10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 16 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 64,541 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The car first started when I had it on cruise control going down the highway at 70mph. I had the air conditioning on and the tach went to 4,000 rpms and the car shut off while going down the highway. The car when sitting idle will idle up and down. When put into reverse or drive the car jumps forward or backwards and you can barely stop it by pressing the brakes. Now when the car is put into reverse and your backing out of a parking space the car will lunge and then turn off.
- Little River, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph and merging onto the highway, the vehicle started hesitated without any warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the throttle body was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 95,000.
- Waxahachie, TX, USA
I was pulling into a parking space when the car lunged and hit the concrete wall in front of me. It had been doing this mildly for a couple of days. During this event, the speed was unexpected and dangerous.
- Richardson, TX, USA
If you have your A/C on and leave your car idling for just a few minutes then when you put it in reverse or drive, it surges a few feet like 4 to 5 ft unless you really hold the brake down. It really seems to be getting worse as time goes on.
- Hempstead, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle suddenly lunged forward. The failure occurred while in reverse and while coming to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: PE11018 (vehicle speed control) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
- Edmond, OK, USA
In July of 2011 we started experiencing lurching. When you press the brake to put the car into reverse or drive, the car lunges when letting off of the brake. Then the wrench light came on and lost all power. After turning the car off and then back on the light went away but not the lunging problem. We took it to the dealership where we bought the car and they did a computer update. It kind of fixed the problem. Now one year later in June of 2012 the car is lurching again, but worse than ever. While sitting in a drive through line, I released my foot off the brake and the car suddenly lunged forward. After reading the many reports online from other Ford Freestyle owners, this is not an isolated incident. And the there seems to be no fix for the problem. Dealerships are throwing parts at cars hoping to fix the problem but none seem to be working. While car owners are paying exorbitant fees to not have a problem fixed.
- Cedar Springs , MI, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. While the contact was driving into parking space with her foot on the brake, the vehicle suddenly lunged forward. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal and was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: PE11018 (vehicle speed control) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
- Jefferson City, TN, USA
My 2007 Ford Freestyle has a cvt transmission problem. When I arrived at the hotel, the valet parking driver almost hit the car on the front because of sudden accelerator of the transmission. I also almost hit another car after that.
- Tujunga, CA, USA
The car takes off even when in park. This has happened on more than one occasion. My husband or I can be sitting at a red light, stop sign, even in park in our driveway and the car will have a surge of going forward. This problem is extremely bad especially when we start the car or if we are idling with our foot on the brake. It is very scary. I reported this problem to my local Ford dealer. I was told there was not a problem.
- Lenoir City, TN, USA
When idling at an intersection or taking off from a parked position...the Freestyle will experience a quick surge of acceleration. I have been fortunate enough to apply the brake to stop the vehicle without incident. It seems to occur more when air conditioning is on. The most recent occurrence happened to my wife when she was out with the kids. She put on the gas, it lunged forward, she slammed the brakes and then the engine stalled...this happened twice. We parked the vehicle in a parking lot overnight. We were able to drive it the next morning to the Ford dealership for service. It's happening way too often and it isn't safe.
- Warsaw, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving in reverse. The vehicle was restarted and a light on the instrument panel illuminated, indicating there was a problem. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The contact was informed that the vehicle would need a new throttle body and a new transmission. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
- Harper Woods, MI, USA
The vehicles accelerates when brake is on. Has happened on multiple occasions and for both drivers of vehicle. The vehicle just surges forward a short distance. Don't know exact first date as it was infrequent and I thought maybe I was imagining it. Second driver of vehicle confirmed problem. Only goes forward a few inches but very scary and frequency is increasing. Will be taking to shop. See this is listed on web sites as a frequent problem with the 2007 Freestyle.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would attempt to accelerate when decelerating or sitting idle, in reverse or forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and two additional mechanics who advised that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 82,000.
- Louisville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle lunged forward abnormally. The engine and transmission warning lamp also illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure would recur whether driving forward or in reverse. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
- Morning View, KY, USA
When attempting to enter a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and lurched forward necessitating a very quick change of foot position from gas pedal to brake pedal. After bringing vehicle to a complete stop and again attempting to move forward into a parking space, vehicle repeated lurching movements, and again necessitated rapid change of foot position to brake. Vehicle continues to exhibit problem, not only when moving forward, but also when vehicle is in reverse. It has been inspected several times at a certified Ford dealership, with no obvious defects detected. Online defects search lists numerous reports of similar problems with solution being to replace throttle body, a very costly repair.
- Ivins, UT, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. While driving less than 5 mph in reverse, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward with a rapid increase in the rpms. The failure also occurred when the brake pedal was applied. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission was replaced. The failure continued to occur. The failure was also diagnosed by a different mechanic who stated the failure was related to the electronic throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.... updated 08/15/12
- Odessa, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would abnormally accelerate when the engine was started, when parking, or when reversing. The contact also stated that the failure was most prominent when the air conditioner was active. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but a diagnostic was not performed. The vehicle was test driven but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.
- Sarasota , FL, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that when the gear was shifted into drive with the brake depressed when the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle also made a loud idle noise when the gear was shifted to neutral or park. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 121,000.
- Barnhart , MO, USA
Vehicle lunges about 1 ft while foot is on break no reason in drive or reverse with no gas pressure, lunges about 6 feet without foot on break no warning or reason, vehicle jerks and stalls and loses power after lunging 1-2 ft in reverse, throttle /transmission light will turn on and off. When put on the diagnostic the computer the car computer will not keep code, I live in a family neighborhood this is very dangerous kids play in the street!!!! Ford needs to take responsibility!!
- Wichita Falls, TX, USA
- Scenery Hill, PA, USA