IllustrationAFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF SITTING IN THE HEAT (90+ F) THE CAR FAILED TO START. THE ENGINE NEVER TURNED OVER, OR MADE ANY SOUND INDICATING THE STARTER WAS EVEN DOING ANYTHING. AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR AND TURNING OFF THE A/C, THE ENGINE STARTED UP AS IT WOULD NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *TR
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE ROUTINELY LURCHES FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE IS IDLING. THIS BEGAN DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009, AND CONTINUES TODAY. IT IS ESPECIALLY COMMON DURING WARM WEATHER. SOMETIMES AFTER THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND TRY TO ACCELERATE ON MY OWN. *TR
BOUGHT VEHICLE USED 8 DAYS AGO. ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE YESTERDAY AND ONCE TODAY, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO THROTTLE UP WITH GAS PEDAL NOT APPLIED AND FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH INSTANCES WERE IN A PARKING LOT. ON BOTH INSTANCES...OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 100 DEGREES F AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON IN BOTH FRONT/BACK MODES. I SIMPL…
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BOUGHT VEHICLE USED 8 DAYS AGO. ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE YESTERDAY AND ONCE TODAY, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO THROTTLE UP WITH GAS PEDAL NOT APPLIED AND FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH INSTANCES WERE IN A PARKING LOT. ON BOTH INSTANCES...OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 100 DEGREES F AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON IN BOTH FRONT/BACK MODES. I SIMPLY PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AS I WAS TURNING OUT OF PARKING SPOT, FOOT ON BRAKE MANEUVERING TURN...THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. STARTLED ME ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT SOME DISTANCE HAD OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE "LUNGE" ALMOST FEELS LIKE YOU "STOMPED" THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR FOR JUST A SECOND. THAT IS THE BEST DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE DISCREPANCY FEELS LIKE. I'M VERY WORRIED...JUST PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. IT'S THE WEEKEND, SO I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH A DEALERSHIP FIRST THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,011.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGED BACKWARD WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE MALFUNCTION ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY IN HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGED BACKWARD WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE MALFUNCTION ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY IN HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,223. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WILL STALL ANYWHERE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES. THE VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED IN ORDER TO DRIVE NORMAL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS ILLUMINATE DURING FAILURE. UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS
VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED IN 2011. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT 30,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY REMOTE. ON JULY 6 2012 WITH AC ON DRIVING SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING LOT CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT STARTED UP AND I WEN…
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VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED IN 2011. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT 30,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY REMOTE. ON JULY 6 2012 WITH AC ON DRIVING SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING LOT CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT STARTED UP AND I WENT ABOUT 20FT AND CAR JUST DIED. ON JULY 10, 2012 TOOK IT TO DEALER IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. ON TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2012 I WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE POWERTRAIN AND THE COST WOULD BE $1600. I WENT BALLASTIC AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO MANAGER AND THEN ASKED FOR NUMBER TO FORD COMPANY. I TALKED WITH SOMEONE THERE EXPLAINED MY FINANCIAL SITUATION AND WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER AND SAID SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO ME IN FOUR (4) DAYS ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. I TOLD THE FORD REP, THAT I HAD BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY 2007 FREESTYLE AND ASKED WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS CAR. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012 DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE $1600.00 DEAL BUT A PIGTAIL (WHATEVER THAT IS) AT THE TUNE OF $600.00. I AM AFRAID OF THIS CAR AND I AM LOOKING TO GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
WHEN I STARTED BACKING UP MY CAR WITH THE A/C ON IT START TO LUNG AND EVEN SHUT OFF AT TIMES. I LOVE TO BACK IN MY PARKING SPACE AND THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED SO THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. I PULLED FORWARD THEN CUT THE WHEEL AND THE MOMENT I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD LUNG WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAKS LIGHTLY. I…
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WHEN I STARTED BACKING UP MY CAR WITH THE A/C ON IT START TO LUNG AND EVEN SHUT OFF AT TIMES. I LOVE TO BACK IN MY PARKING SPACE AND THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED SO THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. I PULLED FORWARD THEN CUT THE WHEEL AND THE MOMENT I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD LUNG WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAKS LIGHTLY. I WAS SO FRIGHTEN BY THIS I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE OIL CHANGE PLACE TODAY (7-11-12) TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS DONE WRONG WHEN THEY CHANGE THE OIL. THEN I TOOK IT TO THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC ON 7-11-12 TOO; WHICH ALL HE COULD DO FOR ME WAS FLUSH THE THROTTLE TO SEE IT THAT CAN HELP THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN SITTING AT AN IDLE AND REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHETHER IT WAS IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHETHER IT WAS IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REMOVED AND CLEANED. THE DEALER STATED THE THROTTLE BODY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,923.
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