NHTSA Complaint #10279337 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE FAILURE CEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THEY ASSUMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND QUICKLY STALLED. THE EMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH CONFIRMED THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/09 UPDATED 09/16/09.*JB