NHTSA Complaint #10457028 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

I PURCHASED MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN DECEMBER 2009. AS SOON AS THE WEATHER GOT WARMER I NOTICED THAT WHEN PARKING, BACKING UP, OR TRYING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AS IF I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SOON IT ALSO STARTED SURGING/SPUTTERING WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL, TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO DISCOVER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY & THAT ALL FREESTYLES WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT A NEW UNIT COULD BE PUT IN BUT WAS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL AND WAS GOING TO COST $1000. AS A SINGLE MOM, THAT WAS JUST IMPOSSIBLE. LUCKILY MY DISABLED FATHER WAS PREVIOUSLY A MECHANIC AND WAS ABLE TO USE CARB CLEANER TO CLEAN THE SENSOR AND TEMPORARILY STOP THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, EVERY SPRING THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AND I HAVE TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT CLEANED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WINTER. ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THAT THE BRAKES WEAR OUT UNUSUALLY QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF HAVING TO FIGHT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TO STOP THE CAR, OR IF IT'S A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I DO KNOW THAT WHEN IT STARTS TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WEARING OUT I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM ASAP BECAUSE THE MORE THEY GET WORN THE FASTER THEY WEAR OUT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SOMETHING I'VE JUST RECENTLY NOTICED IS THAT THE LIGHTS (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR, DISPLAY, ALL OF THEM) HAVE BEEN ALMOST BLINKING...GETTING BRIGHTER/DIMMER AND AT THE SAME TIME MY A/C BLOWS HARDER/SOFTER, LIKE THEY ARE SURGING AS WELL. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE TOP AND BOTTOM DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE CRACKED/ROTTED BUSHINGS. FORD SHOULD ABSOLUTELY REPLACE THESE THROTTLE BODIES WITHOUT QUESTION; MY CHILDREN RIDE IN MY FREESTYLE EVERY DAY AND ONE CLOSE CALL IS ONE TOO MANY. I WANT THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. *JS