2006 Ford Freestyle over the past year my car has been accelerating and stalling for no reason. I have had to brake suddenly many times when pulling into a parking space and or backing up. Its really scary. Last week it accelerated so fast and I slammed on my brakes so hard that it quit, I started it, it quit and when I started it again, my engine light was on. I just spent over $1600 dollars to have the problem corrected at the local Ford dealership. I bought this car new and gave over $34,000 dollars for it and it has had many issues. I just paid it off in December and now I'm still spending so much money to keep it going. I am a teacher and can not afford this but I can't afford to trade it in and have car payments all over again. Please, isn't there anything you can do to help me?

- Bradyville, TN, USA

I drive a 2006 Ford Freestyle. I would like to report that when the car has been running and it is a hot day when placed in reverse it will accelerate on it's own and then the motor will die causing the check engine light to come one. Typically if I turn it off and wait a few minutes it will come back on light free, but there has been two occasions when it has not. The first I took it for a diagnostics where I was told to take it to Ford that it seemed to be a transmission issue, Ford told me that they were not sure but they cleared out the sensor to give it a good wash if it happened again. It has happened again only this time the engine dying to acceleration ration has increased and a good car wash has not helped the issue. I am becoming very concerned before the acceleration was only in reverse now it is occurring in drive as well and happening more frequently. I have plans to take it to my local Ford dealership however I do not have high hopes for answers as they were not all that helpful the first time.

- Harrodsburg, KY, USA

Drove car about 10 miles, no problems. Sat in parking lot for about 10 minutes idling, outdoor temperature about 90 degrees. Put car in reverse, engine surged and car died. Took three tries to get car to start and the wrench light came on. Was able to begin driving, however the car did not seem to accelerate, even with pedal pushed to the floor. On the way home, engine would "herky/jerk" a little, but did begin to accelerate better and get up to speed. Turned off car in driveway and started a little later to take to garage to get checked. Car started easily this time, and the wrench light was off. Absolutely no issues on way to the garage. Will find out tomorrow what, if anything garage tells me. This problem seems to be similar to other issues described in internet search.

- Geneva, IL, USA

Have 2006 Ford Freestyle with 55,000 miles on it. It recently lunged forward while I was in driveway. And engine has been revving up for no reason what so ever.

- Woodinville, WA, USA

Got in my car to go home one afternoon and it cranked but when I pressed the gas pedal it wouldn't move. Had to call a tow truck and have it towed to a shop. My car spent 2 weeks in the shop and it was determined it was the throttle body. I was told by my mechanic that this is a common problem on the Freestyle and is usually one of the first major repairs needed.

- Eunice, LA, USA

Purchased a used 2006 Ford Freestyle in July of 2010. A few weeks after we bought it the car started lurching forward and backward when brakes were applied. It is really bad when the ac is running. At first I thought my wife was crazy but then it started to get really bad and I noticed that when backing out of the garage, after putting it in reverse and letting off the gas, that the car would just propel itself backwards. Took the car into the dealer today and was quoted $850 to fix the throttle body which is what they are saying is causing the problem. After reading about all of the other people having the same problems with this particular vehicle I was stunned to find out that Ford has not issued a recall on this. This is definitely a safety issue. If myself or my wife were to get in an accident due to this fault you could bet your bottom dollar I would file a lawsuit against Ford.

- St. Peters, MO, USA

2006 Ford Freestyle is experiencing sporadic lunging (engine racing) when shifting from park to reverse or park to drive. Has happened more frequently in the last month. 65500 miles on odometer.

- Jackson, MS, USA

The car accelerates without any prompting or warning. There are different scenarios this is happening in. One situation that has happened numerous times is sitting in a line such as a drive thru and idling with my foot on the brake and the car lurches forward. Another scenario is putting the car in reverse and the car lurches backwards. Sitting at a red light or stop sign behind the line of a crosswalk and the car has lurched forward with foot on brake and narrowly missed a pedestrian. I tend to put it in park when at a light or in a drive thru. I have reported it to Ford and they discredited my claim saying it was an issue I needed to repair and did not constitute a recall. How when thousands of others have made complaints on this same issue since the purchase of their cars. This is not a system that wore out. It never worked properly in the first place. Maybe the issue is it is a cost repair in the thousands.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

I own a 2006 Ford Freestyle which I love but, I am having a problem with the car accelerating when I move forward or back up. It has been on going for the last year. I have visited many mechanics who are unable to locate the problem. I felt the need to file a complaint because I have four children and this problem has almost caused an accident more than once.

- Kerrville, TX, USA

2006 Ford Freestyle lunges occassionally when slowly pulling into the garage or parking space or when backing out of the garage or parking space. My foot is on the brake when this occurs.

- Modesto, CA, USA

I own a 2006 Ford Freestyle, which I purchased, used, in 2007. I have had two throttle body assemblies replaced. The first was in July, 2008 @ 40,203 miles and the second in August, 2010 @ 84,731 miles. The characteristics of the problem are: 'when starting to move from a stopped position, the engine would surge, as if the accelerator had been depressed. 'sometimes when this surging occurred, the engine had no power 'when the "no power" occurred, it could be corrected by turning off and restarting the engine, this condition occurs most often when trying to move in reverse. The condition has occurred in the summer both times

- Dequeen, AR, USA

Ford Freestyle 2006 surging and reving up when putting it in gear. Reverse and forward almost had accident again. It seams that there is a lot of problems with this many owners. When putting it in gear it revs up high and then shutsw engine down. Check engine light comes on and wrench light comes on. Once restarted runs ok untill gear is selected again have to hold brake and hope it works right, seems to happen alot.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

Car lurches forward in idle. Catches me by surprise when I move from parked position to drive. I have to immediately and forcefully put on the brakes or will hit a park car or moving vehicle. The problem is worse when I have the air conditioner on "high" I keep the air conditioner fan low to minimize the problem...

- Chicago, IL, USA

2006 Ford Freestyle lunges with foot on the brake and not on the accelerator. This is unpredictable and random. It happens in reverse and drive.

- Providence Village, TX, USA

Vehicle will after being put in drive from park will surge, it will rev to 4000 RPM and then die. Have nearly hit a pedestrian due to this problem as well as surging nearly into a car stopped in front of me. This is dangerous. I have the car in the dealer right now, says that it's the throttle body assembly which is going to cost us over $1000 to fix. By reading all these complaints listed on the NHTSA website this is a big problem with this model. Please issue a recall or technical service bulletin in order to force Ford into fixing this issue. There is apparantly a nationwide shortage of throttle bodies due to the issue being so wide spread so that has to tell you something about how widespread this problem is. Does someone have to die or get injured in order to get this issue fixed.

- Raymore, MO, USA

My 2006 Ford Freestyle started accelerating on it's own (my foot not on the gas pedal) when in reverse about 6 months ago. Recently it has started accelerating on it's own in bothe the drive and reverse and it will lunge anywhere from 1 to 6 feet. Applying the brake does not always work immediately. I have to press the brake much more firmly than usual to get the acceleration to stop.

- Durango, CO, USA

One day I put the car in reverse and it lunged uncontrollably. Then when I started driving, it would barely move. The transmission light went on, so I went right to a mechanic. Two in fact because the first couldn't find anything with the transmission and neither could the second. But when I turned it off completely and restarted, it reset itself and it was fine. Didn't happen for a good while, then again. Repeat these steps to now, it is a frequent occurance. Single mom with five year old twins and can't afford this throttle body thing I am reading about. But can't keep driving my kids in the car because it is a safety hazzard as it will just stop moving on the highway. Also, the seatbelt in the center of the second row locked up when the back was folded down and I couldn't lift it back up. Had to cut it to lift the seat back. Now, no seatbelt for middle rider.

- Middletown, PA, USA

I have a 2006 Ford Freestyle which has been having a surging problem. This has been accruing everyday now. It happens more when put in reverse you need to hit the brakes and than it stalls. I have found out that many owners are experiencing this problem. The dealers seem to have a variety of solutions but no real fix. Most say it is a throttle body issue, others a electrical one. It is only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed.

- Lehigh Acres , FL, USA

I own a 2006 Ford Freestyle. I have experienced the sudden acceleration that the Agency is investigating. I would like to participate in this investigation.

- Wake Forest , NC, USA

I was driving down the road when suddenly the car shuddered and lost accelerator power. The engine was idling, however, I was unable to give the car any gas to get it off of the road, and couldn't even rev the engine with the gas pedal. No response at all from the gas pedal - only idle and engine still running. The "wrench" symbol was illuminated on the dash. I put the car in park, turned it off, restarted the car and the car responded as if nothing had just happened. I am lucky I hadn't reached the intersection yet and was in the process of pulling out to turn in front of oncoming traffic! first time this has ever happened, however, I have been noticing how my car has been surging as I drive. It has not become extreme, however, it is noticeable since I am not pressing the gas pedal any harder when it suddenly accelerates as I drive along.

- Douglasville, GA, USA