NHTSA Complaint #10288944 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

MY FREESTYLE SEL VEHICLE'S (6/2006 PROD. DATE) WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CAR HESITATES ON SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY DOWNHILL. IN THE MORNING A SLIGHT LURCH IS EXPERIENCED WHEN PULLING OFF BEFORE CAR IS WARMED SUFFICIENTLY. CAR HAS 40K MILES AND HAS A 100K WARRANTY SO THE DEALER ASSESSED THE PROBLEM AT A THROTTLE BODY AND PUT IN A PART ORDER. THE PART NEEDED IS A NON-WATER COOLED ONE WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND UNTIL IS GOES INTO MANUFACTURE IN DECEMBER. I UNDERSTAND THE EARLIER MODEL 500S AND FREESTYLES USE THE WATER COOLED VERSION. THE DEALER MADE US PAY FOR A RENTAL AND WE HAD TO COMPLAIN TO THE SERVICE MANAGER PROFUSELY BEFORE A LOANER CAME IN. SEEMS WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY, I HOPE FOCUSES DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IT IS NOT TYPICAL FOR THESE CARS TO SHUTDOWN BUT WHY RISK IT. ANOTHER DEALER RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DESCRIBED THE STATUS IN THE PARTS SYSTEM AS THE "CODE FROM '!@#$%". I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER. MAYBE FORD SHOULD GO BANKRUPT TOO. *TR