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 car surges when you put in gear, even with your foot on the brake. It does it in forward and reverse. It is very scary, many times I almost hit something. This past winter I was on the interstate and the car lost power, I could not go over 30 miles per hour.
Incident 1: vehicle lunged forward during a low speed tight turn into a parking spot. Driver's right foot was on the brake, nothing was hit. Air conditioning was on. Unable to repeat. Incident 2: vehicle lunged backward while backing a small camping trailer into a driveway. Driver's right foot was on the brake, nothing was hit. Steering wheel was straight, air conditioning on. No damage. Unable to repeat.
When stopped vehicle will lung forward, idle will go up & down causing this to lung, idle speed will vary from about 600 RPM to 1300 RPM this makes it hard to park and when on the road stopped, took to dealer for repair in Aug of 2010 repair (changed throttle body) that lasted for about 6 months and started again.
Car lunges when holding foot on the brake whether in drive or reverse. The lunging is getting worse. Very scary. Also, air conditioning does not work when idling or stopped; has begun acting like it's going to die and then lunging while driving on highway now. The car has done this since I got it in 2008, but was not as severe and being a woman, wasn't sure if this was just how this car acted for some weird reason. It is getting worse and worse now. It feels very dangerous. Now the air conditioner won't work when car is idling either. It works great when going down the highway or in cool or rainy weather. My life is driving. I am a healthcare contractor and must drive often. I need my car. I understand from what I have read (a lot) that many people are filing class action suits. I just want my car fixed asap.
I have also experienced unexpected vehicle movement when my foot was not on the accelerator. My vehicle has moved as much as 1-2 feet when the brake was not applied or lightly applied. I describe the movement as a "lunge". also, as others have reported, , the lunging has occured when my foot was not on the accelerator and was either firmly on the brake pedal or lightly on the brake pedal. I have only noticed this condition while in "drive". lunges have been sudden and unexpected, and generally are of brief duration. The condition seems worse with the air-conditioning in operation and/or when the steering wheel is turned.
- Winthrop, ME, USA
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We purchased this vehicle on Wednesday August 8th, 2012. We were backing up out of a parking spot and as my husband turned the steering wheel the car accelerated backwards and the car shut off after he hit the brakes. He did not have his foot on the accelerator at all. In fact, he was in transition from the brake and his foot hadn't even hit the accelerator pedal yet. This is the only problem we have experienced since having the vehicle. I would not say it lunges forward or reverse- I would say it hops forward or reverse. It's seems to be a spurt of acceleration. The vehicle shifts fine into gear, no stalls, no grinding noises, just little spurts when it's backing up. The only difference between my husbands driving and mine is that I always engage the emergency brake when I park. I'm used to driving manual transmissions. So, when I put the vehicle into reverse I still have the emergency brake on and the spurts do not occur with my driving. I did find it alarming that with my particular vehicle it does not require my foot to be on the brake pedal in order to start the vehicle. I can start the vehicle by simply turning the key. This is not something I'm used to seeing in modern vehicles as I am used to driving Volkswagen's. I'm concerned because I don't know if this problem will get worse. Will I drive down the road and not be able to stop? I can't afford extra parts. I love everything about this vehicle (and from a Volkswagen enthusiast that says a lot). I just don't know what to do or what the worst case scenario is. I don't want to lose my life.
My 2007 Ford Freestyle will lunge unexpectedly in idle, with foot on the brake. Sometimes the vehicle will surge and shut down. This happens more with the air conditioning on. I will shut off the A/C, then restart the vehicle and drive without A/C.
Engine revs with no accelerator pressure when going from park to reverse or drive. It is fortunate that the brake pedal must be depressed to remove the shifter from park so the sudden movement can be somewhat controlled if you are expecting it. If you were in neutral which wouldn't require your foot on the brake, the consequences could be nasty to nearby vehicles or pedestrians. My wife is trying to just drive my work truck as the Freestyle has her very concerned for her and others' safety.
On and off over the month of July 2012, when I put my car in reverse to pull out of a parking spot or driveway it surges/jumps without my foot touching the gas pedal. It happens only when I try and reverse. This keeps happening and I'm afraid one day I'm going to hit someone or something as I can't control the surges. Also on July 7, 2012 the engine just cut off on me while reversing out of a parking space. I was able to start it back up again after it died. In December 2011 I had a new transmission put in. Also in June 2011 I had to replace the ac compressor.
My car will lunge forward when my foot is not on the accelerator. I have to slam on the brake to stop the motion before hitting the car in front of me or a pedestrian in a parking lot. I did an internet search and found there is an open investigation on this and thought I should report it on my car. This is very scary to me and happens quite often in a drive through or when I am backing out of a parking space. I am not sure what I should do next.
Parked in parking garage. When backing up, car lurched and ran into another vehicle that was backing up. I was in reverse when the other car backed up. Foot on brake and car lurched into other car. No personal injuries than goodness. Since that time, it has lurched in both forward and reverse. I originally thought that somehow my foot hit the gas pedal and could not figure out how I was doing this. I also thought that maybe the floor mat had somehow bound the gas pedal, but, I checked and it is not the problem. Sensor replaced on car as mechanic thought that this might be causing the problem. It was fine after that for about 1,500 miles and problem has started again. The problem seems to be made worse if the temperature is over 90 outside or if the car is sitting and idling or operating at low speeds. I have been lucky that no other property damage and/or personal injuries.
Have multiple issue with my Ford Freestyle: Engine surges/lunges, then stalls at lights or driving at low speeds. After explaining this to Ford before the warranty expired they kept the vehicle for days and claim issue was not duplicated...when I came back to them a month later I replaced the (etc) at Ford's recommendation. They charged me for this. After about 3 years of having the vehicle, I had to replace the engine mount. The dash lights have been going out one by one. When the first one went, it happened before the warranty expired but, Ford claimed it wasn't covered and wanted to charge me over $200 to replace a.10 cent light bulb. I told them not too and they still charged me $50 for the inspection. Though the surging stopped for a year and a half after replacing the etc, the surging/lunging has returned. And since the warranty has long since expired and I am under-employed, I haven't had the money to replace this part again.
In June 2011 I had to bring my vehicle in for service, I noticed prior to my vehicle breaking down the vehicle would lurch even thou my foot was not on the accelerator pedal (in forward or reverse). The temp outside was in the low 90's. I had bought this vehicle in the fall of 2010. Now today (18 July 2012) I am once again taking my car in for the same repairs (parts replacement). The temp yesterday was near 90, I had the air on and was backing into a parking spot when my vehicle lurched back instantly without my foot on the accelerator (I had to slam on the brakes) so I did not crash into the other vehicle in the stall behind the one I was baking into. All the sudden the engine stalled; I re-started the vehicle (and the check engine light came on and is now on constantly as it was back in 2011). When I left the parking slot I was in I attempted to go home; the vehicle lurched the whole time I was in the parking lot, once I was on the main road the vehicle would not accelerate normally; also the cruise control would not work. Again; these are the same problems I had in 2011. I crept my car to the superior Ford dealership where I had the work done before. I asked the service dept worker if she knew of any tech-issues or concerns and she said no....I was not buying it.
I have had the throttle replaced last year around June 2011 and lately (only a year later July 2012) the throttle is accelerating on its on own once again when I'm parking my vehicle and while backing out (reverse). Why isn't this on a recall list by now"?"
While driving in 90 degree + temperatures, we have noticed that the car lurches while reversing from a parking spot, or at a stop. Braking does stop the unexpected acceleration, however it still feels unsafe. This has happened 3-6 times, and as recently as today (7/17/12). It is not driver error - again has happened enough that we are able to analyze that the foot is not on the gas. Check engine light comes on when this occurs.
The vehicle routinely lurches forward while my foot is on the brake and the engine is idling. This began during the summer of 2009, and continues today. It is especially common during warm weather. Sometimes after this happens, the engine will stall after I take my foot off the brake and try to accelerate on my own.
Vehicle lunges when stopped. Check engine light goes off and comes on. Vehicle losses all power. When vehicle restarts it operates okay for awhile and then problem repeats itself.
Vehicle suddenly surges from stopped position without the accelerator being depressed, occurs in forward and reverse without warning, problem is intermittent.
Over the months, when driving the vehicle there were inconsistent occurrences of surging forward or backward at low speeds without accelerating. Typically this has occurred when parking or backing out of a parking spot/garage. It has increased lately and this past Friday, the vehicle surged greatly and then the engine stalled. This has happened after idling. The only "remedy" is shutting the vehicle down completely and then restarting.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chaska, MN, USA