NHTSA Complaint #10486406 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

WHILE MANEUVERING MY VEHICLE IN A SMALL SPACE (FORWARD, REVERSE, TURNING THE WHEEL) THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE AND LUNGE (HAS OCCURRED BEFORE, BUT MOSTLY IN REVERSE.) THERE WAS LOUD WHINING WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL (THAT BEGAN RECENTLY AND IS ALMOST CONSTANT.) THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV LOUDLY, THE CAR TRYING TO LUNGE EVEN WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. I REVERSED THE CAR SEVERAL FEET FROM THE ROAD FOR FEAR IT WOULD LUNGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE LIGHT (1ST TIME EVER) AND THE WRENCH SYMBOL CAME ON. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR EXCEED 30MPH. (4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE ONE YEAR I'VE OWNED THE CAR.) DIAGNOSTIC CODES GIVEN BY AUTOZONE ON 9/19/12: P2106 (THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM) & P061B (INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE TORQUE CALCULATION PERFORMANCE ERROR.) UPON RESTART, ENGINE LIGHT OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND ON 9/26/12 I DROVE THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID SMART JUNCTION BOX MELTED, MUST REPLACE (ELECTRONIC CHASSIS CONTROL MODULE )BEFORE DOING REPAIRS TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CVT AND SUDDENLY NON-WORKING A/C (WAS WORKING PRIOR). NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE AS THE DEALERSHIP (NOT FORD) REFUSES TO HONOR THE 36,000ML WARRANTY WITH CAR. RECENT PROBLEMS PRIOR TO 9/26/12:*HIGHWAY DRIVING (55+MPH/SOMETIMES USING CRUISE) CAR REVS HIGH RPMS/WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL/RESUMES LATER*SPUTTERS/STALLS/LOSES POWER WHEN SLOWING/STOPPING (IT DOES RESTART) INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTENS/DIMS*POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING (UNLOCK FUNCTION WORKS WITH FOB ONLY) OFTEN WHILE DRIVING CAR LOCKS/UNLOCKS CONTINUOUSLY/CAR RANDOMLY UNLOCKS AFTER BEING PARKED/TURNED OFF*CD PLAYER NOT WORKING/DISPLAYED ERROR CODE/2 MONTH LATER WORKING AGAIN*SECURITY SYSTEM FUNCTION INCONSISTENT/DISABLES RANDOMLY*GEARS NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY, THEN A LOUD NOISE AND CAR SURGES/LUNGES INTO DRIVE/REVERSE* LUNGING (MOSTLY REVERSE) AND SURGE/LUNGE WHEN IN DRIVE/BRAKE APPLIED. *TR