Ford Freestyle shudder problems

Filed Jun 26, 2017 · Steering, Suspension · 160,000 miles · NH

My daughter was driving the car at the time and felt a large bang then shuddering with the vehicle becoming difficult to steer and losing control, veering off the road edge. She regained control and brought the car to a safe stop. She called me for assistance and I found the rear sub frame is inferior in construction and had extensive perforation inconsistent with the rest of the vehicle. This caused the rear control arm to separate from the sub frame. The rear wheel became unstable causing the vehicle to lose control. I have contacted ford on the issue, they have recalls on the escape and windstar for the same problem. I have also found the same reports from other freestyle owners. Ford refused to assist on the matter. This is a serious safety issue. This occurred at relatively low speed approx. 35 miles per our. Had this occurred at highway speeds my daughter may have been injured or killed.

Filed Feb 24, 2017 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 160,000 miles · PA

Car will stall out while idling, accelerating or decelerating (apparently fail safe mode). May or may not start again after shutting off and restarting. Alternatively, engine will roar when applying gas pedal, with no acceleration; or will jolt/shudder while moving from second to third gear. New fuel pump already installed. All electrical connectors already gone over at dealer. Twice new inertia shutoff valves installed. ($800) if this is related to the throttle body, I want to be included in the class action.

Filed Dec 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, surged, and the engine stalled without warning. In addition the contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the engine would rev. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was repaired, but the specifics of the repairs were unknown. The failure recurred after the initial repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Sep 9, 2013 · Transmission · 110,824 miles · MO

I received a recall notice for the torque converter on my vehicle. I took it to the dealer for replacement of the torque converter on august, 22, 2012. I never had a problem with the vehicle before but when I brought it home I began to notice a bump when I put it in drive. I thought this might smooth out over time. Three months later I noticed a shudder at fifty five miles per hour and the tachometer would rise about two hundred rpms. I took the vehicle to my mechanic, who was a ford mechanic for about twenty years before he opened his own shop and he said the problem was in the torque converter. Ford service rep. Told me that since it has been over a year that I had the torque converter replaced I have to pay for all parts and labor. The van has 119,000 miles on it and I'm hoping it will last another six months so I can trade it in. But if the dealers figure out that these vehicles are going to cost them more than they're worth I probably wont get much of a trade in value.

Filed Dec 23, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 52,000 miles · GA

The car will randomly surge when stopped or at low speeds and beginning to accelerate. It seems like it just wants to go from an even idle to floored sometimes, just momentarily. Could happen when you are getting into or out of a parking space, pulling out of an intersection...doesn't seem to be any particular conditions. Lately has started to shudder at mid speeds (15-40 MPH) and surge ahead as if you were moving the accelerator pedal, even though your foot is stock still. Getting to be a little uneasy having my wife drive the car.

Filed Oct 16, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 128,750 miles · MI

So many issues with the transmission not sure where to start. Car was running fine yesterday and then today car had the wrench light on and lost power on the expressway at about 75 MPH. Turned the card off and the light was still on but at least I got partial power. The car shudders and won't shift and sometimes when I push the gas pedal nothing happens. When I am stopped car will lunge forward even with my foot on the brake. Called several ford dealerships and they said they are not certified to work on that type of trans but they will replace it for 7000.00!!!! I have read so many posts with the exact same issue. Why is there no recall?? I could have been killed!!! Or worse my kids could have been hurt. Doesn't anyone care enough to do something?

Filed Jul 30, 2012 · Acceleration · 67,000 miles · MA

I was driving on the highway at about 60 MPH. I took my foot of the gas and the vehicle suddenly shuddered and shifted into lower gear. The wrench light came on. I couldn't accelerate properly to keep up with highway traffic. I was able to pull over turn the car off. When I turned it on again, the car acted normally. This same scenario played out several more times over the next few days. I took it to a ford mechanic who said the throttle body was sending incorrect signals to the transmission. This is the family car. I feel lucky that our sudden change in speed on the highway didn't cause an accident.

Filed Jul 3, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 60,000 miles · RI

My 2005 ford freestyle seems to have issues at the initial start position. In the "park" position the car will rev without compressing the gas petal, it then lunges forward as you are attempting to put the car in either forward or reverse. It shudders and shakes, causing the engine to shut down completely and operate is the "safe" mode. The check engine light usually comes on. The vehicle had been seen on 3 different occasions ranging from april of 2010 to july 2010, each time the symptoms became worse, at one point while waiting at a red light just before entering the on-ramp to the highway, it stuttered, revved high and lunged into oncoming traffic, embarrassed, I continued to proceed forward to the on-ramp when the car suddenly shut down completely causing the 4 vehicles behind me to break hard, again almost causing another accident, I drove it directly to the dealer. The dealer did work on the vehicle and thought to have solved the issue. The issues started to occur in the winter and early spring before the usage of the A/C and became progressively worse as the summer months approached and the A/C full was in usage. It has been a almost 2 years since I have needed to report anything to the dealer. The fix did appear to lessen the intensity of the issue, but did not fix it entirely. It has continued to act up, but is back to the same intensity as the summer of 2010. The engine surged 3 times in an hour period last week and shut the engine down twice. When I called the dealer to report it, they told me that it would be considered a new issue since it has been almost 2 years since they had worked on the car for the same issue. They may have cleaned the throttle body in 2010, which reduced the surging intensity, but it did not solve the problem. Is ford waiting for a major accident, fire or death to occur before this problem is resolved or replaced?!

Filed Oct 11, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · OR

Cvt transmission failed for the second time while driving. Vehicle lurched and the wrench light came on, front end shuddered. Restarted the vehicle and it would drive, but would only achieve 20 MPH with very high rpms. Dealer says transmission will have to be replaced. As I understand reading the numerous complaints, they don't make this unit anymore. I am faced with a vehicle that I can't drive. Please do something.

Filed Jun 13, 2011 · Transmission · 90,225 miles · GA

I was driving down the road when suddenly the car shuddered and lost accelerator power. The engine was idling, however, I was unable to give the car any gas to get it off of the road, and couldn't even rev the engine with the gas pedal. No response at all from the gas pedal - only idle and engine still running. The "wrench" symbol was illuminated on the dash. I put the car in park, turned it off, restarted the car and the car responded as if nothing had just happened. I am lucky I hadn't reached the intersection yet and was in the process of pulling out to turn in front of oncoming traffic! First time this has ever happened, however, I have been noticing how my car has been surging as I drive. It has not become extreme, however, it is noticeable since I am not pressing the gas pedal any harder when it suddenly accelerates as I drive along.