Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 587 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 447 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports

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56,152 miles · Mar 25, 2012

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CLUSTER LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALL WENT OUT AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, CONTROL TEMP, AND GAS GAGE ALL ZEROED OUT AND A WRENCH AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING EVERYTHING STARTING WORKING AGAIN AND THE TWO WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF HOWEVER, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND THE ERRORS WERE ALL ELECTRICAL. HAVE TO TAKE IT IN A FEW DAYS TO THE FORD DEALER AND BE CHARGED A $90.00 FEE UP FRONT JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS IT'S BEEN A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH IN A RECALL. NOT JUST TRY TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG. I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG WHEN THEY GET DONE. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A FORD BUT NOW I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE A SWITCH TO A CHRYSLER (SINCE I DO WORK THERE NOW) AND I KNOW I WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF NOT JUST TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452894

131,000 miles · May 24, 2011

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2005 FORD FREESTYLE COMPLETE SHUTOFF OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS. THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM. THE FIRST WAS THE SURGING THAT EVERYBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT. AFTER A WRONG DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AND PCM, THE WHOLE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR. MY CONCERN IS THE COMPLETE SHUTOF…

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NHTSA ODI #10402503

100,000 miles · Oct 28, 2010

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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WHEN DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE DOWN THE ROAD THE ENTIRE CLUSTER WILL START CUTTING OUT ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING 30 MILE PER HOUR. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE, A FEW SECONDS LATER I RESTARTED MY VEHICLE THE LIGHTS STILL CAME ON THEY STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THEN STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT A 9 DAYS. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THEY STAYED ON FOR 4 DAYS. I CALLED OUR NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY THEY CAME ON AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE BATTERY CAUSING IT OR COULD BE THE CLUSTER CUTTING OUT. WE CHECKED AND CLEANED OUR BATTERY WHICH IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. THEN ON THE 4TH DAY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE CLUSTER WENT OFF EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER A DAY OR SO IT TO WENT OUT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK WHEN THIS OCCURS. ...I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY ON THE CURVY AND WINDING ROADS WHERE I LIVE. AND IT IS A PROBLEM I THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE YET FORD HAS NOT HAD A RECALL ON IT OR THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY (LURCHING AND SURGING). BOTH ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. BAD ENOUGH THE AC PROBLEM AND HAVING BOUGHT 5 SETS OF TIRES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE 2005 FREESTYLE. I HAVE OWNED FORD PRODUCTS FOR MANY YEARS AND BEING THEY DO NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCTS I WILL NOT CONTINUE PURCHASING FROM FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362755

15,000 miles · May 6, 2007

Exterior LightingTires

WHEN SLIGHTLY RAINING, THE LIGHT SENSOR SEEMS TO ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY THEREBY NOT ALWAYS TURNING ON THE LIGHTS IN AUTO MODE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ONLY IN RAIN DURING THE DAY WHEN THE SENSOR HAS A HARD TIME DISTINGUISHING WHEN TO TURN ON AND WHEN TO TURN OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189894

Official recalls

06V383000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Oct 5, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

05V515000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE11018 · Idle Instability

Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in

PE07058 · Instrument Cluster Failure

Opened Nov 16, 2007 · Closed Mar 11, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF PROPER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OPERATION.TYPICALLY, THE PROBLEM APPEARS AS THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL, AND/OR TEMPERATURE) SWEEPS AND RESETS INTERMITTENTLY.FORD REPORTS THE PROBLEM AS MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTION CAUSES THE GAUGES TO SWEEP AND THEN RECOVER TO NORMAL FUNCTION.IN AUGUST 2006, FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 06-17-9) TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THIS CONDITION.ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S INFORMATIONREQUEST LETTER REVEALS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTS TO FORD (63%) INDICATE THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER.FORD REPORTS THAT THISLASTS FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS.ALSO FORD STATES, THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD NOT FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVEN IN THE EVENT OF POWER INTERRUPTION TO THE CLUSTER BECAUSE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE POWERED SEPARATELY AND DO NOT RELY ON ANY SIGNAL FROM THE CLUSTER.ADDITIONALLY, ODI CONTACTED COMPLAINANTS WHO AFFIRMED THE INTERMITTENT CONDITION AND THAT NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY POWER INTERRUPTIONS TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.ODI LAST RECEIVED A REPORT REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN AUGUST OF 2007.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.ODI WILL HOWEVER CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ISSUE AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.