NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
893 reports80,324 miles · May 2, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I PURCHASED A USED FORD FREESTYLE 2007 MODEL IN APRIL AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR THAT I LOVE AND FELT SAFE WITH MY CHILDREN IN, IT BEGAN TO ACT CRAZY!! IT LUNGES WHEN PULLING IN TO PARK OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. IT SCARES ME NOW TO PUT MY KIDS IN IT!!! TODAY AFTER IT LUNGED A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT C…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A USED FORD FREESTYLE 2007 MODEL IN APRIL AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR THAT I LOVE AND FELT SAFE WITH MY CHILDREN IN, IT BEGAN TO ACT CRAZY!! IT LUNGES WHEN PULLING IN TO PARK OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. IT SCARES ME NOW TO PUT MY KIDS IN IT!!! TODAY AFTER IT LUNGED A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT THE STORE I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR AND COULDN'T CONTROL THE FREESTYLE!! IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IF THE AIR IS ON. AFTER ONE OF THE LUNGING FITS TODAY A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. I PULLED OVER TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND POWER CAME BACK! SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE!!! *JS
NHTSA ODI #10457219
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
THE CARS RPMS ARE REVVING ON THERE OWN WHILE CAR IS IDLING OR IS MOVING VERY SLOWLY AS IN WHEN TRYING TO PARK OR BARELY MOVING FORWARD OR BACK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR JUMPS. I HAVE ALMOST HIT TWO CARS AND SOME KIDS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10456699
88,000 miles · Apr 18, 2012
Power Train
WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PLACED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE AT IDLE SPEED. IT CREATES A VERY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY IN PARKING LOTS. THE SURGE USUALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT AND THEN CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, USUALLY AT IDLE SPEED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID IT NEED A NEW…
Read full complaint
WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PLACED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE AT IDLE SPEED. IT CREATES A VERY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY IN PARKING LOTS. THE SURGE USUALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT AND THEN CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, USUALLY AT IDLE SPEED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID IT NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH MODEL YEARS 05-07 FREESTYLES. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10455673
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
2007 FORD FREESTYLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD A BURNING SMELL AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE BURNING SMELL RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CON…
Read full complaint
2007 FORD FREESTYLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD A BURNING SMELL AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE BURNING SMELL RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO, THE MANIFOLD, GASKET AND SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY MELTED DUE TO HEAT. THREE MONTHS LATER. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY TYPE OF LEAK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE IGNITION COIL AND FANS, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD PROBABLY OVERHEAT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10454124
120,000 miles · Apr 11, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES PERFORMANCE ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS, RATTLES, DOESN'T PULL, CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP WHILE TRAVELING OR PARKED IN TRAFFIC. CAUSES SUDDEN JERKING WHILE DRIVING, BACKING UP AND STARTING OFF. IT ALSO JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE EVEN BEFORE STARTING TO DRIVE. WHILE DR…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES PERFORMANCE ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS, RATTLES, DOESN'T PULL, CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP WHILE TRAVELING OR PARKED IN TRAFFIC. CAUSES SUDDEN JERKING WHILE DRIVING, BACKING UP AND STARTING OFF. IT ALSO JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE EVEN BEFORE STARTING TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSIONS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE SLOW TO CHANGE SPEED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD CAUSE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JERKS SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT RISK HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10454810
112,000 miles · Apr 6, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA ODI #10454367
55,000 miles · Mar 29, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
MOVING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE LUNGED SUDDENLY CAUSING ME TO NARROWLY MISS NEARBY PARKED CARS.
NHTSA ODI #10453427
54,000 miles · Mar 13, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
MY FORD 2007 FREESTYLE WAS POSITIVELY, CERTAINLY ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS AT TIMES TERRIFYING. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENED IN DIFFERENT DEGREES OF SEVERITY AND LENGTH OF TIME. IT ALSO HAPPENED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. THE FIRST WAY WAS WHEN I WAS EITHER SIMPLY DRIVING BUT PREDOMINANTLY WHEN I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN FO…
Read full complaint
MY FORD 2007 FREESTYLE WAS POSITIVELY, CERTAINLY ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS AT TIMES TERRIFYING. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENED IN DIFFERENT DEGREES OF SEVERITY AND LENGTH OF TIME. IT ALSO HAPPENED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. THE FIRST WAY WAS WHEN I WAS EITHER SIMPLY DRIVING BUT PREDOMINANTLY WHEN I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT OR TO PARK. AT THAT VERY SECOND, THE CAR WOULD LITERALLY JUMP AHEAD IN A SUDDEN, MORTIFYING TREMENDOUS ACCELERATION. I WOULD TRY TO RESTRAIN IT BY STEPPING ON THE BREAKS AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BREAKS, THE THRUST WAS AS STRONG OR AT TIMES, STRONGER. MOST TIMES IT KEPT GOING FOR A BIT, BUT WITH MY HEART POUNDING IN FEAR THAT I WOULD HIT ANOTHER CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN, I WOULD FIND MYSELF TRULY OFF MY SEAT, SOLELY ON THE BREAK WITH ALL MY POSSIBLE STRENGTH; AND THE CAR WOULD DIE. WHEN I WAS AT A LIGHT AND THE GREEN CAME ON, I WAS HAVING TO RESTART THE CAR QUICKLY TO KEEP WITH TRAFFIC FLOW.MANY TIMES, AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING SLOWLY AND TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM OTHER CARS, THE CAR WOULD GO ON, BUT WITH A HICCUP ON AND OFF.THEN THINGS WOULD SEEM NORMAL, BUT I NEVER KNEW FOR HOW LONG. THE SECOND WAY IN WHICH THE CAR SELF ACCELERATED, WAS WHEN I TURNED IT ON TO START DRIVING.AGAIN THE ACCELERATION WOULD BE SO SUDDEN AND I NEVER KNEW HOW STRONGLY. SOME TIMES I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME IN A PARKING LOT, OR ANYWHERE I WAS PARKED. I HAD TO TAKE EXTRA, PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE, MORE THAN USUAL, THAN NO PERSONS WOULD BE EVEN REMOTELY IN RANGE OF MY CAR WHEN I TURNED IT ON, BECAUSE I NEVER KNEW, DEPENDING ON THE ACCELERATION FORCE, HOW FAR THE "JUMP" WOULD BE. THIS PROBLEM KEPT ME IN ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY. I TOOK MY CAR TWICE TO MY REGULAR CAR SHOP, HAD TO TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER, ONLY PLACE TO FIND THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED. PERSON THERE KNEW ABOUT SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER FORDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451348
39,000 miles · Mar 3, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM PROBLEM. CAR LUNGING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE DRIVER IS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL; SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED. MORE APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS ON OR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SHARPLY. PAST LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW PURCHASE. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN…
Read full complaint
THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM PROBLEM. CAR LUNGING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE DRIVER IS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL; SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED. MORE APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS ON OR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SHARPLY. PAST LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW PURCHASE. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED IN 2008. I HAVE HAD ALL I CAN TAKE; VISITED DEALERSHIP TODAY (3-02-212)! PLEASE FORD CORRECT THIS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10450128
76,070 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Power Train
WHILE APPROACHING A RED STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT BRAKING FROM 35 MPH, I LESSENED THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DECELERATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE RPM SURGED UP AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP WIT…
Read full complaint
WHILE APPROACHING A RED STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT BRAKING FROM 35 MPH, I LESSENED THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DECELERATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE RPM SURGED UP AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP WITHOUT ENTERING THE INTERSECTION. AT NO TIME DURING THE INCIDENT WAS ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR AS MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE COLD (EXTERNAL TEMP @ 34 DEGREES F) AND I HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH ABOUT A 30 SECOND WARM UP PERIOD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447881
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