NHTSA Complaint #10345078 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

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 $125.00. 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 *TR