NHTSA Complaint #10420865 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

LAST SEPTEMBER, AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES, MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN AN ENGINE SURGE INTERMITTENTLY. THE SURGE HAPPENED EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE WRENCH LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND, OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT WOULD MOVE VERY SLOWLY AND THE SPEED DID NOT MATCH WHAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS TELLING IT TO DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, NOR COULD HE RECREATE IT IN HIS SHOP. OVER THE WINTER, THE CAR STOPPED HAVING THE ISSUE; HOWEVER, DURING THE SPRING, WHEN I BEGAN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. I TRIED CHANGING THE OIL AND HAD FLUIDS CHECKED, THINKING THIS WOULD HELP BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS CONTINUED ALL SUMMER AND WAS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IF I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC OR TRYING TO PARK. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR ME AS A DRIVER AND FRIGHTENING FOR MY CHILDREN. LAST TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER IT SAT DURING MY CHILDREN'S OPEN HOUSE, THE FREESTYLE BEGAN SURGING IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING IT. THE WRENCH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE CAR MOVED VERY SLOWLY. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK MY FREESTYLE TO ANOTHER, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MECHANIC, WHO HAS DIAGNOSED (BASED ON THE CODES AND HIS EXPERIENCE) THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW THROTTLE BODY. *TR