NHTSA Complaint #10408268 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 06 FORD FREESTYLE HAS HAD AND UNEXPLAINED JERK/LUNGE IN MOTION. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCT 08 AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED NOV 08. I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, AND MY FAITH IN FORD IS SLOWLY WILTING AWAY. THE JERK/LUNGE NORMALLY OCCURS WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, OR GOING IDLE SPEED IN THE FOLLOWING PLACES DRIVE-THRU, PARKING LOT, WHILE REVERSING OR PARKING THE CAR. TODAY WHEN I GOT BACK FROM THE GROCERY STORE I WAS REVERSING INTO MY GARAGE AND THE CAR STARTED TO LUNGE I APPLIED THE BREAK AND IT CONTINUED TO JERK ABOUT A FOOT TILL IT STOPPED. I WAS NOT SURE THE CAR WOULD STOP, THIS SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH, I KEPT ON THINKING WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I THEN TURNED EVERYTHING OFF IN THE CAR STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WAS VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY OWN DRIVE WAY. IF I WAS IN A PARKING LOT I COULD HAVE HIT A CAR WITH IT MOVING A FOOT AND I COULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE. THE JERKING/LUNGING IN THE CAR IS VERY SPORADIC AND HAS HAPPENED WHILE MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR AS WELL, SO IT IS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. IT IS SO SPORADIC THAT THIS ACTION IS HARD TO RECREATE AT A GIVEN NOTICE YOU CAN NOT PREDICT THE TIME BUT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK. SOME MAY THINK THAT IF IT IS HARD TO RECREATE THEN IT IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT IF IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK THAT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT HUMAN LIFE. A VEHICLE IS NOT A LUXURY ITEM ESPECIALLY TO A MILITARY FAMILY LIKE WE ARE. IT IS A NECESSITY THAT SHOULD BE DEPENDABLE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WONDER WHAT TO DO NEXT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION TO THIS SOON. *TR