This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I purchased my 2005 Ford Freestyle new in January 2006. After two years I started to experience various unintended accelerations. I took the vehicle to a Ford authorized dealership and had it checked out. Their work order indicated they had performed an "eec test code P2106 (throttle position sensor), it also indicated a pin point test QE1, QE9, and they proceeded to replace the throttle body". the problem went away for some time and after a few months the vehicle started to do the same thing again (acceleration). The problem really gets worse with the A/C on and while I try to maneuver into parking spaces or while I'm at a full stop waiting to turn. I have since used less my vehicle. This issue causes a great burden on me and my family since this is our daily driver and we are trying to avoid any mishaps that could involve an accident with another vehicle or person.
While sitting idle waiting in line at a drive through christmas light display, the transmission light came on in the car. After light came on, could not drive faster than 35 mph. Took car to parkway Ford in winston salem where it was diagnosed that entire cvt was ruined and needed to be replaced. $5,700 for a refurbished cvt. Based on the number of complaints now on this website, seems Ford needs to take some action and recall as I am sure that there are plenty of affected owners that aren't aware of this process.
While driving on the highway with my wife at a speed of 55mph the motor suddenly dies and the wrench symbol appears. I tried to restart the car by turning the key - didn't work. Luckily we were close to an exit and I let the car roll out and onto a parking lot. There I tried again to start the car and it suddenly started again and the wrench symbol is gone. I went to a mechanic to have it checked out but he couldn't find anything. And the car runs fine w/O incident since then. I am just glad that my 3 kids weren't with us in the car that day and that nothing serious happened. A motor dying on a highway can cause serious trouble ! shortly after I bought the car about 2 months ago the cel went on and the error codes for torque/throttle body were given. I went to valvoline to have the fuel system cleaned and the codes taken out, no problems since then. But I've noticed that the car is very sluggish when I accelerate and then suddenly lunges. Needless to say that I think this car is not the best model Ford developed, we did some research on this model and there are so many complaints. Ford needs to do some serious customer care !!! and of course I find my car highly unreliable and expect it to break down any day.
While at idle upon starting car and shifting (automatic) from park to drive or reverse, the vehicle has exhibited significant "lunging" without any applied pressure to gas peddle. Additionally, this lunging has been repeated a number of times independent of initial vehicle starts (I.e. when parking the car and backing up). Approximate lunging of the vehicle before human response time and brake application with subsequent stoppage of vehicle is subjectively estimated at 24-36 inches (2-3 feet). Recommendation: Recall; replace and/or repair. Reference investigation number: PE11018.
My 2005 limited edition Freestyle has a few issues that I am very concerned about. My throttle is having major issues. The car will surge forward with no warning when I am at a complete stop. It also has caused it to have a lot of difficultly accelerating when in motion and starting the ignition. I'm afraid that it will surge forward and cause me to hit something or someone. I've read online about people that have had this issue where it gets so bad that they've even lost all acceleration while driving down the highway and one person who hit something in his garage sending it flying through the garage wall. My husband has tried cleaning out the throttle with no success. We bought the car used less than a year ago with no warranty and this problem has been getting progressively worse over the last few months. We are also having a problem with water in the car. We've had puddles on the back passenger floor and front driver side. I do not have a moon/sunroof. Water has actually pooled out from the car onto the ground when I've opened the door. The doors will be dry and we can't figure out how the water is getting in the car. I'm very concerned about mold as both me and my daughter are allergic to it. There is also a whirling noise that happens when you turn the wheel. We noticed this right after buying the car and the dealer looked at it and said there wasn't anything that could be done to fix it that it's just a noise this model car makes. The first 2 issues seem to have affected a very large group of people and I don't know why Ford hasn't recalled the cars as this could lead to severe injury or death.
- Wilmington, DE, USA
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My vehicle has a failed throttle body as evidenced by two codes: T2106 and P061B (reported to me by my mechanic). It lunges or surges when trying to accelerate normally. It goes into "engine fail safe mode" repeatedly and randomly. It has "rough starts" from time to time that have not been found to have another cause. Now, the check engine light is on and stays on, and it will not go into engine fail safe mode, which actually scares me. It scares me because, as I understand it, engine fail safe mode is a protective mode for a failed throttle body. When my mechanic ran the diagnostics on the check engine light, he got the two codes listed above, which he said indicate a failed throttle body. He said this could be dangerous. He said that from his research, this is a wide-spread problem, and Ford should have issued a recall on this by now. I have contacted Ford, and they are refusing to assist with this. My real dilemma is that even if I pay for the replacement, if Ford has not reengineered the part, I will be putting in another defective Ford part. This is what is happening to many Ford owners. They are experiencing multiple failed throttle bodies. I feel trapped in this situation with no good solution other than to pray for safety and hope for Ford to do the right thing and reengineer this part, recall it, and replace it. Can you please investigate this? thank you, Ford driver
The contact owns a 2005 Ford free style. The contact was driving 20 mph when the wrench failure light illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle also experienced abnormally high rpms prior to the failure. The contact also stated that on a separate occasion the brakes were depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 120,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While parked, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic where the mechanic advised that the transmission would have to be inspected and possibly replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The cvt transmission in this model is a problem. It has always had a surge when you first put it in gear or let off the brake, but that is something my wife and I got used to. Couple days ago we got into the car, and right after the little surge we're used to we noticed the tach was going way up (3500-4000) and we were just starting to about 10-15mph. It would only use the lower ratio and would not let us go any faster than about 40mph. We took it back home, read the manual and it said to take it straight back to the dealer. Called the dealer and they didn't even want to mess with it, said they did not have the right equipment to check it correctly. So then we called a transmission repair shop. They drove it and ran some tests on it and said it's internal problems. Leave the car with them for 3-4 days and they would try to fix it. Wouldn't give us a quote in writing, although they said we're looking at $4000-$6000 to get it fixed or replaced. Searched around on the internet and seen alot of the same. If it was something we did wrong to make a $15,000 vehicle last year worth $1,500 right now I would not say a word. This is not right and needs to be addressed by Ford. This is our only car and I'm going to continue to use it to get and forth from work because, at the moment, it'll let you drive it for 20 minutes or so before it starts staying stuck in the low ratios.
Car lunges forward at certain times. Most notably while air conditioner is running and pulling into a parking place. Sometimes lunges while pulling out of parking; so while in reverse. Seems to have something to do with tight turning of the steering wheel. Mention has been made of a possible throttle body sensor problem. When taken to the mechanic however; it would not lunge, so no repairs were made. Only does it on certain occasions.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford freestar. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate in any gear. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the rear sliding door failed to lock properly. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 77,000.
My vehicle has a cvt (continuously variable transmission). The "check transmission" light comes on, car only goes about 30 mph with engine at 4,000 RPM. Turn car off and back on and the problem is gone for a few minutes but then recurs. While this problem is happening the car idles at 2,000 RPM (instead of 800). If you take you foot off the brake while sitting still the car will lunge forward unexpectedly. The Ford dealership (allan vigil in morrow, ga) quoted $5,800 to replace the transmission. They did not tell me that it would be a rebuilt transmission. It seems the cvt transmission is no longer manufactured and Ford can only rebuild the transmission. There seem to be many similar complaints about this vehicle yet Ford says they are "very surprised" at the failure. Interestingly, I did not mention the "lunging" issue to the service advisor. Before my car was moved from the service lane he noted lunging on the report. If the problem isn't widespread how did he know that? basically, I have a 6 year old car that has been meticulously maintained by the dealership. And a common point of failure is no longer manufactured and I have to pay almost $6000 to have the cvt rebuilt. The frequent cvt failure and the lunging issue in my opinion should be recalled by Ford.
I purchase my 2005 Ford Freestyle in June 2005. July 2005 traveling to Georgia between 55/60 mph, the check engine light and transmission icon appeared. Upon trying to accelerate, I could not move no more than 30-40 mph with the RPM's racing. I had to pull over and let the car rest approximately 15-20 minutes. Upon starting the car and putting into drive gear it was very hard and lunged. The car sounds like you're racing the engine with the vehicle in park. The frequency of the engine/transmission light with trying to accelerate and can not is a persistent issue. It also lunges when the air conditioner is turned on. Once the car is shut off and started again, while your foot is on the brake which has to be with more pressure than usual to control the lunge. Sitting in traffic with the air on with cars ahead of you is frightening since it will lunge then also. This has been an ongoing issue since the purchase of this vehicle. I've also had the brakes repaired more than normal. Since acquiring this car. Recently, I've gotten the brakes done in February, may and currently need another repair with all the squealing.
Second complaint on cvt transmission. Dealership said the only way to repair the transmission is to replace it as they Ford doesn't make parts for it anymore. The transmission will cost $5800. How can Ford be allowed to discontinue parts on a 6 year old vehicle. Both my wife and I are social security recipients and asking us to pay $5800 is something that impossible for us. For the sake of not only people such as us, how about the numerous complaints on edmund.com by others who have the same problem and the same result. Ford Motor Consumer department has stated they will not assist in anyway. Please help us and soon.
This is my second notice on the transmission problems I am sure you have been deluged with. Ford represented the problem as fluid and thought this would take care of the problem with the transmission suddenly causing the vehicle to stop. I paid $325 to have this work completed. Drove the car home and the next morning the same problem occurred. Car was towed to landmark Ford for the second time. I am informed tonight that they think the problem is with an internal seal for which they have no parts for and recommended a new transmission at a cost of $5800 plus labor. How can Ford not be responsible for a design error in the first place and require someone to invest this amount of money. I as many I have read on the recall and defects web page need your hopefully immediate attention. Please help us as we are social security people and don't have $5800. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated while coming to a traffic light with his foot on the brake pedal the vehicle lunged forward almost causing a crash. The automatic transmission gear shifted into low gear and would not shift into any other gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who repaired the vehicle at the owners expense for $700. The dealer also informed him he does not need to repair transmission. The manufacturer was notified and stated there were no recalls for both failures. The offered no other assistance. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 73,000.
I just had the A/C compressor replaced and now the car lunges without pressing on the gas peddle. It mostly happens while I am moving from park to reverse. It has happened once, while I was moving forward in a parking lot and then stalled. Pressing the brake pedal overrides the sudden acceleration, and it seems to be worse when the air conditioning is on or the steering wheel is turned. While it started slowly, it is now happening ever time I put the car in reverse. I need to keep my foot on the brake peddle every time. I am hoping that Ford places a recall on the Ford Freestyle.
Since July, my car has been lunging both forward and in reverse when my foot is not on the accelerator. I have come close to running into cars, people, and my garage due to these surges. It started off happening from time to time. Now it is daily and sometimes multiple times per day. In addition to the surges, there are times it struggles to accelerate.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Arecibo, PR, USA