NHTSA Complaint #10386840 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 SUMMERS, THE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WOULD SURGE WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION OR SLOWING DURING THE APPROACH. THE SURGE WAS A RAPID ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH REQUIRED A HEAVY, OR A QUICK BRAKE. A QUICK RESPONSE WAS REQUIRED TO AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION, ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, OR STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. THE SURGES SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE CAR HAD GONE INTO A "FAIL-SAFE" MODE WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE-THRU. I BEGAN USING THE AC SPARINGLY AND WOULD TURN OFF THE AC COMPLETELY WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY OR APPROACHING AND INTERSECTION. HOWEVER, WHILE APPROACHING A TURN ON A STATE ROUTE, WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTDOWN LEAVING THE VEHICLE EXPOSED TO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS AN APPROXIMATION. AROUND THE SAME TIME TOYOTA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH "RUN-AWAY" VEHICLES, I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ALERTING THEM OF THIS HAZARD. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE "COMPUTER" COULD NOT/DID NOT SHOW ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE "FAIL-SAFE". ON-LINE, IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS. DUE TO THE SEASON, I WILL NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. I'M HOPING THAT THE FAMILY ISN'T IN THE CAR IF IT WASN'T. *TR