NHTSA Complaint #10417433 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

I FIRST NOTICED A SURGE IN THE CAR JUST AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME. WHENEVER THE CAR COMES TO A STOP (E.G. IN A PARKING SPOT) THE CAR SURGES IN THE DIRECTION THE TRANSMISSION IS SELECTED. ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE IS IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. LIKEWISE... WHEN FIRST SELECTING REVERSE FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE VEHICLE SURGES DRASTICALLY WHICH ALSO REQUIRES PROMPT ADDITIONAL BRAKING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THE SURGING MAY BE COMING FROM AN ISSUE WITHIN THE FUNCTION OF THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT NOT 100% SURE OF THAT. THE ADDITION OF FUEL CLEANERS SEEMS TO HELP, BUT ONLY A LITTLE... AND THEN ONLY TEMPORARILY. SYMPTOMS OCCUR YEAR ROUND, BUT SEEM TO BE WORSENED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE IS A THREAT TO SAFETY IN IT'S DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.