NHTSA Complaint #10551035 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

IN 2011 THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED ON MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. FORD RECOMMENDED CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY AND I HAD THIS DONE AT A FORD DEALER. FORD LATER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART AND REIMBURSED ME. FOLLOWING THIS, I FOUND THAT THE CAR OCCASIONALLY LUNGED AND THE RPMS WOULD RACE. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2013 THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE STOPPED ACCELERATING. I IMMEDIATELY HIT MY BRAKES AND BEGAN TO PULL OVER. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY HOME AT 15 MPH. ON MONDAY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY CAR SEEN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS STILL COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON TUESDAY THE CAR AGAIN WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. ON INSPECTION, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS AT FAULT. THE PART WAS FAULTY, AND COULD NOT BE CLEANED TO FIX. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, BUT FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE COST (OVER $900) EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. WHEN CALLING, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ONLY COVER A ONE TIME CLEANING. THE CLEANING DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN IN TRAFFIC, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE. *TR