NHTSA Complaint #10454710 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

IN 2008 MY FORD FREESTYLE STARTED LUNGING FORWARD AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHEN IN GEAR WITHOUT EITHER THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLIED. IF I APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY, BUT IF I WAS SITTING WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LUNGE - AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. I AM JUST LUCKILY WE NEVER HIT ANYONE. IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN AFTER IT RAINED. A LOCAL (NON FORD) MECHANIC STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE ECM WAS GETTING WET AND CORROSION WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER HE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM (HE CLEANED AND TIGHTENED PINS, SEALED WITH TERMINAL SEALER/CORROSION INHIBITOR), THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY STOPPED. NOW, 4 YEARS LATER, IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. BUT THAT MECHANIC IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC (AND SCARY) PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS MORNING MY VEHICLE LUNGED SUDDENLY BACKWARDS OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, RIGHT INTO THE SIDEWALK WHERE CHILDREN WERE PASSING. I HAD STOPPED MY CAR, LET UP THE BRAKE AND IT LUNGED. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND PROVIDE ME WITH AN UPDATE (AND A SOLUTION!). WE LOVE THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE. *TR