This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving approximately 25 mph, the all-wheel drive malfunction indicator illuminated. Approximately two weeks later, the check transmission indicator also illuminated. The contact called an unknown local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle jerked without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. An independent mechanic stated that the transmission fluid needed to be changed and the transmission filter replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Throttle body is giving me trouble. When I am at a light or stopped my car accelerates by itself. Is a safety issue as sometimes I am at a pedestrian crosswalk or just at a light. Very concerned about this issue.
In this incident, before the engine shut off the car would surge with power forcing my car to thrust forward without control, perhaps certain times up to anywhere from a few inches to a couple feet. After this happens for a little while the car turns off and the system reads failsafe engine mode. This incident happened to me 3 times on the way to the dealership, and I just received the estimate of around $850 to fix this unsafe working vehicle due to its electronic throttle body malfunctioning. Luckily no people were close to my car any of the times the car was randomly accelerating.
I have had numerous instances where, when either at a stop light, or parking or waiting in the carpool line my Freestyle has lunged forward while my foot was on the brake pedal. Some instances are worse than others with more force, but I am able to stop the car by pressing harder on the brake pedal. I have almost hit a couple of cars in the drive thru lanes at restaurants. I have also experienced my Freestyle cutting off while at a light, and even once when I took my foot off the gas to coast into a parking lot. The car just died. I called the local Ford dealership and they stated that there have been issues with the throttle body sticking and its way of correcting itself is to lunge the car and attempt to right the issue. They quoted anywhere from $100 to try to clean the throttle body and possible have to replace it to the tune of about $700. If this problem is so well known that my dealer knows about it, why has it not been addressed and recalled?
- Taylors, SC, USA
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Cvt transmission failed for the second time while driving. Vehicle lurched and the wrench light came on, front end shuddered. Restarted the vehicle and it would drive, but would only achieve 20 mph with very high rpms. Dealer says transmission will have to be replaced. As I understand reading the numerous complaints, they don't make this unit anymore. I am faced with a vehicle that I can't drive. Please do something.
The vehicle started surging without foot on the gas pedal. This occurs at low speeds or when stopping. Have had to rapidly press the brake pedal and hold it to avoid accidents. When the surging occurs, many times the vehicle goes into fail-safe engine mode which does not allow one to shift into higher gears. Check engine light stays on after occurrence and failsafe engine mode was solved by pulling over, killing the motor, waiting, and then restarting.
On the date noted, I was stopped at a traffic light with my foot on the brake when the car suddenly lurched forward (maybe 6-9 inches). I turned the corner to enter a parking garage and while stopped with my foot on the brake, the car lurched forward again, this time the car stalled. I restarted it pulled forward to the garage gate and stopped. It lurched a third time, stalling again and then the service engine light came on. I can best describe it as though I released the clutch (on a manual shift car) with my foot on the brake and not the accelerator. In such a situation, the car will lurch and stall. However this is an automatic and the reason the clutch would engage is from acceleration. I recall the motor revving up prior to the lurch which would explain the event. The Ford dealership finally narrowed the problem to the throttle body and the electronics attached to it and required replacement ($700+). I would say this event occurred at least 6 times in the past year, always while the car was stopped but never 3 times in succession. It stalled maybe two of those times, entered 'engine failsafe mode' but was fine after re-starting the engine. I researched this occurrence on the internet finding it to be an issue on many occasions with this model vehicle. There are several reports on your website as well. I see the investigation is still open. I noted one report referencing a design flaw as to the release of gases in the throttle body and how they are re-routed back throughout the body. The service rep at the dealer noted to me that the new body installed on my car was a new design where the gases are released away from the body. I take this as acknowledgement that the original design was flawed, leading to its unsafe behavior. Note that this last event occurred in 90+ degree weather with the ac on and after highway driving for 3 hours.
2005 Ford Freestyle surges and accelerates from a stop or low speed. It is particularly evident when shifting the transmission from drive to reverse or reverse to drive. The acceleration can last for maximum 5 seconds but you better have your foot firmly planted on the brake or the vehicle could lunge forward or backward into oncoming or parked cars and pedestrians. It doesn't happen al the time, often after the car has been run and parked for a 15-30 minute period.
Update on ODI 10419757: Took car to Ford dealer because engine light came on after car lunged (while backing up). Said it was the throttle control actuator sticking was replaced at a cost of $895. Two other customers with Ford Freestyle have had the same problem.
Normal driving conditions-when backing out the car lunges and goes dead. Fail safe engine mode is displayed. Have had it lunge forward when foot is on brake and engine dies. Happens more often when air conditioner is on. Check engine light comes on. Ford dealer said air compressor was no good. Did not replace because we saw complaint about Ford Freestyle.
I have a 2005 Ford Freestyle that surges, especially when it is hot and I have the A/C on. This surging occurs several times a day. It happens while I am driving very slowly, backing out of a parking space or waiting in line at the drive-thru. I have almost rear-ended people several times. After researching it on the internet, I have found this to be a common problem with these cars. The issue is with the throttle body but apparently Ford will not recognize that a problem exists.
Have a 2005 Ford Freestyle. In the last month, the car has been surging and taking off without my touching the gas. It surged violently backward while I was parallel parking and ran up on the curb. I stood on the brake and the engine quit and went into a fault mode. It did this three times after re-starting the car each time. It also about two weeks ago surged forward into the community. It is now surging at a third of my stops. I don't try and back it up if at all possible. I am convinced this is a serious safety problem. I am afraid to allow anyone in my family to drive it.I feel this should be re-called and fixed.
Random lunging when, generally, car is placed in reverse. It does it randomly, increasing in frequency. However, today, we got a warning light and the vehicle went into "engine failsafe mode" and was jerking and just not driving appropriately. We went to Ford, and were told to turn the car off and back on to reset that particular sensor, but that generally these problems can be attributed to a throttle body issue - and that said issues may continue or worsen until replacement of this part.
While sitting in a parking lot on a hot day (A/C running), my 2005 Ford Freestyle suddenly lunged forward. When the brake was applied, it stopped the engine. A message appeared reading "engine in fail-safe mode." Approximately 2 weeks later, this same condition was repeated with the same result. In between these events the car seems to perform as expected. As of now we have taken no action however next Wednesday the dealer can look at the vehicle and hopefully have some good news on the repairs. I had the local autozone technician run a diagnostic check and two codes came up he said were unique to Ford so a Ford service technician would be required to interpret. He lead me to believe these codes read "tac" and something referring to the torque control module. Codes may have been "P061B" and a P1202" (?).
2005 Ford Freestyle transmission surging when placed in reverse. Had been minor up to this point but while my wife was driving it last night, engine revved higher than before and stalled. Check transmission light came on and 'system failure" message appeared. After doing some research, it seems to be the throttle body problem that is prevalent with this vehicle. Of course, my extended warranty expired 2 weeks ago.
My 2005 Ford Freestyle is surging/lurching when I am going slowly, I.e. when I am pulling into or out of my garage, when I am parking, when I am approaching a stop sign or stoplight. I've taken it to the local Ford dealer service department, for them to look at this issue as well as an "AWD malfunction" indicator that comes on periodically while I am driving. The service techs could not identify the source of the lurching/surging, but thought it might be associated with the "AWD malfunction", which in turn they thought might be a result of a bad oil pressure pump (however it would have been a multi-thousand dollar repair for them to even investigate further, so I didn't have them do anything). The surging/lurching is getting worse, and I no longer feel safe driving my car. I fear for the safety of my children, myself, and those who might happen to be in front of me when my car surges.
I have a 2005 Ford Freestyle sel. In the last month, the car has been surging and taking off without my touching the gas. Last Friday, it surged violently backward while I was parallel parking and ran up on the curb nearly hitting people. I stood on the brake and the engine quit and went into a fault mode. It did this three times after re-starting the car each time. It also about two weeks ago surged forward into the gate of my gated community. It is now surging at a third of my stops. I don't try and back it up if at all possible. I am convinced this is a serious safety problem. I am afraid to allow anyone in my family to drive it. I feel this should be re-called and fixed.
We started noticing the engine surge a few months ago whenever we shifted out of park or neutral. The RPM's jumped around 400-600 above idle and now are over 700-800 with the A/C on. So far, we have not experienced any damage to the vehicle. I took the vehicle to my local Ford dealer, blackwell Ford in Plymouth, mi and was told I needed the throttle body needed replacement at a cost of over $800. The vehicle has 94000 miles on it and aside from that problem, we have been pleased with it.
Many occurrences of unexpected surge/vehicle movement over the past 4 months. Recently, the car unexpectedly jumped forward resulting in a very unsafe condition when stopped at an intersection with a pedestrian crosswalk. I was very fortunate that no pedestrians were in front of my vehicle at the time that it lunged forward.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Roanoke, VA, USA