NHTSA Complaint #10425481 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

ON THE DATE NOTED, I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD (MAYBE 6-9 INCHES). I TURNED THE CORNER TO ENTER A PARKING GARAGE AND WHILE STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CAR STALLED. I RESTARTED IT PULLED FORWARD TO THE GARAGE GATE AND STOPPED. IT LURCHED A THIRD TIME, STALLING AGAIN AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS THOUGH I RELEASED THE CLUTCH (ON A MANUAL SHIFT CAR) WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. IN SUCH A SITUATION, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND STALL. HOWEVER THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC AND THE REASON THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE IS FROM ACCELERATION. I RECALL THE MOTOR REVVING UP PRIOR TO THE LURCH WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE EVENT. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FINALLY NARROWED THE PROBLEM TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ELECTRONICS ATTACHED TO IT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ($700+). I WOULD SAY THIS EVENT OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, ALWAYS WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED BUT NEVER 3 TIMES IN SUCCESSION. IT STALLED MAYBE TWO OF THOSE TIMES, ENTERED 'ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE' BUT WAS FINE AFTER RE-STARTING THE ENGINE. I RESEARCHED THIS OCCURRENCE ON THE INTERNET FINDING IT TO BE AN ISSUE ON MANY OCCASIONS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL. I SEE THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL OPEN. I NOTED ONE REPORT REFERENCING A DESIGN FLAW AS TO THE RELEASE OF GASES IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND HOW THEY ARE RE-ROUTED BACK THROUGHOUT THE BODY. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER NOTED TO ME THAT THE NEW BODY INSTALLED ON MY CAR WAS A NEW DESIGN WHERE THE GASES ARE RELEASED AWAY FROM THE BODY. I TAKE THIS AS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FLAWED, LEADING TO ITS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR. NOTE THAT THIS LAST EVENT OCCURRED IN 90+ DEGREE WEATHER WITH THE AC ON AND AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR 3 HOURS. *KB