2006 Ford Freestyle loss of the ability to accelerate on highway during traffic. Have to pull over and restart to reset. Happens randomly every time I drive the car. Ford says it is a throttle body unit failure, but can do nothing since the part is back ordered for 6 months and has been for over a year. Two tsb's over the course of two years, but no recall on a part they cannot even keep in stock for over two years due to the constant failure. Now my wife and family are in danger every time they drive the car until the part is available which is always changing and never a firm date.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestyle. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly began to lose power and decrease in speed. The vehicle would not gain speed when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The throttle control transmission light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that this was a common failure. A diagnostic test was performed and the failure ceased when the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was not repaired and the contact drove to her residence. The dealer stated that a diagnostic could not be performed unless the failure was present. They assumed that the failure was due to the throttle body of the engine. The failure recurred a month later while the vehicle was idling. The contact placed the vehicle into reverse and then back into drive. The vehicle accelerated and quickly stalled. The emission system light illuminated and the failure occurred three times in one day. The following day, the light remained illuminated, but there was no failure. They took the vehicle to the Ford dealer for diagnostic testing, which confirmed the throttle body failure. Through research, the contact verified that this was a common failure with her make and model vehicle. The manufacturer stated that they would not be responsible for the repairs. The vehicle is currently at the contact's residence waiting to be repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 71,000. Updated 09/14/09. Updated 09/14/09 updated 09/16/09.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

This complaint is in addition to complaint #10277570. After writing my initial complaint as explained I have found out that Ford quit using the initial manufacture of the throttle control unit that failed. They just recently came out with a replacement part that requires modification of the system and we understand that they are quickly running out of this part. Even our service reps feels this should be a recall item. Especially if they cannot keep the parts on the shelf.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

I have a 2006 Ford Freestyle that needs a throttle body replaced. I cannot get the part because of a national backorder for this part. I have heard from several local dealers that this part is needed very often of this vehicle. I am waiting for this part and hope that my car will continue running. If this part has to be replaced so often, why is it not on a national recall?

- Houston, TX, USA

I have a 2006 Ford Freestyle. A light came on indicating a problem with the drive train. The car would not shift or accell. I took it in to the dealer and found it needed a new throttle assembly. We were told it was on back order for 6 months, then after complaining they said that part had been discontinued and a new part with an adapter kit was available. It seems that the dealers that had the part did not want to part with them and we got the impression that this part which is a safety issue was failing on a lot of the cars. We were told that the original part manufacture was no longer doing business with Ford and that is when they had to find someone to make a replacement. The original part had a cooling tube to it and the new one does not. It seems from what I have been hearing that this should be a recall item, especially since it is due to the safety of the car. We had purchased an extended warranty on this vehicle and when we took it in we were told that this specific part was excluded which made me wonder why unless there have been other cases like this.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

When we drive our 2006 Freestyle, many times it runs rather fast and it's like it will get away from us. It usually happens when we are backing up and turning to the right. This happened one time and it choked off. When this occurred another time, the "wrench" light appeared. It will run "fast" and we need to really get on the brakes to have the problem disappear. We will be taking it into our local Ford dealer to have the problem checked.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

I have a 2006 Ford Freestyle. Every time I place the transmission in reverse. The car surges backward.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

Had a flat tire on my 2006 Ford Freestyle, AWD, ltd and installed the space saver tire. While driving, the speedometer failed to operate, all fault indicators on the dashboard illuminated, and the transmission proceeded to erratically up and down shift. Went directly to my local Ford dealers service department wherein told by service advisor that this was not normal. Told service advisor that I thought it had to do with the space saver tire. There was no information in the owner's manual to the vehicles eradicate behavior. Later, service advisor reported that this was normal behavior with the space saver tire and the vehicles ABS sensors. I disagreed on the normal behavior since I consider my speedometer a safety device - and since the space saver tire is speed limited, this made the vehicle behavior questionable.

- Lake Park, NC, USA

While curbside at the airport my 2006 Ford Freestyle started to accelerate by itself. And nearly plowed into the car and pedestrians in front of me. When the acceleration subsided I repositioned my feet (left foot brake, right foot on floor) because I thought my foot was on both the brake and the accelerator. A minute or so later the car did it again, I put the car in neutral and turned it off. When my passengers were re loaded I started the car and while leaving the airport noticed the car was very sluggish. I took it to the dealer that day. After more than two days, lots of phone calls (about what might be the problem "but we're not sure") and a lot of negotiation between the dealer and the extended warranty "provider" it was determined that the electronic throttle body was the culprit but "the part was on nationwide back-order" in fact "we have another Freestyle out in the back that has been waiting for a month". the tune changed considerably when the dealer found out that I was not only considering a legal path for resolution, but my wife was a "consumer cop" for the state where we live. The parts (2)were "found" in California and air-freighted to our dealer who promptly fixed both cars that day. I was charged $550+ for the repair(neither Ford or the 100K mile extended warranty "provider" covered the work). It seems that others have had this exact problem too, how many does it take? does someone have to get killed or injured for some one to figure out that this type of incident can't possibly be a normal wear and tear or consumer caused problem.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA