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.
When reversing out of and into various parking spaces, the vehicle lurches forward when I am not accelerating. I cannot detect a pattern but it has happened at least 6 times.
On several occasions, my car has surged forward when I was moving at very low speeds when my foot was not on the accelerator. This seems to be worse when the air conditioner is running. On these occasions, the engine sometimes stalled and twice the wrench light came on. When the car was shut off and turned on again, the wrench light went off and the car started but it seemed to run a little rough. These incidents seem to happen months apart, but I have learned to turn off the A/C when driving at low speeds. This condition is especially dangerous when I am crawling through the line to pick up my grandchildren at school. On the last occasion both the wrench and the engine light came on. I took it to the dealer the next day. They diagnosed a computer wire problem (I think the computer analysis number is 19773) and a broken "anti-roll" mount. The cost will be $739.57 even though it is still under original warranty till October. From the comments I have been reading on the internet, this will still not fix the surging problem which I had never heard of before until a friend told me. My husband is a Ford retiree and until now we have been very pleased with our car. It only has 48,000 miles.
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.
I was going to pull out into a 4 lane road and was easing up to see better...out of nowhere the car begins to accelerating. Once I got out into the road the car just cut off and I had to quickly restart it to avoid being hit. Then I turned in to chic fil a and was in the drive thru line. It was a pretty long line so we would ease up ever few minutes. The car jumps and starts to accelerating and I stomp on the brakes. The car was accelerating so much that the force of the brakes stopping the car made my tires squeal.
The contact owns 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the electric throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,500 and the current mileage was 39,286...updated 09-21-12 the consumer stated the first time the vehicle accelerated, she had just made a right turn out of a business, and the vehicle just took off to the right and hit the curb. The dealer said nothing could be as there was no recall on the vehicle. As more miles was put on the vehicle, the sudden acceleration was happening more frequently. The dealer kept the vehicle for a week, but was unable to find a problem. Updated 09/25/12
- Big River , CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would exhibit recurring unintended acceleration failures. The failure occurred when the air conditioning was running and when the contact was slowing decelerating to attempt a turn. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 90,000. Updated 10/03/12 updated 10/05/2012
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated independently while the brakes were depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 69,000 and the current mileage was 82,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would abnormally lunge forward while driving at any speed. The failure would become worse when the air conditioning unit was activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there were no failures found within the vehicle and offered no additional assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.
The Freestyle will rev and surge forward or backwards when in gear and idle. This primarily occurs when the A/C unit is on. I have to apply the brakes until the car goes back to normal RPM. Typically this happens in parking lots or drive-thru lanes and has caused me several close calls for collisions. Sometimes after the surge happens, the wrench light on the dash comes on. I am not able to drive as the car feels underpowered and I cannot accelerate well. Turning off the car, waiting a bit, then restarting seems to reset it. Dealer says it's a known problem with the throttle body and there is no recall for the part and is very expensive to replace.
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.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly. The failure recurred as soon as the contact shifted into drive. The check engine warning light illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 45,000.
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.
I have recently purchased the 2007 Ford Freestyle and have noticed at times when I put it into drive or reverse it lunges without my pressing the acceleration. This is very concerning because it feels unsafe and likely to cause an accident!
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.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while stopped with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was in reverse and most often when the air conditioner was activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The technician stated that the mass flow sensor would have to be replaced. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: PE11018 (vehicle speed control) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while stopped or in reverse, the accelerated forward. The failure recurred without warning and on a consistent basis. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a repair shop for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.
When I move my 2007 Ford Freestyle from park to reverse or drive, my car lunges forward unexpectedly even though I'm not pressing on the accelerator. I have to brake hard to stop the car. Sometimes the car's engine cuts out and the repair light goes on. When I restart the car it's ok. Seems to happen more in warmer weather. I am concerned that the lunging will cause an accident soon as I must slam on the brakes to stop it.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle surged while driving at low speeds. The failure would mostly occur when the contact was attempting a turn. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The failure mileage was 73,000 and the current mileage was 78,099...updated 11/01/12 the consumer stated there were 3-4 incidents of surging, from trying to park or pulling into a parking space. Updated 11/02/12
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle surged forward without having the acceleration pedal depressed. The check engine warning light was also illuminated. The failure recurred sporadically. The contact was able to secure an appointment for diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of failure. The current mileage was 95,000. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle lunged forward while driving at low speeds or while stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who ran a diagnostic test but could not diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,557.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raleigh, NC, USA