS A DEMO. RECENTLY AT 50,500 MILES I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LIGHT THUMPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA WHILE IDLING. PER MY VISIT OF MID JUNE 2011 TO THE DEALER SERVICE AREA, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE LAST VISIT, I HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SENSOR IS ON BACK ORDER. I COULD HEAR THAT HESITATION IN THEIR VOICE LIKE AS IF THEY ARE KEEPING SOMETHING FROM ME. I DON'T LIKE THIS. THE VEHICLE ALSO LUNGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. I AM JUST GLAD THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I HAVE JUST BEEN VERY LUCKY. IN REGARDS TO THE NOISE, I AM SPECULATING A FAULTY CVT TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411662
52,500 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE LUNGING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE SPEED ON OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN MOVING IN A PARKING LOT, IT IS VERY APPARENT, PARTICULARLY AS YOU CHANGE FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD. YOU REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION, AND KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOES LUNGE. WE RECENTLY HAVE HAD ANOTHER…
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WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE LUNGING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE SPEED ON OUR 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN MOVING IN A PARKING LOT, IT IS VERY APPARENT, PARTICULARLY AS YOU CHANGE FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD. YOU REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION, AND KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOES LUNGE. WE RECENTLY HAVE HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION. THE LITTLE "WRENCH" APPEARED NEAR THE END OF OUR TRIP AND THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE LOSING "POWER" TO THE WHEELS. AFTER THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, IT OPERATED NORMALLY AND THE WRENCH DID NOT APPEAR AGAIN, YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411565
67,000 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
2005 AND 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IN WARM WEATHER THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE WHEN STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED, SLOWING WITH THE BREAK, OR REVERSING WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED. BELIEVED TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CONFIRMED BY AUTO REPAIR SHOP. RESEARCH HAS REVEALED TONS OF OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON TH…
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2005 AND 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IN WARM WEATHER THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE WHEN STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED, SLOWING WITH THE BREAK, OR REVERSING WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED. BELIEVED TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CONFIRMED BY AUTO REPAIR SHOP. RESEARCH HAS REVEALED TONS OF OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THESE VEHICLES. SEEMS QUITE DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR CAR LURCH OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411539
50,000 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT WILL SUDDENLY LURCH BACKWARD WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I HAVE LEARNED TO ANTICIPATE THIS AND ALWAYS KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I AM SURE THE AREA BEHIND THE CAR IS CLEAR. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SINCE MY DAUGHTER WILL SOON BE …
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WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT WILL SUDDENLY LURCH BACKWARD WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I HAVE LEARNED TO ANTICIPATE THIS AND ALWAYS KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I AM SURE THE AREA BEHIND THE CAR IS CLEAR. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SINCE MY DAUGHTER WILL SOON BE DRIVING. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR A NEW AND INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411505
44,030 miles · Jul 7, 2011
Power Train
MY FREESTYLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR LUNGING. WHEN IT LUNGES IT THROWS THE WRENCH LIGHT. LAST INCIDENT IS THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW. *TR SAME AS PE11018
NHTSA ODI #10410904
64,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Power Train
WE WERE SITTING IN SOME STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH THE A/C ON AND THEN THE CAR STARTED TO JUMP FORWARD AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO. VERY CONCERNED SINCE THIS IS MY FAMILIES DAY TO DAY CAR WHICH MY 2 VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS IN. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS SINCE THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10410603
10 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Power Train
2007 FORD FREESTYLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH HAD THIS HAPPEN AND WE'VE ALMOST HIT PEOPLE AND PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW WANTS TO CHARGE US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. …
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2007 FORD FREESTYLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH HAD THIS HAPPEN AND WE'VE ALMOST HIT PEOPLE AND PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW WANTS TO CHARGE US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10410571
41,000 miles · Jul 3, 2011
Power Train
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR WANTING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGING UNTIL WHILE AT WALMART WHEN I PUT THE IN REVERSE = CAR SURGED BACKWARDS WHILE FOOT ON THE BRAKE - ABOUT HIT A CHILD - WHEN PUT IN FORWARD GEAR = CAR SURGED - JERKED - HAD NO RPMS. AT TIME OF PURCHASE I DRILLED THE SALE…
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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR WANTING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGING UNTIL WHILE AT WALMART WHEN I PUT THE IN REVERSE = CAR SURGED BACKWARDS WHILE FOOT ON THE BRAKE - ABOUT HIT A CHILD - WHEN PUT IN FORWARD GEAR = CAR SURGED - JERKED - HAD NO RPMS. AT TIME OF PURCHASE I DRILLED THE SALES MANAGER ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED THAT I DID NOT WANT THE SAME PROBLEMS AS EXPERIENCED WITH MY WINDSTAR. WAS TOLD DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION, UPDATE - NOT GEAR DRIVEN - SOLVED THE PROBLEMS = HAVE NOT HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION -(DEFINITELY A LIE - FOUND COMPLAINTS ON LINE0 AT FORT MILL FORD IN FORT MILL, SC. ONCE THIS PROBLEM STARTED, HAD NO RPM TO SPEAK OF - DROVE WITH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR - MAX SPEED I COULD REACH WAS APPROX. 35 TO 40 MPH. AFTER RESEARCHING, IT WAS FOUND THAT FORD KNEW THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM FIRST COMPLAINT (SEE ON LINE) UNLESS YOU FORCE THE ISSUE - FORD DEALERS DENIES UNTIL BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THE RESEARCH I DONE ON THE PROBLEM - THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A COMPLETE RECALL - REIMBURSE THOSE THAT HAD TO PAY FOR THIS ERROR WHICH FORD WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE DUE TO THE COMPLAINTS ON LINE. FORD NEEDS TO PROVE THAT THEY HAVE SOLVED THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10410333
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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