My family was sitting in the car while it was parked in drive. It stalled out and made a strange sound that sounded like a problem with the transmission. I have noticed that when it is hot it seems to accelerate on its own. I have noticed that it usually happens at low speeds and reverse. I feel that this is very dangerous. I have researched this car online and have read that this has happened to quite a few of these cars. I wanted to make sure that this defect has been noted. Thank you for your time.

- Orlando, FL, USA

Vehicle can make sudden acceleration when moving slowly. This has happened twice to both my wife and myself. When arriving into our driveway prior to get vehicle into garage with foot on the brakes and in "D" car has a sudden jolt or acceleration. Fortunately because the brakes stopped the car nothing happened but this could be a problem if brakes do not stop vehicle or if sudden acceleration occurs without warning.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

Throttle surge upon backing up. Foot on brake, thank god, while backing when vehicle surged backwards.

- Akron, OH, USA

I have a 2006 Freestyle and it has the lunging problem with the air on and or the steering wheel being moved. Happens every time we back out of our driveway or parking spot, sometimes sitting in an intersection waiting to turn also. The car surges in both reverse and forward without warning. This hasn't caused a crash (yet) but I don't like my wife driving my three children in a car that does this!! and to be clear about the first date of occurrence, I put today's date because we have owned this car for a couple of years now and did not know there was an investigation into this. The surging/lunging problem happens every day and has been getting worse.

- Medina, OH, USA

I have had 8-9 instances where the car lunges forward in parking lot type situations. I had to make sure I didn't have half my foot on the brake and half on the gas. It was 100% on the brake, but felt like someone was pushing the gas at the same time. Back in may, I had a different issue. I drove to the local grocery store 3 miles away. On the way, it started running rough, acting like I was about to run out of gas (I had filled it earlier that day.) I pulled over. A wrench symbol appeared on the dash lights. I couldn't find anything wrong. I continued to the grocer. After shopping, when I backed out of the parking space, the car lunged, then stalled. It took a bit, but I was able to get it restarted. I drove home, but it wouldn't go faster than 20 mph. The next day, I was going to take the car to the dealership, but it was running perfectly. It's been 2 months now and the issue has not recurred, but I'm very leery of taking the car on a long drive. I don't want to get stranded far from home.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

While driving at a low rate of speed the vehicle will lunge in forward and reverse.

- Glenpool, OK, USA

The car lunges while stopped or going in reverse. Has done this for a long time..my wife is driving this car now and has bumped into post/almost lunged into passing car when backing out of parking spot.

- Arvada, CO, USA

Air temperature was 100 and my 2006 Freestyle was idling. Then, when stopped in city traffic, car surged unexpectedly requiring me to press hard on the brakes, then stalled. This happened twice. After sitting and cooling for 2+ hours, the car ran fine. However, check engine light remained on. Because I am on vacation, I took the car to a dealer. The service department determined the problem was related to the throttle assembly, which he said was pretty common. Replaced the assembly for $1300 for fear the problem could happen again on the highway.

- Vienna, WV, USA

We bought a used Ford Freestyle in 2008. Since that time, we have had recurring problems stemming from a defective throttle body. It has been in-and-out of the shop, while various mechanics tried to figure out the problem. Finally, approximately two years ago, I did my own research (discovered the countless reports of problems with the Freestyle) and specifically requested that the mechanic replace the throttle body. This was after having surges in rpms and lurching of the car (while sitting in traffic with no foot on the accelerator), and also dead stalls in the middle of intersections and oncoming traffic when attempting to accelerate. This fixed the problem until several months later. Next, we replaced the entire transmission last spring (the vehicle would shift down to first gear at cruising speed, e.g., on the interstate, then go into "limp" mode). In addition, apparently there is also a systemic issue with the design of the Ford's scroll compressor, which began showing symptoms this past spring. Thankfully my (new) mechanic replaced a $40 valve in the compressor, instead of the entire $1000 compressor (which the Ford folks recommended). Approximately two years later, we are replacing the throttle body for a second time today (it is currently in the shop) because of issues with surges in acceleration and stalling in traffic and loss of power. The mechanic just told me, "as a friend, I'm telling you: As soon as this car is fixed, you need to sell it. You will continue to have recurring problems with it." We bought this vehicle for around $10,000, and I'd estimate we have spent nearly that much in repairs over the past four years. I'm just thankful that my wife and children were not seriously injured in the meantime. How can Ford sell such an unsafe vehicle with no recourse? as soon as I can afford another vehicle, I'm selling this Freestyle.

- Auburn, AL, USA

Car suddenly accelerates on its own. Happens in very hot weather, A/C on, in idle, no contact is being made with accelerator pedal, car stalls, when restarted engine light and wrench lights are on and car does not run properly. Feels like it is in first gear and doesn't go above 60mph.

- Millington, MD, USA

Engine surges while in gear at low speed causing the car to lurch unexpectedly forward or backward.

- Odenton, MD, USA

Cvt transmission bad and has to be replaced. There is a recall on the torch converter on the cvt trans but replacing it doesnt really fix the problem even though it was the cause of the original problem. Once it goes bad you have bits and pieces of metal floating around all over everywhere else and the transmission just goes regardless. Useless recall. Also, the ac only blows cold at high speeds....when driving slow in town it blows warm and I'm having electrical problems with the windows....goes down when I pull up or wont go at all.

- Boise, ID, USA

Vehicle for over a year has lunged forward or backward depending on gear it is in. This only takes place when the A/C is on in the vehicle. This is inconsistent but happens more often than not. The lunge is drastic enough that it is a hazard and has caused several issues in the past. The problem has continued to worsen. Dealer has not been contacted at this point but was on the list to been seen next week. All required maintenance has taken place up to this point. Today was the worst part of the issue. While traveling 75 on the interstate, the "wrench" icon on the information panel came on. At this point all acceleration was disabled and could not keep up with the flow of traffic. The vehicle could not get above 60 in order to find a safe place to park and created a significantly hazardous situation. In researching the issue, I have found over 242 filed complaints on the same problem. We will be dropping the vehicle off at the dealer asap. How many reported incidents does it take before something is done about this issue" or will it take a loss of human life to take notice of the numerous filed complaints"

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

After purchasing (as a used car) for my daughter, vehicle began rapid acceleration and 'lurching' unexpectedly when shifting into forward or reverse. After several days, this was compounded by occurring when starting and stopping in traffic during brake application. I had the filters replaced (air and gas) and the problem seemed to have gone away. I asked my dealership, during my first inspection after it's purchase, wether there was a tsb in regard to this issue and would they please check it out. They alleged that they had no record of any defect regarding this issue and no tsb had been issued. They did however refuse to complete the inspection until I allowed them to overhaul the rear brakes w/new rotors for quite a kingly sum! (so much for a promotional 'free inspection'.) last night I had to Venture out and retrieve the vehicle from my little girl after the car kept 'lurching' everytime she used the brake. While she was waiting in an intersection attempting to make a left turn, the car 'lurched' and stalled in front of oncoming traffic. After restarting the car an engine light and a 'wrench' was now visible on the dash, and the car had absolutely no accelerator! due to our flat terrain I was able to bring the car home on an idle at a speed no greater than 10 M.P.H. once safely home I tried a trick that used to work on the fleet busses I once worked on. That was rapidly turning the ignition switch on-off, on-off repeatedly about 10 (ten) times, then leave switch on and start it. This seemed to have cleared the 'wrench' and the accelerator was restored. The engine light did not clear. I've put tires, struts, strut mounts etc. Into this car to make it safe for my daughter to drive, yet I can't allow her to use it. 4 of 5 cars I own are Ford, 2 being 2006 Freestyles, and this is the only one that I have had a problem with. What recourse do I have now?

- N. Merrick, NY, USA

I was parked outside my apartment, went to put my vehicle in reverse and it lunged backward and then the vehicle shutoff. Once I got my car to start again I went to drive off and it lunged forward. This is an everyday occurrence with my vehicle.

- San Diego , CA, USA

My Ford Freestyle 2006 lunged backward approximately 2 to 4 feet while the transmission was in reverse, my foot was fully applied to the brake, and the vehicle was not moving. This has occurred many times in the same manner, and in similar situations over the past year. The temperature outside is usually in the 90's or above, I usually have the air-conditioning running, and the car will start to loose power with the tachometer visibly dipping down to zero. The car will then suddenly race to 2000 rpms, and the car will lunge backward (or forward) while my foot is on the brake. When this happens in reverse, it is impossible to apply the brake hard enough to stop movement. When this happens in drive, it is possible to apply the brake hard enough to stop movement, and the car engine will die.

- Gothenburg, NE, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford freestar. The contact stated while driving 70 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The rpms increased and the gears locked. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the emergency lane. The vehicle was towed to a dealer a diagnostic testing which located the failure within the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 120,000.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

Same as others. Car lunges forward and/or backward when slowing to park, or just moving slow or idiling. Almost ended up over a berm at sam's club because of this problem. Very scary! taking car in to dealership on Monday. Vehicle surges when idling or going slow. Accelerates at times like parking or moving through parking lots or when stopped at stoplights.

- Detroit, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that she shifted into reverse in an attempt to reverse from a parking space when the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The check engine light was illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and proceed without the failure recurring. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 90,000.....updated 08-24-12 the consumer stated the brake pedal was depressed when the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle was taken to dealer and was told the throttle body and top motor mount needed to be replaced. Updated 08/29/2012

- Lawrenceburg , KY, USA

On multiple occasions the vehicle has lurched forward or backward without having my foot on the accelerator. Applying the brake has stopped the car. The rear bumper was damaged when it hit a light pole. It seems to happen more frequently when it's warmer outside and when running the air conditioning. I'm very concerne someone might get injured. My wife has also had this happen to her on multiple occasion. I've read a number of similar complaints on the internet. I believe this vehicle should be recalled. I'm a mechanical engineer by degree and can state with certainty that this is a dangerous condition especially in a parking lot where it most frequently happens. I won't even attempt to backup the vehicle if someone is nearby in case it has one of these fits. Please keep me posted on any recall updates. Do the right thing, force the manufacturer to own up to the problem and take care of it. I took it in to have it fixed, but nobody seems to know or is willing to say what's wrong. They just offer to change out a lot of parts in the hopes of hitting upon the problem. That's too expensive of an approach. Does Ford know the source of the problem" will they share that information with their dealerships or the consumers"

- South Jordan, UT, USA