NHTSA Complaint #10498076 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

ENGINE WENT IDLE DURING RUSH HR ON I95 CENTER LANE TRAFFIC FLYING BY RPMS SOARING AND IM AT A COAST TRYING TO GET OVER SCARED THE BLEEP OUT OF SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS. DASH SAYS ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE AND AS I BRAKE THE CAR IS LURCHING AND JERKING. I SHUT IT OFF. I BREATHE IN AND OUT AND THEN START HER BACK UP AND I LIMP ALONG THE SHOULDER TO THE EXIT RAMP. ARRANGE A DAY OFF AND TAKE IT TO FORD (WENT IDLE TWICE ON THE WAY) AND THEY "CLEAN OUT THE DEPOSITS" IN THE THROTTLE BODY FREE AS PART OF A RECALL. SO MONDAY BACK ON THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENS AGAIN.OMG SO I TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL GUY AND HE REPLACES THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY FOR ABOUT $700. CAR IS RUNNING GREAT, ACCELERATION IS BACK SHE FEELS LIKE NEW AND IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT THE THROTTLE HAD BEEN ACTING WEIRD FOR A WHILE - OCCASIONALLY THINGS LIKE STARTING THE CAR AND THAT INITIAL ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING FORWARD OR BACK BUT IT NEVER JUST WENT IDLE LIKE THAT - THAT'S JUST DANGEROUS. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR THAT FORD DID NOT REPLACE THIS PART - I LEFT FORD CONFIDENT THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I TOLD THEM OF MY NEAR MISS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR