NHTSA Complaint #10474576 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW 8/18/07 FROM PALM COAST FORD. IN MAY OR JUNE 2010 I BEGAN NOTICING THE CAR LUNGING WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS OR ONCE YOU HAVE BACKED OUT AND THEN PLACED INTO DRIVE. I ALSO ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR STALLING IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE. ON 7.5.10 THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITH PALM COAST FORD FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE "ISSUES." AS THIS "ISSUE" DID NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE I VISITED THE DAYTONA BEACH FORD DEALERSHIP BUT THIS WAS NOT A DOCUMENTED VISIT AS WAS THE PALM COAST FORD VISIT. THE DAYTONA FORD SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED IT WAS A JUST THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT STALLING WHEN BACKING UP OR PULLING FORWARD. SO I LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM HOPING THAT IT WOULDN'T LUNGE AND HIT SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT. MY BROTHER FINALLY RODE WITH ME AND SAID THIS IS NOT CORRECT SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NON-FORD REPAIR SHOP WHO RECOMMENDED A TUNE-UP BE ACCOMPLISHED. THIS OCCURRED OCT. 25, 2011 AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NOW WHATEVER THEY ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE TUNE-UP IS NOW WEARING OFF AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN IT'S LUNGING PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THAT'S WHEN I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THESE INCIDENT REPORTS SO I WANT TO REPORT MY PROBLEM TO HELP YOU DOCUMENT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. I LIKE MY FREESTYLE BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE LUNGING SITUATION. *TR