NHTSA Complaint #10470208 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8TH, 2012. WE WERE BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND AS MY HUSBAND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AFTER HE HIT THE BRAKES. HE DID NOT HAVE HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL. IN FACT, HE WAS IN TRANSITION FROM THE BRAKE AND HIS FOOT HADN'T EVEN HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL YET. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NOT SAY IT LUNGES FORWARD OR REVERSE- I WOULD SAY IT HOPS FORWARD OR REVERSE. IT'S SEEMS TO BE A SPURT OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS FINE INTO GEAR, NO STALLS, NO GRINDING NOISES, JUST LITTLE SPURTS WHEN IT'S BACKING UP. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY HUSBANDS DRIVING AND MINE IS THAT I ALWAYS ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN I PARK. I'M USED TO DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. SO, WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE I STILL HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE SPURTS DO NOT OCCUR WITH MY DRIVING. I DID FIND IT ALARMING THAT WITH MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MY FOOT TO BE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. I CAN START THE VEHICLE BY SIMPLY TURNING THE KEY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M USED TO SEEING IN MODERN VEHICLES AS I AM USED TO DRIVING VOLKSWAGEN'S. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WILL GET WORSE. WILL I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND NOT BE ABLE TO STOP? I CAN'T AFFORD EXTRA PARTS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE (AND FROM A VOLKSWAGEN ENTHUSIAST THAT SAYS A LOT). I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHAT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE. *TR