NHTSA Complaint #10992023 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

ON MAY 27TH, 2017, WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN LURCHING BADLY AND THE RPM BEGAN SURGING. IN A A FEW MINUTES THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT. OUR SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 25-30 MPH EVEN AT FULL SPEED. WE COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED! WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AT A GAS STATION TO CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK AND RETURNED HOME CAUTIOUSLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST LUBE PLACE AND GOT THE OIL CHANGED. WE RETURNED HOME AND RESEARCHED ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY HUSBAND (WHO IS VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED) DECIDED TO FOLLOW A MECHANIC'S ADVICE AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY THOROUGHLY WITH SEAFOAM AND A TOOTHBRUSH. IT WAS FILTHY AND HAD LOTS OF DEPOSITS BUILT UP ON IT. HE UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY TO RESET EVERYTHING AND REINSTALLED THE THROTTLE BODY. IT PROVED INEFFECTIVE SO WE PURCHASED A NEW THROTTLE BODY FOR $320 FROM ADVANCED AUTO PARTS. HE INSTALLED IT TODAY AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. WE ARE AT A LOSS AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM A MOTHER OF 3 AND AM CURRENTLY PREGNANT WITH MY FOURTH CHILD AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE!