Our 2006 Ford Freestyle surges / lunges in forward and reverse when at idle or stopped condition. Was told by local Ford dealership that is the throttle body and the part was very hard to get. This causes a un safe condition that could cause some one or thing to be hit.

- Madison, AL, USA

My wife and I own two 2006 Ford Freestyles. One has approximately 70,000 miles and the other 50,000 miles. Right about the same time in April/May 2009 both vehicles started have engine problems. Both were taken to Ford dealership for repair -- they replaced the throttle body on both vehicles. Each repair was covered by an extended warranty of 100,000 miles. The problem with the throttle body caused the engine to rev up and want to take off on its own -- even with the brake pedal pushed down. Other times the engine would just shut off. Either of these caused potentially dangerous situations. Although neither vehicle was involved in any accident due to this factory installed equipment the potential for serious accident/injury was great. Both vehicles have been repaired and are running well -- for about $200 dollars each for diagnostics. The old parts are no longer available.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

While curbside at the airport my 2006 Ford Freestyle started to accelerate by itself. And nearly plowed into the car and pedestrians in front of me. When the acceleration subsided I repositioned my feet (left foot brake, right foot on floor) because I thought my foot was on both the brake and the accelerator. A minute or so later the car did it again, I put the car in neutral and turned it off. When my passengers were re loaded I started the car and while leaving the airport noticed the car was very sluggish. I took it to the dealer that day. After more than two days, lots of phone calls (about what might be the problem "but we're not sure") and a lot of negotiation between the dealer and the extended warranty "provider" it was determined that the electronic throttle body was the culprit but "the part was on nationwide back-order" in fact "we have another Freestyle out in the back that has been waiting for a month". the tune changed considerably when the dealer found out that I was not only considering a legal path for resolution, but my wife was a "consumer cop" for the state where we live. The parts (2)were "found" in California and air-freighted to our dealer who promptly fixed both cars that day. I was charged $550+ for the repair(neither Ford or the 100K mile extended warranty "provider" covered the work). It seems that others have had this exact problem too, how many does it take? does someone have to get killed or injured for some one to figure out that this type of incident can't possibly be a normal wear and tear or consumer caused problem.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA