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.
Our vehicle was cruising at interstate speeds when it attempted to accelerate due to an incline in the road. Suddenly the vehicle wrench light along with the anti slip light came on and the engine RPM's increased but the vehicle did not accelerate. I took the car off cruise and applied the gas and received the same results, high RPM but no acceleration. The car would not accelerate no matter what I did. We eventually pulled off the highway and stop at a gas station where we turned the car off and fueled up. After leaving the gas station we have not experienced the issue since. We took it to our mechanic the next day who said we needed to replace the transmission for about $5000. After doing research I have found out the many Ford Freestyle owners have had to replace their transmissions along with replacing the electronic throttle control (which Ford eventually placed a recall on). We have had the etc repaired but the transmission being shot is unacceptable.
This is a follow up complaint from earlier. I had to replace the transmission a month after buying my Freestyle. Almost $4000! I have videos of the cars rpms surging as I am driving it. Not a safe car - how many complaints before a Ford recall is made? please tell me someone does not have to get hurt or die first!
The car will randomly surge when stopped or at low speeds and beginning to accelerate. It seems like it just wants to go from an even idle to floored sometimes, just momentarily. Could happen when you are getting into or out of a parking space, pulling out of an intersection...doesn't seem to be any particular conditions. Lately has started to shudder at mid speeds (15-40 mph) and surge ahead as if you were moving the accelerator pedal, even though your foot is stock still. Getting to be a little uneasy having my wife drive the car.
I just got the vehicle in November 2012 and on 12/12/2012 I was driving home, the rpms started revving on it's own at speeds between 50-60 mph. I was not increasing it's gas. I made it home and stopped at the mailbox; as I let off the brake the vehicle lurched forward without me hitting the gas. Then on 12/13/2012 as I was driving to work it did the same lurching coming out of park in my driveway and also at stop lights and signs. It also did the same revving and halfway to work it decided not to go over 40 mph.
- Wilmington, NC, USA
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My 2006 Ford Freestyle first started to surge a couple of years after we got it(approx 2009) I reset it (as was explained in the manual) no major issue-I thought. It surged mostly while the ac was on, when it was hot and sometimes in reverse. After awhile I made allowances for this issue. My car was taken to the mechanic periodically for maintenance w/ no other (new or major mechanical) issues over the next few years. This past summer-2012(it has continued to surge(worse than before)) it also stalled a couple of times. My car was taken in and the throttle body was cleaned(I continued to experience problems all through the summer). It is now December and since September, my car has now stalled out 4 times! the most recent was the day after it was checked by a mechanic. The panel light for the drivetrain illuminates for awhile as well as the check engine light. My car just got a new alternator this past week and stalled on the freeway. All these years I have taken the advice of the forums while communicating with my mechanic to rectify the annoying and dangerous issues. I have not written before because I didn't take this problem as seriously as I should have. I have two young children and do not like stalling out on the streets. If this problem is so prevalent, why doesn't Ford just recall it and take accountability for their faulty car?!
In the summer of 2011 our Freestyle began to surge as far as two feet while driven at low speeds and also while at a complete stop, surging forward or backward when in reverse, revving loudly and subsequently stalling. Concerned, we took the vehicle to our Ford service department. The Ford service department told us that the problem was uncommon (not true) and did not mention any service bulletins before reprogramming our Freestyles PCM and replacing the throttle body.
My 2006 Ford Freestyle has a lurching problem and now it is getting more often than not, and extremely slow speeds, it wants to take off. I have had several near accidents regarding this and I can't seem to find out if Ford knows about this issue, are they doing anything about it, or is it easier to sue after the accident. Help me, please.
On increasingly frequent occasions, my 2006 Ford Freestyle sel fwd vehicle has surged (or lunged) during very low/0 speed maneuvers, such as turning into, or backing out of a parking space/garage; queuing up in a right or left turn lane, or waiting at a stop light/sign for traffic to clear; or navigating tight passages, I.e., parking garage exit lanes and drive-through lanes. The problem seems to be exacerbated by hot weather and/or A/C operation and/or steering wheel movement. This problem had occurred prior to 9/6/2011, but with very rare frequency. Now however, I am experiencing this problem on an almost daily basis. I am deeply concerned that there is a real safety issue developing with this model. If I don't have my foot firmly planted on the brake, the car can surge (fairly rapidly) forward or backward a good 10 - 20 feet.
Lost power from the engine causing lost speed. Unable to accelerate. Engine sputtered. Since the first episode, I have had continued episodes. Typically worse when the engine warms up. Car completely stopped and was unable to restart the engine on a trip of about 75 miles. Had to have the car towed to a local dealership. We have replaced ignition coil, spark plug, intake manifold gaskets, throttle body assembly without improvement of the condition.
Vehicle lunges forward because throttle revving the engine. Sitting in the car line to pick up children at school is worrisome. Throttle body replaced two times prior to this date. Ford dealer informed me that throttle body needs replaced again. This is unreasonable to have replaced so many times. I have owned many vehicles in my life, currently one with over 200,000 miles 12yrs old, have never replaced a throttle body. This is a safety hazard much like the recent Toyota accelerator issue. Throttle body should be a recall item or should be covered for replacement by Ford for life of vehicles.
The car would lunge forward when I would take my foot off the brake before I could get my foot to the gas pedal. Then started to lunge at low speeds in traffic...now it will lose power to the transmission and I will have to pull over, turn the car off, then start it again. This has happened in the city and on the highway when traveling 65mph in traffic.
The throttle body unit was malfunctioning causing the vehicle to strain, lurch, and accelerate without depression of accelerator. The throttle body was cleaned and then about 2 months after, the malfunction returned. After extensive research, I viewed dozens of similar complaints, some at low speeds in parking lots, in which pedestrians were almost struck.
My 2006 Ford Freestyle lurches forward at 0 to 5 mph. The lurching occurs even if I do not press the pedal. It is dangerous at intersections and when trying to park. A mechanic replaced the egr valve and it is still lurching forward..from what I have found on the internet it seems that many others are having the same problem with this vehicle.
My 2006 Ford lunges. It also loses power and cuts off while trying to drive. This happens everywhere and anywhere. Even if my foot is on the brake it will lunge forward or backward it does no discriminate. This happens all the time. It's also worse when the air conditioning is on. This could potentially be a serious situation on the highways and local streets, if the car is just cutting off while driving down the road. Lunging forward/backward could become potentially serious as well. I really hope that Ford takes responsibility for these issues. Especially since they stopped making the Freestyle what 3 yrs later. It seems to me that they realized there was some kind of an issue why else would they quit making it? I have to say other than that major problem of lunging and going through rear brakes the car itself is wonderful and not my first Ford. I love Ford vehicles, unfortunately I am a little disappointed with this one. If Ford would take responsibility and fix it that would be great! I can't afford to fix it nor get another vehicle. I feel like I have a lemon on my hands.
At a very low speed the throttle body stuck open, and the car lunged backwards. I had to slam on the breaks hard to not zoom out into the parking lot into a passing car. The check engine, "wrench" light came on and the lunging kept continuing both in forward and reverse for several seconds. Finally, it appeared to stop once I put the car in neutral, and I was able to back out of the parking space. After that, there was something definitely wrong with the throttle itself. I was unable to accelerate into traffic at the necessary rate. This is a reoccurring problem as there are hundreds if not thousands of reports and complaints about 2005-2006 Freestyles and 500S. I would hope that Ford would do the right thing and recall this part for the safety of their customers and everyone on the roadway.
I have owned my 2006 Ford Freestyle for just over a year....in this short time I have had it in the shop twice, both for major repairs. The first time was within weeks of my driving it off the lot; all of a sudden my car stopped recognizing the key (I guess it's a smart key with a chip embedded in it). I had to get my car towed to two dealerships before the second one had it for multiple days before getting it back. This time I was leaving the store with my daughters. I started my car and shifted the gear to drive and although my car made the accelerating sound, it went absolutely nowhere. I then tried to reverse it and put it in neutral to see what it would do. I once again had to get it towed to two different dealerships and it has now been at the current dealership for over a week and they are having to disassemble my transmission to determine what is wrong with it. I did a very generic search on google for recalls on my car and stumbled upon www.edmunds.com where there are numerous complaints about transmission issues in the 2006 and 2007 Ford Freestyles as well as lunging issues. My car did this once while I was driving my children to school. I was turning a curb and felt it accelerate immediately and it shocked me so that I threw on my brakes and almost caused an accident. Out of this letter, I would like to see a recall on the 2006 Ford Freestyles for transmission issues where the manufacturer would be responsible for negligence in making these cars and repairs associated with it. This is my third car that I have owned and my first Ford car. After these issues in such a short time of ownership I promise you it will be my last Ford. Very unhappy Freestyle owner!!! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My husband used the cruise control on the highway and experienced a loss of power. We are unable to use the cruise control at all. This is also a problem when getting on the highway or passing. Trying to pass can be terrifying when you are in the left hand lane and lose power, you have to find a way to pull to the right hand lane, get off the road, and shut off the engine.when you start back up you have power again. I know that we are not the only ones with this problem I also know that they have had a recall for the same problem with a different model.
My complaint mirrors verbatim others related to the May 2011 investigation opened into the "lunging" at slow speeds for the 05-07 Ford Freestyle. The ac, hot temps, & lunging. One occurrence traveling 60mph & began to "stall out" & slow on major highway with three children in car. Any pressure on fuel pedal no result. Busy traffic, could only travel max 35-40mph. Put flashers on & struggled to make it to repair shop. Turned off ac in 100 degree heat to get any kind of response from engine. I was worried & feared for mine & my children's safety. Vehicle would barely accelerate thru intersection after stopping for red light. Finally made it to shop. Vehicle was placed on machine. Codes appeared: P061B alter fuel control module error, P2106 throttle actuator forced limited. Took vehicle to Ford house & explained issues as well as codes from previous shop. Was told would be $100 for Ford to hook up for a dx. If the codes I had were same, would cost est $800 to repair. As mom of 3 & who drives great distances for work, this repair asap. Have had many occasions if not had foot firmly on brake the vehicle would've caused a wreck at stop light, pulling into, out of parking lots, etc. Car literally drives itself in D/R at 10mph with no acceleration at all after placing in D/R. on 8-12-12 was in drive thru line & car lunged at high rate of speed forward after barely lifting foot off brake. Came mm from slamming into vehicle in front. Put car in P & the vehicle died. Wrench/engine light came on. Turned engine off, turned ac off & restarted the car. I can only imagine what would've happened if this had occurred at a stop light in a busy intersection? this issue is a fatality waiting to happen. This cannot be a fluke random issue if you have rec'd 238 prior complaints regarding the exact same issue. I urge NHTSA to place a recall, if for the only reason to save lives. Updated 08-03-12 updated 09/07/2012
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- Carpentersville, IL, USA