NHTSA Complaint #10345870 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

BEGINNING IN JULY 2008, I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOUR SEPARATE TIMES. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE SURGES/LUNGES WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED. THIS SURGE/LUNGE HAPPENS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE AND IT IS RANDOM. EXPERIENCES: 1. AT A STOP LIGHT, CAR SURGES FORWARD. A FRIEND OF MINE BORROWED MY CAR TO PICK UP OUR KIDS AT SCHOOL, EVEN KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, HE ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, 2. IN A DRIVE THRU, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD, 3. IN THE MORNING I OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR, START THE CAR, PUT IT IN REVERSE, TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND IT SHOOTS BACKWARDS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE/EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE AND INFORMED ME THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS WHERE THE ISSUE IS ORIGINATING AND THAT THE VALVE WAS STICKY. SO THEY CLEANED IT AND SENT ME HOME. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. SO I TOOK MY FREESTYLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME IT IS INDEED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT IT IS A ONE PIECE UNIT AND THE COMPONENTS ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER, THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. THEY DID SAY THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $570.00, UNFORTUNATELY THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID AUGUST; UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE DATE FOR THE OTHER UNITS THEY HAD ORDERED FOR OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY WILL COVER THE COST SINCE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED! MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY BE INJURED. MY 6 YEAR OLD SON, ONCE CAME TO GREET ME AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WHEN I ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. THANK THE LORD I AM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND WAS READY FOR IT TO DO JUST THAT, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT HIT HIM. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE FORD DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AND I DO MEAN FORD MOTOR COMPANY, NOT THE DEALER. *TR