NHTSA Complaint #10410548 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE OR REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE ENGINE WILL "REV" AND THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AS IF I HAD PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR BUT MY FOOT WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES BUT THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, JULY 4, 2011. UP UNTIL RECENTLY I COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS SO I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER READING AN ARTICLE ON REUTERS WEBSITE THAT THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA I DECIDED TO REPORT IT HERE. AS THE ARTICLE STATES, IT APPEARS MORE OFTEN WHEN I HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON HIGH. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN FLAT ROCK MICHIGAN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS PROBABLY NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT IT. TO DATE, THIS HAS CAUSED NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS BUT IT IS ONLY BECAUSE I TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS (E.G. TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING OR BE PREPARED TO APPLY EXTRA PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE WHEN PARKING) TO ENSURE THE CAR DOES NOT LUNGE FORWARD AND HIT ANYTHING. *KB