NHTSA Complaint #10443362 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS AT THE STORE WITH MY CHILDREN. WE WERE LEAVING THE STORE AS I PUT THE FREESTYLE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD "DROPPING" NOISE AND WOULD NOT REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO PARK AND LOOKED AROUND THE OUTSIDE TO CHECK FOR ANYTHING VISIBLE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE NOISE OR LACK OF MOVEMENT. I NOTICED THE CAR IDLING AT A HIGH RPM. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO TRY AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. THIS IS WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I THEN BECAME SCARED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON EVERYTHING WAS "NORMAL" AGAIN. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS AND TOLD ME TO CONTINUING DRIVING IT AGAIN UNTIL I GOT A LIGHT ON MY DASH TO PROVE TO THEM I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. THEY SERVICED MY TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME AS WELL TO FIND NO ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED WITH THE WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE 5 MORE TIMES, MOSTLY WHILE IN PARKING LOTS WHILE IDLE. HOWEVER THE LAST INCIDENT WAS 1/10/12. THIS SURGE PUT MY VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS INCIDENT HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS DROPPING WHEN SWITCHING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AND IDLING HIGH. THE CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHILE THE TECH TEST DROVE IT WITH ME. THERE WAS A NEW ISSUE THAT APPEARED WITH THIS INCIDENT. IT IS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE GAS WAS APPLIED. THE GRIND IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND THE BRAKE WOULD MAKE WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK WERE TO KICK IN, EXCEPT THE BRAKES ARE NOT BEING APPLIED. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ANTI-SKID LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT TO KICK ON. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR RELIGIOUSLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES, CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS, AND ALLOW THE VEHICLES TO BE DRIVEN. *TR