Normal driving. Lunges forward and in reverse. Replaced throttle body at my expense ($800).

- 66720, KS, USA

I first noticed a surge in the car just as it was out of warranty. The problem has gotten progressively worse with time. Whenever the car comes to a stop (e.g. in a parking spot) the car surges in the direction the transmission is selected. Additional brake pressure is immediately required to keep the vehicle from moving forward. Likewise... when first selecting reverse from a stopped position the vehicle surges drastically which also requires prompt additional braking to keep the vehicle under control. The vehicle has always been well maintained by the dealer. The surging may be coming from an issue within the function of the throttle body, but not 100% sure of that. The addition of fuel cleaners seems to help, but only a little... and then only temporarily. Symptoms occur year round, but seem to be worsened by high ambient temperatures. The vehicle is a threat to safety in it's design and should be recalled.

- O Fallon, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked with the engine running when the vehicle exhibited a small explosion. Immediately, gasoline fuel fumes entered into the vehicle cabin. The contact exited the vehicle and found that fuel was leaking from the front passenger side. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was advised that the fuel clip had fractured. The entire fuel line had to be replaced. The failure mileage was 135,336 and the current mileage was 135,400.

- Corpus Cristi, TX, USA

The first time this happened was September 2010. I was in a parking lot with in nashville tn. It was hot and ac was running. The transmission was in reverse, I took my foot off brake and the car accelerated backward without pressing the accelerator. On the date I reported above same situation, in a parking lot, temp outside was over 90 and ac was running. The transmission was in drive and when I took my foot off the brake it accelerated forward. My wife had several incidents similar but she was only aware that the ac was running when the car accelerated with pressing the gas pedal. We were fortunate each time there was enough space to press the brake and stop the vehicle.

- Rapid City, SD, USA

The vehicle periodically lurches forward or backward unexpectedly. This happens most often when shifting from park to reverse, from park to drive, reverse to drive or drive to reverse. When this unexpected acceleration occurs the car lunges forward without warning. This issue occurs on almost a daily basis.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle lurches forward without any accelerator input or warning. I am sure that it is going to cause an accident or injury. This started at about 140,000 miles the first time, and is getting worse. Very dangerous event when it happens. From what I gather from others on line it is a problem with the throttle body. This is for sure a safety issue and flaw in the design and use of the throttle body which should be made whole and for sure be put on a recall to correct before someone is hurt. Being it happens when at an idle if could cause a collision with a vehicle in front of you, but worse than that could be a child or person walking infront of the vehicle and suddenly being hit by the lurching car.

- Commerce, MI, USA

After starting car and putting it in gear forward or reverse car will surge. Contacted Ford dealership. Was told no recall. Mileage 105,000 started at 102,000.

- Dresden, OH, USA

My complaint is about a 2005 Ford Freestyle that has some acceleration problems when it idle and at slow speed forward and reverse. It will accelerate it self specially when using the ac and also when the front wheels are turned. It has been going on for about a year and Ford service center claims that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle with the brakes depressed, the vehicle would lunge when in drive or in reverse. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Updated 07/20/11 the dealer stated the problem was fuel related and the vehicle had to be reprogrammed. The consumer stated the vehicle seems to perform much better. Updated 09/01/11

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

At random times when the car is idling or at low speeds with no contact with the gas pedal, the engine surges. This occurs in forward or reverse, with or without the brake being applied. At times, the surging is severe and requires a lot of pressure on the brake to hold the car in place. Last year, it seemed to occur more often with the ac on. The compressor died, so we had it replaced, but that did not fix the issue. We have not crashed into anything but have come very close. It is troubling since it occurs at low speeds, meaning we're in close proximity to cars, people, and buildings when the engine surges.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle surges. If brakes are not immediately applied, the vehicle will hit the care in front. This occurs while stopped and waiting for traffic or traffic signal. This has been happening off and on for the last two years.

- New Jersey, NJ, USA

Our 2005 Ford Freestyle has a surging problem. After reading online this appears to be very common. Very dangerous! seems to be related to the throttle body. Ford recommends replacing the TB.

- Hot Springs, AR, USA

Car surges then stalls then goes into limp mode. Happens once a month or more. If I turn the car off and restart it seems to clear and work fine.

- Leesburg, FL, USA

Vehicle has stalled at least 10 times since new, dealer inspected and found no fault codes. Latest incident occurred 11/28/10.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle. Surging engine. Shuts off while driving on highway multiple times. Goes into engine safe mode. Ford knows about this throttle body issue and refuses to recall it. This is a very dangerous problem. They are waiting on many deaths and lawsuits.

- Waynesville, GA, USA

Accelerating on it's own and lunges forward with foot on brake. Vehicle tries to lunge mostly when going in reverse. This has been happening off and on for over the past 3 years and has gotten worse in the past months. Also, while driving on the highway, the car sputters and goes into failsafe engine mode, the car must be restarted in order to have acceleration resume. Holding off on replacing the throttle body due to high cost.

- New Egypt, NJ, USA

Accelerating on it's own and lunge's forward with foot on brake. Vehicle tries to lunge, stalls dash displays "fail safe mode". this occurs mostly when going in reverse. This has been happening off and on for over the past 2 years and has gotten worse in the past months.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

Have been having ongoing problem with car lunging, sudden acceleration especially when stopped. Today it started and a warning light came on but went away when I turned the car off. Later it started surging very badly again and I put fuel cleaner in the tank when I filled it up. A few hours later I was stopped at a stop sign and it surged and moved forward a few feet and died in the road. I will be contacting a Ford dealer in the morning but when I got online to research the problem I found several complaints about similar problems that was being related to the throttle body(cleaned, replaced).

- Spruce Pine, AL, USA

On May 2009, the car stalled while driving after hitting a bad pot hole. Car would not restart. On July 1, 2009 the car would not start after being turned off for a brief time. Mechanic said it was the same problem as before and said it appeared to be a problem with an oversensitive fuel shut off valve. Whenever we hit a bump now, the car threatens to stall and then surges. It is an ongoing problem. It stalled recently, in August 2010, when backing up very slowly, but restarted. The car does not feel reliable. Also, when the car is parked on an incline and it rains, the back of the car is flooded due to a problem with the drainage around the moon roof. This has led to rusting in the spare tire area, which we were told is a safety hazard.

- Watertown, MA, USA

This car has an apparently well-known issue with the throttle body failing, causing: A) sudden uncontrolled acceleration from a stop, and B) sudden loss of power when traveling down the road at highway speeds. My wife experienced both problems yesterday. First, with my wife's foot on the brake, the Freestyle lunged forward and almost rear-ended another car that had children loading into it, while in school carpool line. Then, while making her way immediately to the Ford dealership -- with my two children -- this uncontrolled lunging from a dead stop continued at intersections; and while traveling at speed, in traffic, the car would suddenly lose all power. The sudden lunge makes it likely you'll hit a pedestrian or rear-end the car in front of you; the sudden loss of power makes it likely you'll be the recipient of a rear-end collision. The repair is costing us $730. It's the throttle body, of course. And I've asked the dealership to give me back the old part, so yes, I should have that available when I get the car back. *** important *** this is a well-known issue to both Ford and the ODI of the NHTSA. There are hundreds of matching, publicly filed complaints documenting this chilling safety issue in this very same ODI database to which I am submitting this mirror complaint. When should we expect to see some action from the ODI/NHTSA and/or Ford on this"??????" I want my money back but I also want Ford to fix this, not just on my car, but on all the other family's' cars that have this **well-known** safety defect!!!!!!!!!

- Raleigh, NC, USA