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Ford Freestyle Lots of Problems

300 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2012 at 6:19 AM

You are in the Ford Freestyle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestyle, SUV

    

Messages Page 22 of 31

#204 of 300 Ditto on the surging/lurching/engine revving! by freestyler05

Aug 27, 2010 (11:34 pm)

I am new to this forum. I have a 2005 LE Freestyle (front wheel drive) that we purchased new. I have experienced the sudden surging/lurching over the past year or so, but it was so occasional and subtle that I thought I was imagining it. Then this week I almost hit a car in the school car rider line and it was definitely NOT my imagination. The car suddenly lurched forward (not subtly!) when I was STOPPED with my foot on the brake. It was a hot day & I'd just turned on the AC so my son would be comfortable (I usually don't use the AC that much). Also last week I almost hit a car when my car surged while I was backing out of a parking space (again, I'd just turned on the AC because I had other people w/ me). I only mention the AC because other posts have mentioned that variable. And because my incidents have increased this summer during the hot weather.
 
Most of my car's surges have happened when I was backing out of a parking space. But the accelerations were not quick/fast - I remember thinking "why am I having to brake so hard to stop when I'm barely moving??" I dismissed the thought that the car was accelerating (must be my imagination, because a car doesn't drive itself, right?). Anyway what happened this week (car suddenly lurching FORWARD from a complete stop!), and reading the MANY accounts of people having the same problem, has put it all in perspective for me. I agree that someone could be seriously hurt or killed and I shudder to think what might've happened if I'd been stopped at the front of the line where the kids were crossing in front of the cars. And now I'm twiggin' about driving, since it's happening more often and will most likely only get worse. I can't believe there's been so many incidents but no action by Ford or the NHTSA or whoever else could help. What's even scarier is having to wait months on the supposed fix (new throttle control - assuming you can afford it), with maybe no reimbursement for the rental car, and then it happening again AFTER the new throttle control. Seems like we're just screwed.
 
Anyway back to the facts. Most of my surges happened when the car was moving slowly in reverse. Fortunately it's always responded to hard braking. I have not experienced any "stall outs" during highway driving. However several times this summer the engine has unexpectedly "revved" while driving at higher speeds (45-55 mph). Again, it was subtle and only for a minute, so I overlooked it. Just kept telling my husband the car had a lot of "quirks" and I didn't feel so safe in it anymore.
 
FYI I will follow through by calling Ford CRC and filing an online complaint w/ the NHTSA. Thanks for all the info, phone numbers & website links. I guess I'll have to run it by the Ford dealer as well. Good luck everyone and maybe some good will come out of this before someone is killed or seriously injured. Think of all the unsafe Freestyles on the roads right now because their owners can't afford to fix the problem (or because they think their "little" problem isn't that big of a deal). I'm definitely going to enlighten the one other Freestyle owner I know in case she's been experiencing similar issues.

#205 of 300 Throttle body and HVAC (AC) by 06freestylemar

Aug 30, 2010 (8:29 am)

We are also experiencing these problems. We have been approached by 3 separate FREESTYLE vehicle owners in our town asking if share these commonalties. These details are the same: surging and lurching with foot on brake and the AC is on. Stalling and wrench light with codes indicating Throttle failure. Our HVAC (AC compressor) has failed and is on back order. FORD customer service states these are not common issues.... well someone needs to read these forums here and on FACE BOOK.
I am cutting and pasting another poster's information for everyone to read:
 "The only way we can make sure the dealer fixes this problem is to call the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236 and file a complaint. After they review the complaint they have the authority to request that the Dealer issues a recall and fix the issues. I just did this myself and it took me about 20 minutes, however, a case number was sent to me immediately. If we all take 20 minutes of our time, we can have Ford fix these problems and who knows? maybe even save somebody's life... " Kiecr poster on another FORD forum thread EDMUNDS.
After reading post 198: I called the NH TSB and filed a complaint. I figure twenty minutes of my time my save my life and someone else. Additionally, it may prompt FORD to recall and save me money. PLEASE take a moment and call, they are very friendly and patient the NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD, aka...NH TSB.

#206 of 300 Re: Engine / Transmission would be helpful [lcjesse] by hotbite

Aug 31, 2010 (8:04 pm)

Replying to: lcjesse (Aug 12, 2010 8:06 pm)
I was having this problem for months. And like yours, running the AC in the summertime made it worse. I read on numerous sites that I needed to get the throttle body replaced and it would cost between $600-$800. Before trying that, I decided to try a bottle of Gumout fuel system cleaner. It cost about $12. I also upgraded to 89 octane. Believe it or not, it worked! My Freestyle hasn't lunged since. If your problem returns, rather than paying the $125 to have the dealership clean the system, try this first! Best of luck.

#208 of 300 lurching update by lcjesse

Sep 01, 2010 (8:05 pm)

it has been almost 5 weeks since i had the fuel induction service done and not ONE problem. I have yet to hear from Ford or the NHTSA since filing my report.
It really bothers me that so many people are having problems and having to suffer with worrying about the cause, fix, cost to fix etc. I was recently visiting a local Retirement home delivery flowers to a chruch member when i had the opportunity to park next to a Ford Freestyle. Before i left i jotted out a quick note (and stuck it on the door) about the problem I was having and referring the owner to this website and leaving my contact information in case they wanted to chat. I am sure they thought some insane person left it. At least i tried.

#209 of 300 Re: Engine / Transmission would be helpful [trotterdog69] by lcjesse

Sep 01, 2010 (8:17 pm)

Replying to: trotterdog69 (Aug 27, 2010 11:02 pm)
i did not get the new throttle body because i wanted to try something cheaper since i had just spent $1300 getting the A/C replaced and the engine mount replaced. I had not read/heard about the "fire"issue. Now more things to worry about. I did not buy an extended warranty because i "foolishly" believed that a $27K car would "hold" up and that Ford built a quality product. From most posts i have read you really have to work to convince them to apply the warranty. Not sure if it was before or after i had the Fuel Induction service done where at least 2 owners had the TB replaced and w/in 3 weeks had the same problems recurr. Hope i can get another couple of years out of this vehicle.

#210 of 300 Re: Engine / Transmission would be helpful [lcjesse] by madden322

Sep 01, 2010 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: lcjesse (Sep 01, 2010 8:17 pm)
Ok - I just saw the words "fire issue"...can someone explain? This IS a new one!

#211 of 300 Re: Engine / Transmission would be helpful [trotterdog69] by madden322

Sep 01, 2010 (8:41 pm)

Replying to: trotterdog69 (Aug 27, 2010 11:02 pm)
I don't understand the backorder stuff. When I got my throttlebody replaced for the second time last month, I got it back in 1 day. How in the world did they get that throttle body? The car runs great, but now I am worried about the fire scenario.

#212 of 300 Re: Engine / Transmission would be helpful [madden322] by bruneau1

Sep 02, 2010 (8:49 am)

Replying to: madden322 (Sep 01, 2010 8:41 pm)
I never heard of a fire issue with the Freestyle. The writer is probably confused with the cruise control issue on some older Fords. A little bit of information can be a dangerous thing. A little bit of incorrect information is really bad. Our throttle body was replaced under warranty, and no problems since. I wonder how many transmissions have been incorrectly diagnosed because of the throttle body issue.

#213 of 300 2006 Freestyle throttle issues by freestyle713

Sep 04, 2010 (11:42 am)

On a trip from Michigan to Florida on 8/18/2010 my 2006 Freestyle
(odometer 60,000) lurched while slowly reversing from a parking space at a Georgia gas station. I thought I must have been parked on a hill so I continued to back up, and the problem happened again. The wrench indicator light came on, which according to my manual, meant we may have had some "bad gasoline" and the light should go off after 3 driving cyles. The light did turn off after a few days, but the problem happened again last week while in reverse at a grocery store back in Michigan. the wrench indicator came on, and after turning the ignition off and parking for a few minutes, the light was off again. Both occurences happened while running the A/C in 90 degree heat. I have yet to take the car to a repair shop, but will be trying the recommended use of Gumout to clean the fuel system this afternoon! After reading the other posts on this site, I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA and will also do the same with Ford at www.fordowner.com
Thank you to all who have posted similar issues/complaints about the Freestyle--hopefully we can get some answers/accountability from Ford!

Messages Page 22 of 31

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