10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 73,181 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The problem with this car and the throttle body has been going on for a while. I took the car to the Ford dealer but they only cleaned the throttle body when it needed replacement. The last event was in August 1 when while I was driving the fail safe mode came up and the car suddenly lost the power and wouldn't run faster than probably 0.1 mile per hour. This was the second time this happened the first time I was with my kids in a major highway and the car suddenly stop running. Thank god I had a chance to steer to the emergency lane. Many people are having the same issue with the 2005-2007 Freestyle, this is a super safety issue and nobody is doing anything about it. When my car stopped I could have been hit on the back with a worst outcome. I got a tow truck and they took the car to the Ford dealer. Those people are not helpful at all and treated me with a bad attitude. Very expensive to change that's why Ford is not getting involved and only offered to clean the part in the extended warranty, knowing that wouldn't fix the problem. Ford should have a recall for the throttle body part before somebody gets killed in a very serious accident that this problem could cause.
- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
In drive at 40 mph to 55 mph the car almost stalls and goes I to fail safe mode. In fail safe mode the car runs at 15 mph. The dealer says they can not duplicate the problem.
- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA
Me and my wife carpool on third shift to our jobs. Upon backing out of the driveway in reverse, the wrench light came on, and an error reading" failsafe engine mode". I was able to make it to work, however I couldn't go fast at all no more than maybe 40. I'm seeing online many with this year and model need or have had new throttle body's put in with no luck coming from it. I'm hoping there's a recall because I have two children and a wife to get around in this one car.I wanna know what the recall is on it if one at all is available. Why haven't they corrected it yet after all these years of problems and so many complaints?
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
Vehicle would surge and loose power at all speeds. At times when pressing the accelerator the car would not respond, then all of the sudden would surge, then would lose power. Took it to the dealer recently as they told me that there was a recall. Dealer cleaned the throttle body only. Now it's worse. I was driving back from the dealer and the car lost power, wrench light on, and left me in the middle lane of the highway. Shut the car off and on again and continue but with minimal power. Took it to a mechanic who told me that the throttle body is getting stuck. I see this is happened to a lot of Freestyle owner, especially from 2005-2007. Car is dangerous to drive as it's unpredictable when surges will happen.
- Hooksett, NH, USA
I purchased my Ford Freestyle in June 2011 and shortly after my car began lunging forward when the air conditioner was on. My car began doing it in forward and reverse gear. I have taken my car to the dealer twice before. They replaced the air compressor, cleaned the throttle body, and reset the computer. This will treat the problem for awhile but it will always come back. Last week I nearly hit a pedestrian in a cross walk when my car decided to lunge forward at a red light with my foot on the brake. My wife has nearly hit cars in drive through lines. Again I put my car in the shop and they are doing the same work as before. I have been pushed into intersections and nearly T-boned. I have almost hit cars when trying to back up. This car is not safe because even with my foot on the brake the car can move 5-8 feet. When the car lunges forward or backward it will most of the time rumble then die, which is dangerous when I am sent into an intersection with cars coming at me. Sometimes I am able to depress the gas pedal all the way, driving at 4000 rpms and slowly move out of the way. I worry about my family of six safety as well as any innocent that may get hurt because of Ford incapability to fix the problem they have created.
- Granger, TX, USA
Car suddenly slowed to approximately 5 mph and then stopped. Accelerator stopped functioning. I waited for ten minutes, turned the engine on and limped home at 5 mph. This breakdown occurred after worked was performed at varsity Ford in ann arbor, Michigan for this same problem. Dealer advised that the worked performed (cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the powertrain train module) did not work. After detailed discussions with the dealership, I was advised that I needed a complete replacement of the throttle body module at my expense. Why should I be held liable for the repair when Ford had already admitted that this was a known problem by calling it in for cleaning. This is certainly an issue for the NHTSA to act on. I think that the $882.73 repair bill should be Ford's burden, not mine.
- Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Had recall 12N03 performed due to surging, after repair car continued to surge when cold. When approaching stop car would not want to slow down, would put gear in neutral and tach would surge over 2000 RPM's, does this on a consistent basis. Continued to drive until car died while driving, got message for throttle body error, took to dealership and was informed that throttle body needs to be replaced at over $600. Recall repair done in April and car failed in July.
- Whispering Pines, NC, USA
After quickly crossing traffic and entering my driveway (which is on a downward slope) I released the gas on entering my driveway and applied the brake. Just before applying the brake the vehicle lurched. It didn't lurch far, but enough for me to rapidly depress the brake pedal in surprise. One item of note--the low fuel indicator was on and my next stop was to get gas.
- East Hartford, CT, USA
2005 Ford Freestyle lunging forward, stalling out, and check engine light wrench icon light coming on. It was dangerous to be on the road because of the sudden stopping, and very pore acceleration. After several tries at reading codes discovered it was a bad throttle body. I noticed all of the complaints that were posted on line about this same vehicle and discovered your investigation opened in 2011. Repairs were made by myself at the cost of $608. Also, I noticed the new replacement part had an engineering change that eliminated the anti freeze heater section. I feel something should be done about this problem by recalling the throttle body system used in this Ford vehicle. I also was informed by the service center at the Ford dealership, where I purchased the throttle body, that this part was common to be replaced. Thank you for looking into this issue.
- St Thomas, PA, USA
Throttle body failure vehicle began lurching forward while in drive with brake applied this was on numerous occasions especially at drive through food establishments. I replaced the throttle body for $653 at my local mechanic.
- Haubstadt, IN, USA
Car would "surge" when shifted into reverse. Had to break to stop. Also, would stall out when shifted back from reverse into drive. This happened repeatedly over the course of a year. Ultimately had to have entire throttle body assembly replaced to correct problem.
- Mission Viejo, CA, USA
I began having a problem with my Freestyle surging with my foot on the brake or idling when backing out of a parking place, while stopped at a traffic light and while waiting on pedestrians to cross in front of me. It's very scary when the car starts lunging and you're afraid you're going to hurt someone. This problem first started happening in 2010. After reading about the problems with the throttle body on the internet, I took it to the shop and had them clean it. That fixed the problem until the past couple of weeks (September 2011) and now it is starting to do it again. Last year I also had a problem with it bogging down on the interstate not knowing if we were going to get rear ended or not. I hope you finish your investigation soon. Ford should be responsible for this problem and correct it before someone gets hurt.
- Sheffield, AL, USA
The vehicle started surging without foot on the gas pedal. This occurs at low speeds or when stopping. Have had to rapidly press the brake pedal and hold it to avoid accidents. When the surging occurs, many times the vehicle goes into fail-safe engine mode which does not allow one to shift into higher gears. This caused a problem on the interstate when caught in stop and go traffic. Could not accelerate after surge-engine dying-failsafe engine mode. Check engine light stays on after occurrence and failsafe engine mode was solved by pulling over, killing the motor, waiting, and then restarting. Surging is causing a stress on the transmission which now appears to have slack in it.
- Grayson, LA, USA
Car at a complete stop with foot off gas pedals moves forward unexpectedly and rpms jump to 2000.
- Florissant, MO, USA
Sometimes when I put the car in reverse or drive and I take my foot off the brake and the car will lunge forward or backwards without even touching the gas. This has happened on several occasions. It is uncontrollable and someone can get hurt. I took it to the Ford dealership the first time it happened and they said they didn't find any problems. This problem has been going on for years. Now, in addition to the original problem, the car will just lose power while I am driving down the road and I have to hope to find a safe place to get off the road. I have to turn the truck off and then try restarting a few times to get it going again. These are continuing problems for myself and many other owners of this vehicle and Ford is doing nothing about it.
- Kissimmee, FL, USA
My 2005 Ford Freestyle lunges forward when putting it in drive or reverse. It started a couple of months ago and would only happen once in a while. Now it happens almost every day. If your not careful you will hit something. Even with your foot on the brake the vehicle will still lunge forward or backward. The problem is worse if the air conditioner is running. I have been told the throttle body is causing the problem but it will cost over $800 to fix. I cannot afford this repair and think Ford should fix it under a recall due to this being a serious safety problem.
- Dyer, IN, USA
While backing out of a parking space, the engine surged as if I had hit the accelerator. I immediately hit the brakes and the same thing happened several more times before I had a new throttle body installed at the Ford dealership and was told that it was becoming a common problem with the Freestyle. My son who has a 2007 Freestyle had the same thing happen several months ago and had the same repair done to his.
- Aberdeen, MS, USA
My vehicle surges from time to time and when the air condition is on the car will cut of and go into fail safe mode I've cleaned the throttle body and the problem still occurs.
- Chicago, IL, USA
Intially noted the vehicles rpms jump and a quick surge in the engine while traveling approximately 65mphs. This continued to occur radomly at different speeds on several occasions. A service light came on. They replaced an egr valve. Put in an fuel treatment. One day later the the light is back on and condition has gotten worse.now the car lunges forward, still randomly, but frequently! have been very fortunate that there has not been any major incidents or accidents, yet!(just ran up a curb) read this is a common condition and is being investigated. I hope something comes of the investigation and soon. This is very alarming and dangerous! today I had the most precious cargo with me....my daughter(who was driving and is currently outraged) and my grandchildren!!!!!
- Slinger , WI, USA
- Elkhart, IN, USA