NHTSA Investigates Ford Freestyle for Lunging Problems - U.S. News Rankings & Reviews
I WENT THROUGH TOIL AND COSTLY TROUBLE WITH MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE FOR YEARS. I CAME ACROSS A MORALLY DECENT, CREDIBLE AND CARING FORD DEALERSHIP WHO F I X E D THE PROBLEM. AFTER CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY, THEY RE-PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WITH A "NEW BRAIN CHILD", AND THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. FORD SENT A LETTER ON THIS, COVERING THE VEHICLE IN THIS WAY FOR UP TO "150,000 MILES" OR "TEN YEARS", WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. At 96,000 miles and many repairs later (including A/C and oxidized paint on front and back of vehicle), we experienced lunging, helicopter noises and eventual complete failure of the transmission. Input shaft was the first noted part to go and this "constant velocity" transmission is no longer being manufactured secondary to the early death and poor performance of the Freestyle and Saturn Vue. Our local salvage yard had offered us a hefty $550. 00 for this Ford driveway ornament - pathetic. Thanks, Ford for backing your customers and product. :( A friend of mine recently passed away and left me his 2005 Freestyle, knowing I'd had car troubles in the past. I've had the car less than a month and have noticed subtle things (car jerks a little when I turn and accelerate, loud whirring noise at speeds over about 20mph). Source: usnews.rankingsandreviews.com
