Vehicle surges or lunches forward at low speeds. Car also dies when going from park to drive.

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

I own a 2007 Ford Freestyle sel and am having a surging problem that is causing safety issues with driving the vehicle. It has surged so badly to the point that I have almost hit a car in front of me and almost hit a pedestrian while backing up. This has been a frequently reported problem and I understand that there is currently no fix for this problem. This happens every time I drive the car and has gotten progressively worse. The dealer ran a "test" and claimed it was a harness and that they "think" they fixed it which cost me $215. It did not fix the problem. They claim the next step is to replace the throttle body. Apparently it is well known that this does not necessarily fix the problem either. That will cost me over $1000 with no guarantee it will work. People state that cleaning the throttle body will alleviate the problem temporarily. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed by Ford. This is a known, dangerous, problem which Ford is failing to own up to. I need to drive my car back and forth to work 5 days a week and need a safe, reliable vehicle to do so, however it is cost prohibitive to keep guessing what the problem may be.

- Flanders, NY, USA

When shifting into drive or reverse from park or neutral, the transmission takes several seconds to engage and when it does it lurches forward or backward with no input to the gas pedal. You must have your foot on the brake and be ready to press down hard to keep the car from lunging forward or backward. Also, when creeping forward in parking lots or other slow moving situations and applying a small amount of throttle, the car will lunge forward at a much greater speed than what commanded at the gas pedal. This is an especially dangerous situation because in parking lots there are other people or cars, potentially close by that could be struck.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

The vehicle lurches/revs/accelerates when the gas pedal is not being touched. It is most notable when idling, while parking or at very low speed. We are fearful that this acceleration will cause the vehicle to hit another vehicle in a parking lot or that the problem will start occurring at other times. From reading various online bulletin boards and NHTSA complaints it sounds like this is a well-known problem with the throttle body in these vehicles and I don't understand why there hasn't been a recall.

- Pike Road, AL, USA

2007 Ford Freestyle with 36,000 miles last summer began "lurching" when pulling into/out of parking space. This summer now at 57,000 miles the lurching is becoming more frequent. It occurs primarily when the following conditions are combined: 1) engine is warm, 2) A/C is on, 3) at complete stop with brakes applied and 4) turn the steering wheel in preparation for a turn. Reviewed several owner forums for the problem and several owners report same problem with answer from Ford being "replace the throttle body". problem- throttle body replacement hard to find. Took mine in for service and reported above problem to service dept. Answer was "need new throttle body". will try to find one, on back order. "car is unsafe to drive" per Ford service department. After evaluation condition is worse. Car now idles below 500 rpms, and fluctuates constantly, even w/O A/C on (worse when A/C on). A/C compressor was just replaced this summer and the condition worsened when the compressor was replaced. The consumer stated since filing the complaint, she took the vehicle to an independent shop and had the fuel induction service done for $125. It has been 5 weeks and the problem has not returned. It appeared that the dirty fuel injection system prevented the throttle body from getting the air it needed to function properly. Updated IVOQ 09/13/10

- Birmingham, AL, USA

2007 Ford Freestyle with 50, 00 miles would not go faster than 20 mph with an engine code P051B. Need to replace throttle body at 600 dollars.

- Hixson, TN, USA