When at a dead stop or accelerating slowly (as in pulling into or out of a parking space), the engine will suddenly surge, requiring hard braking. This has almost caused accidents at multiple times. This has been a problem this entire summer. The 9/2/10 date was when it was particularly bad and persistent. Ominously, the typical setting describes the situation when in the line of cars when picking up our daughters at school.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

I own a 2005 Ford Freestyle. We have been experiencing a problem with our car going intofail safe mode. This has happen backing up after first starting out, but has also occurred coming to a stop at intersections. The vehicle lunges forward or backward and then displays the fail safe. In fail safe, the vehicle will not accelerate. The vehicle must be turned off and restarted to correct the condition. The "lunging" and/or lack of acceleration when needed in safe mode are dangerous situations. I have not yet sought repairs. This issue has occurred quite often lately. I will be forced to seek professional assistance as it becomes progressively worse. I purchased the vehicle new in March 2006. The mileage is now 54,280. This condition first began within the past 6 months.

- Bucyrus, OH, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle limited AWD, approx 80,000 miles. With foot on brake, car surges or lunges when not pressing on the accelerator. This is a dangerous condition that needs a recall fix put in place. Noticed that the RPM gauge jumps up about 200 to 300 RPM, enough to overcome the brakes. This happens in forward or reverse. This is dangerous to pedestrians and when entering intersections. This happens intermittently, and has occurred weekly over the last 3 summer months for us. The consequences of failure are that the vehicle is not under driver control for about 4 seconds, surging the vehicle forward or reverse. To correct the failure, I have replaced the air filter (no effect) and inspected the maf (clean), done some internet research, and will be contacting the Ford dealer. The best 3rd party description I have seen is that the electronic throttle fails when vehicle is placed in gear with the A/C on. In failure mode, the throttle has been seen to open at 16 to 18% with no foot on the accelerator. Others say Ford has a newly designed throttle part that is hard to get and costs $800. Some say a computer firmware update is also needed with the new part to correct this dangerous condition.

- Garrett, IN, USA

Issues occurs about 6 times in last two weeks. Car stalls while driving. Car have to pull car over to side of road and turn off. Restarts on second try. Took to Ford dealership and the said the throttle body needs to be replaced. $855. Car is 5 years old and has 72K miles.

- Rochester, NY, USA

I have 2005 Ford Freestyle. The problem is that with your foot on the brake it will surge forward or reverse depending on what gear you have it in. I've researched this online and found many people with the same problem. Something needs to be done before someone gets hurt or killed.

- Russellville, AR, USA

Throttle body fails and car will jump or it will bog down. Tends to happen when backing up. Car will surge on hwy.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle lunged backward when put in gear. Even with the brake applied the car moved a few feet. This has occurred on three separate occasions. Fortunately, there was no person or object in my path. The car was taken to the Ford dealership and the throttle body was replaced. The car has 60,700 miles on the odometer.

- Washington, PA, USA

I have a 2005 Ford Freestyle with 3.0 liter engine that has an electronic throttle body. The car has surged forward several times while sitting at stop signs or red lights almost hitting other cars in front of me. It has also stalled out pulling through intersections. It never showed a check engine light. We had Ford change the plugs and an oxygen sensor. The very next day it started again. Took it back to Ford who then said the throttle body was bad and they were on severe back order are not sure when a replacement will be available.

- Sherman, TX, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle. In the last month or so the car has begun to accelerate on it's own at low idle and this has proven to be very dangerous and we have almost hit buildings and people in parking lots because the accelerator will surge on it's own. It happens in reverse as well as forward gears. You have to apply the brake very hard to stop the surge and the car sometimes stalls out with a critical engine failure message. We took the car in to the dealer and the problem is a faulty throttle body. This is a serious hazard and the vehicles should be recalled to fix this. It's happening to thousands of people who own these cars.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

Vehicle Ford Freestyle SE 2005, 45,000 miles on vehicle. Purchased vehicle in May 2009. In April 2010 while reversing my car stalled and "fail safe engine mode" came on with wrench symbol. Immediately turned off car, restarted car, wrench symbol was gone and fail safe engine mode was gone. A couple of days later, same thing happened when I put into reverse, fail safe engine mode came back on. After I turned car off, then back on the check engine light was on along with the symbol for emission system. Took to my dealer and had them check it out. I was told the problem was a bad throttle body, cost to fix $900 parts and labor. We told them not to fix at this time and did some research. Spoke to a mechanic friend and he recommended cleaning throttle body first to remove any carbon that could be causing blockage. We did that and problem went away. While doing this research found many online forums of other Ford customers with same make and model that have the same issue. Seems to pertain to 2005/2006 models. The problem has come back in August 2010. We are now researching buying a new throttle body and having this problem corrected.

- Marietta, GA, USA

Vehicle will suddenly surge and accelerate from idle while at stoplights, backing out of parking spaces, etc. I was backing into a parking space and it surged backwards and almost caused a collision with a parked vehicle.

- Jackson, MO, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle surges in drive and reverse, sometimes the brake won't even hold it. The car then stalls and the check engine light comes on.

- Springfield , MO, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle throttle body problem causes car to surge while driving.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle has problems with throttle body - which appears to be a very common problem. Why no recall from Ford?

- Plattsburg, MO, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle sudden accelerations and motor revs while at slow speed or at a full stop. Motor revs and then stalls also the car goes into "safe" mode. I have owned the car since new 9/05 and every summer we go through this the problem has be mis-diagnosed by Ford dealers several times capitol Ford in san jose ca, has put a "patch" in computer, litha Ford in fresno, replaced M.a.F sensor, and future Ford in clovis blamed incorrect air box installation after the car was serviced and air filter replaced. Each warm season the car does this. Drove the car 2 miles from future Ford only to have it repeat the same problem we came in with.

- Fresno, CA, USA

2005 Ford Freestyle while stopped a traffic light suddenly accelerated without anything touching the gas pedal. I had to apply a lot of pressure to the brake to prevent the vehicle from entering the intersection. The vehicle then died and when restarted the check engine light and wrench symbol were lit up. I took the vehicle to the dealer who said it was due to a failed throttle body. It has been 6 days and the vehicle has not been repaired due to no parts available and from what I am seeing on the internet this is a common problem and I think it could cause serious accidents if the problem is not resolved.

- Plano, TX, USA

Car surged after starting in putting into reverse. Put foot on brake to stop. Thank goodness no one behind me. Car message center indicated "fail safe mode". cut car off, restarted took to dealer where codes indicated I needed to replace the throttle body control at a cost of over $800. Dealer said this was one of many that had failed and all had caused a sudden surge without warning as my car also lunged into reverse with no warning. Web site also indicated many problems with this same potential safety problem on 3.0 V6 units made in 2005. Dealer said it usually happens just after the warranty goes out and mine lasted much longer, but I feel it is unsafe to drive unless fixed.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

I have had this problem from about 2 months after obtaining the vehicle. And I currently have 49500 miles approx. The vehicle will lunge going forward or backwards, stall at times, clunking noises. Have taken vehicle in many times, and was at one time nothing wrong. Then Ford dealer replaced some part in engine. While the vehicle was running and A/C was on in park, placed in reverse vehicle lunged again then the fail safe notification along with the wrench came on. Took vehicle to dealer as I was told to bring it back when it was happening again. They told me today that it was the throttle body and map sensors that need to be repaired as they mechanically failed I have an extended warranty and it is not a covered item which for both items will cost almost $1500 which should have been covered under the comprehensive coverage of any extended warranty as it is part of the engine and working comprehensive parts. I know of at least 100 people in my area that have had the same problem with the throttle body, yet Ford will not do a recall on this as it is considered a fire/safety hazard as the map sensors are on the manifold which controls the fuel. If you review the internet you will find many people with the 2005 Ford Freestyle are having the same problem with these items and should be a national recall on it.

- Upland, CA, USA

Car lurches when put into gear.

- Farmington, MI, 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