Two incidents - while maneuvering at parking lots (external temperature around 100 degrees), vehicle's engine surged and vehicle lurched forward and a second time backward. Had to apply heavy breaking to avoid hitting a tree in the first incident and other cars on the second incident. After a few seconds the engine shut down and the message engine safe mode appeared in the panel. After turning the ignition off and on again, the problem disappeared.

- Liberty Twp., OH, USA

My 2005 Ford Freestyle has been having problems with surging forward especially when moving slowly back and forth into a parking spot. Sometimes right after the idle surges, the idle will also suddenly drop, and now at times it even stalls. The surge causes the car to accelerate and I'm forced to modulate the brakes to avoid unexpected movement of the car. It usually happens when conditions are warm, the car is warm, and the ac is on. I have taken this car to Ford in the past, and they have not been able to correct it. I am taking it in again as the stalling problem has become more pronounced. When I googled for problems with Ford Freestyles doing this, I found others have registered complaints exactly the same as mine.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving in reverse or drive the vehicle would lunge forward on its own. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the throttle body was replaced at Ford's expense. The failure recently recurred. The dealer and Ford were contacted and stated that they could repair the vehicle at the owners expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The current mileage was approximately 77,000 when the complaint was filed. The VIN was unknown.

- Moreno Valley , CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. When the brakes were applied, the vehicle stalled. The failure also occurred when the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle had to be turned off and back on so that it would continue to drive normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and was informed that the throttle body failed. The vehicle was not repaired since the parts have been on back order for over a month. The failure and current mileages were 82,000.

- Cave City , KY, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving approximately 30 mph the engine stalled. He was able to coast the vehicle onto the emergency lane, place the vehicle in park and restart it; however, the vehicle stalled. He drove onto the emergency lane, restarted the vehicle and was able to continue driving to his residence with the check engine light on. A local mechanic stated that the throttle body caused the failure to occur. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the throttle body assembly needed to be replaced for $800. The vehicle was repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure and current mileages were 99,106. Updated 11/03/10.

- Wyoming, MN, USA

I own a 2005 Ford Freestyle with 95,720 miles. On July 10th, 2010, my car lurched forward and almost ran me through the front window of a jewelry store. My car message center then went in to "fail safe engine mode". the dealership told me the throttle body is bad and the car is not safe to drive. The new part will take an estimated 30-60 days to come in.

- Milford, OH, USA

After idling, the car sometimes lurches forward and I have to apply the brakes to keep it from accelerating very quickly. Happens in reverse also out of parking spots. Ford shop says they have never heard of this despite the hundreds of complaints I have seen online. This is a dangerous situation and needs to be remedied by Ford.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated when coming to a full stop, the vehicle would abnormally accelerate. The vehicle would also intermittently accelerate backward when the contact was in reverse. The dealer advised there was not a recall for the failure and any repairs would be at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current was unknown.

- Ontario, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact attempted to accelerate from a complete stop but the vehicle would not respond. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where she was advised that the throttle body would need to be replaced. The dealer advised that the part needed to make repairs was not available and was on backorder for approximately two months. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 106,000.

- Latadina , CA, USA

At various times the car will lunge forward while foot is on the brake (pulling into a parking space, into a parking lot, idling in heavy traffic). Failure started occurring around 40,000 miles. 8/2009 vehicle shut down while driving. Towed to repair facility where they replaced the throttle body assembly with a used one as a new part was not available (apparently was in a redesign phase) we are now (7/2010) experiencing the same sudden accelerations we had prior to it shutting down in August of 2009.

- Rosharon, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that when activating the air conditioner, the vehicle would exhibit an unusual increase in engine rpms. Sporadically, the vehicle would surge forward when the failure would occur. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 67,000.

- Elyria, OH, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle has been surging and lurching without depressing gas pedal. While stopped but in either drive or reverse, once foot is removed from brake pedal, the car suddenly accelerates without warning. The last time it happened, the wrench light and the check engine light came on and it went into failsafe mode. Took it to the dealer and it is the throttle body. The part won't be in stock until August and the dealer is recommending the vehicle not be driven until the throttle body is replaced. This is a very unsafe condition and could have resulted in a serious accident had a pedestrian been in front of or behind my car when it accelerated without warning and without the gas pedal being pushed.

- North Street, MI, USA

05 Ford Freestyle surges at low speeds, particularly in reverse and/or when the ac is turned on. Car began stalling while driving. Auto mechanic indicated that the cause was a faulty throttle body and needed to be replaced but not available from Ford for many months. Very dangerous considering car can stall or surge at any moment.

- Glendale, NY, USA

My 2005 Ford Freestyle started surging and then cutting off. This happened when I was starting up, once in drive and once in reverse. The wrench light appeared when this happened. This happened twice within 4 days. Took car to Ford dealer immediately. Was advised that this is a serious problem and the car could cut off while driving in the middle of traffic even at 60 mph. Was also advised that the part is on national backorder. Research on Ford forum and other web sites indicates that this is a hugely pervasive problem with this vehicle and that there is currently no recall notice. Car cannot be driven as it would pose a serious highway safety issue. Took vehicle to Ford dealer today and am waiting to see if they will provide a loaner. Still not sure what type of cooperation I will receive from Ford in terms of a loaner or when the problem will be corrected because of this "national backorder" of the part. I'm leery about the national backorder because I read on one blog that the company that made the part is out of business. This could go on for who knows how long.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

I was parked with the car in park. I went to put the car in the garage. I had to turn it around first. I put car in drive and drove forward a little. Stopped put in reverse, drove backwards a little then put back in drive and just as I was stopping car lurched forward, hitting my deep freezer. The car has acted like it wanted to go forward before when I put on the brakes lightly. This has happened about 4 times but, today was the worst.

- New Bern, NC, USA

Our 2005 fordfreestyle has a known surging problem. Everytime it would surge we would take it to the shop to be told there was nothing wrong. Finally the car lunged 2 ft forward and shut down while sitting at a light. We hit the fuel reset button to get it working then went to the dealership; paid around $3000 to replace the fuel reset button and sensors to only have it start back up a week later. Went back to the dealership to pay another $1000. Now a month later the car is surging again. This time while driving down the road, thankfully a back road, the car just shut itself off and non of the systems worked. The brakes barely worked. We had to let the car coast to a stop. It is currently a very large and expensive lawn ornament.

- Fort Lupton, CO, USA

I own a 2005 Ford Freestyle, bought new, and over the past 6-12 months I have begun to notice sudden accelerations when putting the vehicle into gear. The engine revs and the vehicle surges forward or backward. I have also had the engine die with no warning while the car was in gear and running. On 6/29/2010 I put the vehicle in reverse and it surged backwards, I applied the brakes strongly and the engine died. The sudden accelerations are becoming more frequent, it has happened to me 3 times in the past 7 days. I have contacted Ford Motor Company to inquire for more information and have researched similar complaints on the internet. I found hundreds of consumer complaints detailing the exact same issue, due to a faulty throttle body assembly. I am currently in the process of having my car examined and repaired at the Ford dealer. Repairs are expected to cost at least 500 dollars. I am very disappointed Ford has not made any attempts to warn owners of the problem and/or repair the vehicle at no cost. Sudden accelerations, not under control of the driver, are obviously quite dangerous and frightening. Losing engine power in conjunction with it, in traffic, can be very dangerous as well. I wanted to inform you of the problem that apparently many of us Freestyle owners are having, in hopes something can be done to fix the vehicles and protect the operators and traveling public.

- Cookstown, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While idle at a traffic stop with his foot on the brakes, there was an unusual increase in engine rpms. The vehicle lunged forward but did not accelerate any farther. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer at the time. The contact stated the failure persisted and became progressively worse. The dealer advised the failure was common in the vehicle and the throttle body would need to be replaced. The vehicle was left with the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The failure mileage was 37,000 and the current mileage is 44,000. Updated 10/28/10 the cosumer stated all of the information was correct. Updated 11/01/10.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle. Started to notice it felt like it would lunge forward after idling for a few minutes in park. I thought it was my imagination at first. This happened at least 6 times when I drove it (this is not the car I usually drive). Then on June 5, 2010 I was in park at a gas station with the engine on and I put it in reverse and it lunged backwards...I slammed on the brakes and they didn't work...I switched it to neutral and then the engine stalled out and all the dash lights came on (oil, repair, engine, fail mode). I turned the key switch to off, waited a few minutes, then restarted it and all the lights were off. I was able to return home safely. I was just glad no one was behind me. This is a serious problem/defect!! I'm scared to drive it now! especially after reading about all the other people who have complained about having this problem with their Freestyles.

- Van Wert, OH, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle with 64,879 miles has started to surge in and out of park and when stopping for traffic. It also surges from park when in reverse and I am going to back out of my garage. I have had this Freestyle since it was new and have maintained all regular maintenance as required. I also continue to have problems with the middle passenger seat where it will not work and have had it repaired at least 4 times now. Ford has not charged me for these repairs but it is very inconvenient to have this ongoing problem with my seat. My main concern is with this sudden surging especially in light of the recent problems that Toyota has had with its vehicles. I would welcome your investigators to my home to experience first-hand. I have not yet contacted my local Ford dealer but intend to do so this week. This problem with surging has just begun within the past 2 weeks.

- Lancaster, PA, USA