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 traveling at low speeds in forward and reverse the car lunges even when not pressing the accelerator. It has happened multiple times continuously over the past year or more. Today alone the lunging has happened four times. At least two times in the last two months the engine has stalled in conjunction with the lunging. While no accidents have occurred yet, there have been some close calls in parking situations.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle lunged forward rapidly even though the accelerator pedal was not applied. The failure recurred several times while driving and while parking. The contact had to brake in order to stop acceleration. The check engine warning light and the service needed warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or repair shop for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a diagnostic test was scheduled. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.
Vehicle a "surging" at low speeds. Especially bad and dangerous when attempting to parallel park. Requires foot on brake during parking, and extreme caution. Vehicle "surges" in both forward and reverse gears. While attempting to accelerate on the highway there was no power and it took approximately one mile to reach highway cruising speed. The throttle body was replaced at customer's expense by the Ford dealer. The mileage on the vehicle is now 78,234 and the same problem is occurring.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford freestlye. The contact stated that while decreasing speed and while stopping, the vehicle pushed forward. The contact also stated that the vehicle momentarily surged forward when the accelerator pedal was no longer engaged. The contact had to rapidly apply the brakes to stop the vehicle. The failure recurred frequently. The throttle body was replaced, but the failure continued. The failure and current mileages were 42,000. Updated 8/7/12
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.
- Overland Park, KS, USA
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We had noticed that the car would surge from time to time at lower speeds. I found some information on the wed that indicated that NHTSA was investigating a lunging problem. I took that information to the dealership and was sure that they would repair because of the safety issues. I found that they would not, but they have a tsb 11-10-21 for the problem that appears to be like what we are experiencing. I am a professor in the automotive engineering technology department at Minnesota state university, mankato and this is a definite safety issue. Yesterday while hooking up a trailer, the car lunged in reverse.....my wife was trying to hook up a trailer with someone between the car and trailer. No one was injured, but it is a safety problem.
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.
Bought vehicle used 8 days ago. On two occasions, once yesterday and once today, the vehicle seemed to throttle up with gas pedal not applied and foot on brake. Both instances were in a parking lot. On both instances...outside temperature was over 100 degrees F and the air conditioner was on in both front/back modes. I simply put the car in drive and as I was turning out of parking spot, foot on brake maneuvering turn...the vehicle lunged forward. Startled me on both occasions. I was able to stop vehicle, but some distance had occurred. Fortunately, no one was in front of me. The "lunge" almost feels like you "stomped" the gas pedal to the floor for just a second. That is the best description of what the discrepancy feels like. I'm very worried...just purchasing this vehicle. It's the weekend, so I will be in contact with a dealership first thing.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact was entering a parking space at 5 mph when the engine RPM's increased excessively. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who inspected the failure and replaced the throttle body assembly. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,011.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact started the ignition and shifted from park into reverse. The vehicle unexpectedly lunged backward with the illumination of the engine warning indicator. The malfunction also occurred when shifting into drive. The failure recurred sporadically in hot weather temperatures. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the throttle body was cleaned; however the failure recurred six months later. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 24,223. Updated 08/07/12 the consumer stated the vehicle will stall anywhere and the wrench light comes. The vehicle must be restarted in order to drive normal the check engine light does not always illuminate during failure. Updated 08/14/2012
When I started backing up my car with the A/C on it start to lung and even shut off at times. I love to back in my parking space and this had never happened so this was a surprise to me. I pulled forward then cut the wheel and the moment I would put the car in reverse it would lung when my foot is on the breaks lightly. I was so frighten by this I took the car back to the oil change place today (7-11-12) to see if something was done wrong when they change the oil. Then I took it to the car to the mechanic on 7-11-12 too; which all he could do for me was flush the throttle to see it that can help the problem.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 62,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated the vehicle surged forward whether it was is in drive or reverse. The contact stated the failure had occurred for over a year. The contact was forced to put the vehicle in park while at a traffic light due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the throttle body was removed and cleaned. The dealer stated the throttle body did not need to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was 75,923.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while attempting to park, he depressed the brake pedal and there was a rapid increase in the engine rpms. The vehicle also surged forward and backward during the failure. The failure continued once the brake pedal was released. The failure recurred consistently when the engine was idled and when the temperature was high. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic, who stated that the failure was related to the throttle body. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 64,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact was traveling 3 mph in the reverse position and when the brakes were depressed, the vehicle accelerated unexpectantly and the engine stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 83,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly accelerate with the brake depressed, while reversing, when at a complete stop or when the air conditioner was activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the air-conditioning power caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 77,773. The VIN was not available.
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.
There is an issue when going very slow or stopped where the car 'lunges' forward (or backwards in reverse) while the gas pedal is not being pressed. It happens worst when A/C is on and the steering wheel is turned. It has been getting progressively worse, and now I can duplicate it to where I have my foot on the brake pedal and it still moves about 6 inches forward with no way to stop it. The vehicle revs during this time and sometimes dies right after doing it as well. It seems to be something with the throttle body and is a defect with the car. I have found other used Freestyles at various dealerships and was able to get 2 of them to do this same thing.
Our car was quite new. My daughters and I were in the car at a stop light. Someone was in front of me at the time and they were making a right hand turn. When I was slightly rolling forward I applied pressure to the brake and my car jumped or lunged forward-causing an accident with 4 kids and 2 adults involved. This is the first of many incidents with my car proactively moving.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Valrico, FL, USA