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.
Engine revs and vehicle lurches while placing the car in reverse, even with foot firmly on the brakes. Appears to be worse when air conditioner is on. Vehicle has lost virtually all power while driving. When this happens, you can floor the gas peddle but the vehicle won't go over 10-15mph. Pulling over to the side of the road, turning vehicle off, waiting 15 seconds or so, then restarting, seems to reset the vehicle to a more functional level. The vehicle also has an extensive exhaust smell and it is currently at the shop for a $566 repair for the diagnostic exam and that diagnosis indicating that the egr valve needs to be replaced. I called Ford and they do not have a current recall for the egr valve, or throttle body-which seems to be a correlated problem within the two.
On several occasions while I was driving in route to work or the grocery store, my 06 Ford Freestyle seemed slow and sluggish to respond as I would be waiting at a red light for the green. When the light did turn green and I would press the gas pedal to go, the car would shut off. A few times there were close calls as the car behind me would be unaware I was having trouble and almost rear-end me. When the car would cut off, I would proceed to restart the car and then press the gas to go. The car seemed to respond extremely slow like I would have the gas pedal pressed to the floor and would only be able to go 20 - 25 mph. On other occasions, the car would seem to lurch forward or backward (depending on if I had the car in drive or reverse) as soon as I would take my foot off the brake. After the 3rd or 4th time this happened, I took the car to a local shop who had to refer me to my local Ford dealer. When I took the car to be looked at, Ford explained to me that the throttle body was bad and needed to be replaced as it was causing an electrical communication mishap in the car. So over $900 later, the car was fixed. I did do my research and found that several other 06 Ford Freestyles had the exact same problem. Even the service man at the Ford dealer who fixed my car said that he had just had his 06 Freestyle repaired for the same reason. This is a very serious and potentially dangerous problem. We should not have to wait until someone is seriously injured or dies to do something to fix the problem like a recall. There were times when I thought I was going to be rear-ended, in an accident, or possibly drive through my house. A recall would be being proactive instead of waiting to be reactive. Being proactive shows that the Ford cares for its consumers and appreciates them as well. Safety should be priority #1!!!
On multiple occasions my vehicle has lunged when in a stopped position. When backing out of a parking spot, while in reverse, but with the brake still applied the car has lunged feet backwards at a fast rate and nearly caused accidents. This is also true in regards to stopped at a light or stop sign. While in drive with the brake peddle depressed stopped behind another vehicle the car lunged forward a couple feet nearly hitting the car in front of me. I have four children and I feel unsafe in my own car. I don't know when it is going to happen so I have to be prepared for it at all times. Thank god that I haven't had any accidents when this happens. It is such a fast and unexpected movement that my children will scream. This needs to be taken seriously before someone has a serious accident.
Our Freestyle has a repeated tendency to surge forward from stop with no application of the accelerator pedal. Last year when we took it in to the dealership they said they could find no problems with the car. The problem has since gotten repeatedly worse and we have surged into other cars when trying to leave a parking space. This problem is not consistent, but it occurs on a regular basis; several times a week.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Vehicle is a 2006 Ford Freestyle limited all wheel drive...often, when idling with the transmission in drive and foot on brake, the engine rpms will increase without pressing the accelerator and the car will lunge forward until extreme pressure is applied to the brake pedal. Sometimes, especially when in reverse and the car lunges as described, the car will stall after lunging and the check engine light will come on. Upon restarting the engine, the car will run, but in a limited capacity with the check engine light on. Stopping the car, turning the car off, and then restarting the car, clears the check engine light and the car will operate normally. This seems to occur more often when ambient temperature is around or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Since we purchased the car new in 2006, this has occurred at least 50 times.
One day our Ford Freestyle decided to lurch forward on it's own. It then lost power and had several more surges. It was under an extended warranty (which I paid for) at the time and was covered. Ford however was well aware of the problem and we had to wait 1 month for a replacement throttle body to be manufactured. We were however paying for insurance on the rental out of our own pocket. After getting the car back we have had several more of the same type of incidents over the past year all of which mysteriously went away after turning the car off and then back on again. Today it happened again this time it would not go away. I had an expert read the trouble codes from the cars computer. The results are all once again contained to the throttle body unit. Ford let me know the part was out of warranty after 12,000 miles and repairs will cost me an additional 800 dollars. My wife uses this car to get around with my 7 year old and infant baby. This is a serious problem that could potentially end up with a tragic outcome. It is unacceptable that Ford can act like this is not there fault and not be held accountable. My car is built on the Ford 500 chassis and that car too has the same issues along with a few others. Something should be done about this it immediately before someone gets killed if they haven't been already. I will pay again to have my car fixed again only because my family is in danger and I am being forced to. I have researched this extensively an know we are not alone. Please finish this investigation and hold Ford Motor Company accountable. Thank you for your services in helping keep american lives safe!
I have now had the diagnostic ran and the bad throttle body came in. I contacted Ford and filed a complaint and request for financial assistance. There are hundreds of blog entries with this same issue. It is dangerous and some people are buying new cars because of it. I do not have this luxury. The repair is going to cost around $750 which I cannot afford either. If Ford knows about this, and it is currently under investigation, then why is there no recall? this car is a danger on the roads. We are being put in harms way every day, and now to boot we are having to replace a defective part that owners have had issues with for the past 2 years. The posts I have read are from all across the country, with people having the exact same issues. We are being taken advantage of. Please make them do something about this. Sounds a lot like Toyota.
On 9/12/11 my 2006 Ford Freestyle experienced several failures. Driving through a parking lot and my wrench and emission lights came on. Took to mechanic and he diagnosed complete failure of transmission, and that my power steering was whining as any turns were made. Contacted Ford motor and the dealership and was told that while not uncommon, there was nothing they could do. My car has essentially died at 160,000 miles as the cost of repairs are greater than the value of the car.
When I am idle or just driving around local, the car is accelerating on its own. Very dangerous. I have adjusted my driving habits around this issue, but took it in this morning because the car will not start without pressing the gas pedal. I have read on the internet that there are many people that are having the same issue, but Ford has not issued a recall. I cannot afford to make the repairs that others have detailed, and they say that the problem comes back after the repairs are made.
It idles to fast with ac on and speeds up you got hit brake real hard to stop it then wrench light comes on it only has 67000 miles on it and im not the only one that it happened to it needs to be recalled as a faulty part if I have to pay for it I will never own another Ford again [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Vehicle will lunge or accelerate unexpectedly while sitting in traffic, stop light or any low speed. It will happen in drive or reverse. Almost caused a rear end collision at traffic light. Engine died after lunging on one occasion after I applied brakes hard to stop from jumping into traffic from parking lot.
The car surges when at low speeds, idling and in reverse. We first noticed it in reverse. This is more apparent when the A/C is on. We are unsure exactly when this started to occur so the date above is a close guess. The surging is definitely happening now. If it happens we have to step very firmly on the brake because the car wants to jump forward. We have also had the wrench light come on. When the vehicle was still under warranty we had it looked at by the dealer but we were told that they could not reproduce the problem. I searched the internet and have discovered that others are having the same or similar problem as I am.
At startup when I put the vehicle into forward or reverse gears the engine races and the vehicle lurches in reverse or forward depending which gear it is in. Since I have my foot on the break while putting it into gear I haven't had an accident. Also, several times when this happened the service engine light came on and the vehicle had very little power. After I turned the engine off, sat awhile and turned the engine on the service light did no come on until this happened again. I have heard of this happening to others, so, consequently, I believe this could be a manufacturing defect.
Engine RPM will suddenly increase during low speed maneuvers such as parking or backing out of driveway. This sudden change can vary between 500 to 1000 RPM and seems more pronounced when the air conditioner is on and the vehicle is turning
2006 Ford Freestyle strongly surged/lunged a distance of 5 feet forward from stop immediately after putting vehicle in gear and with foot on the brakes. If a pedestrian or other vehicle had been in front of the car, we would have hit the pedestrian or vehicle. The same has happened countless times in both forward and reverse. Ford dealer is unable to diagnose specific corrective action nor has Ford Motor Company issued a recall despite thousands of reports on the internet of this problem and potential danger and injury.
With the vehicle in gear, either forward or reverse, and with a foot on the break at idle RPM the engine surges causing the vehicle to lurch. Consequently, the vehicle will either stall or the "wrench" light will illuminate and the vehicle will not accelerate to over 30mph while driving the RPM's up well past normal for that rate of speed. This is also the case while at idle speed (no foot on break...just engine in gear and at idle...as if pulling into or out of a parking space). This has been ongoing, yet intermittent, for a little over a year though now it's a multiple-daily occurence.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Little Elm, TX, USA