NHTSA Complaint #10408088 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN MARCH, 2007. ON JUNE 14, 2011, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT, PERIODICALLY SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SURGED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE TO NORMAL SPEED; AND, IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. THE JUNE 14, 2011 OCCURRENCE WAS THE WORST ONE, PLUS, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED...AT ONLY 37,200 MILES. REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE PART IS $836.48. DEALERSHIP ALSO DETERMINED THAT AN ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET/GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR COST OF $424.00; REAR BRAKES WILL BE NEEDED WITHIN 5,00 MILES FOR $374, IF NEW ROTORS ARE NEEDED; AND, NEW BATTERY IS NEEDED NOW FOR A COST OF $138...ALL THIS AT ONLY 37,200 MILES. WE FOOLISHLY PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. FORD TELLS US THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE POWER TRAIN, AND SINCE THE THROTTLE BODY IS CONSIDERED TO BE ELECTRONIC, THE WARRANTY WILL NOT APPLY. WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A BUMPER-TO-BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE AGREED TO PURCHASE THE WARRANTY. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY CAMPERS! NO MORE EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR US. WE BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AT LEAST FOR THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT, IN FULL. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW, AND EVEN WHEN IT IS "REPAIRED" WE WILL STILL BE AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF THE FREESTYLE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE READ ABOUT ONLINE. PLEASE HELP! THANKS.