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

Power Train complaints

447 reports

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91,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Power Train

CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CAME UP WRENCH LIGHT LIT UP WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615205

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2014

Power TrainSteering

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RIDING DOWN ROAD AND CAR STARTED LUNGING AND TRYING TO GO ON ITS OWN. THEN TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD THEN ONLY GO 40MPH BUT IT WOULD REV UP AND TAC AT 5 OR MORE. TOOK IT TO AMERICUS SUNBELT FORD, THEY SAID IT NEEDED TRANSAXLE FLUID AND PUT SOME IN. LIGHT WENT OFF AND IT WORKED. VERY DANGEROUS TO BE IN ROAD AND CAR WON'T GO FAST ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE A/C QUIT RIGHT AFTER THIS. HAD A/C FIXED AND IT WAS OK. NEXT THE THROTTLE BODY IN JUNE 2012 MESSED UP AND I HAD IT FIXED AT SUNBELT FORD AND THEY CHARGED ME ALMOST $900. RAN FOR A WHILE THEN FORD HAD A RECALL ON THROTTLE BODY AND I TOOK IT IN AND THEY CLEANED IT BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR WHAT I PAID TO GET FIXED. MAY 2014 A/C COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AGAIN GOT IT FIXED AND ON JULY 13, 2014 IN ATLANTA GA ON INTERSTATE 85 AROUND NORCROSS WITH THE TRAFFIC FLYING 75 80 MPH BY ME JERKING ALONG AT 40MPH AND THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY SINCE I HAD MY CHILD AND HUSBAND WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE WERE NOT AT AN EXIT TO GET OFF BUT WHEN WE LIMPED TO ONE I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND IT QUIT GOING UP THE SMALL HILL. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD THEREFORE WE WERE IN HARMS WAY AGAIN. WITH THE HELP OF STRANGERS WE PUSHED IT TO SAFETY. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 169 MILES BACK TO MY HOME AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS FULL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT IT WILL NOT GO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND PAY ME FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND A CAR THAT WON'T GO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615185

129,500 miles · Jul 20, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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VEHICLE IDLING, VEHICLE PUT INTO REVERSE AND INSTANTLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, DEPRESSED BRAKE AND VEHICLE NET INTO A SAFE FAIL MODE. ENGINE LIGHT AND A WRENCH DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON SYSTEMS CAME UP FINE. PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AGAIN. DROVE VEHICLE HOME IN FAIL SAFE MODE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICING SEPTEMBER 08, 2010 FOR SAME ISSUE, THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614852

125,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014

Power Train

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGES FORWARD WHEN AT A STOP. VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AND STALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606020

83,000 miles · Jun 1, 2014

EnginePower Train

THE VERY FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS PARKING MY VEHICLE AND IT JUST LUNGE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES THAT DAY TO THE POINT I STARTED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT TO KEEP IT FROM POSSIBLY HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS WENT ON AND ON T…

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NHTSA ODI #10595438

90,000 miles · May 30, 2014

Power Train

WHEN PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE ON WARM DAYS WITH THE AIR ON THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I AM USED TO THIS BUT MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR YESTERDAY 5-29-2014 AND ALMOST HIT A CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. VERY DANGEROUS !!! READ THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595014

145,000 miles · May 29, 2014

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

THIS VEHICLE LOOSES COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING. RUNS SLUGGISH AND HESITATES.. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR POSSIBLE RECALL (THROTTLE BODY) DEALER SAYS NOT THE ISSUE NEED TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR, AND TRANSMISSION, ETC.. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594868

20,000 miles · May 28, 2014

EnginePower TrainService Brakes

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IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN WHEN THE BRAKES WORE OUT AT LESS THAN A YEAR AND LESS THAN 9,000. THE CAR WOULD IDLE HIGH AND JUMP BEFORE STEPPING ON THE GAS. THE CAR WOULD GET A JUMP START BEFORE I WANTED IT TO MOVE. A NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. HOWEVER, IT DID CHANGE NOISES AS I CHANGE GEARS. DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS ROARING. DURING THE WINTER TIME, THE CAR WAS NOT GOOD WITH THE GEARS/TRANSMISSION AS IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT STICKING IN THE GEAR. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE SERVICE STATION OF THE PLACE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A TRANSMISSION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594682

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2014

Power Train

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WE OWN A FORD FREESTYLE 2005 THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER BEEN QUITE RIGHT, IT FAILED OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE FORD TECH SAYS TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE BUT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF 6600 WITH THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE OWNERS OF THE 2005 THROUGH 2007 FORD FREESTYLES WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES. 75 I HAVE FOUND POSTED ONLINE THEY REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AT COST FROM 5600 TO 7800 ONLY TO HAVE THEM FAIL AGAIN IN A SHORT TIME. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS WE HAVE OWNED FORDS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW AND MAINTAIN OUR CARS WILL DUE DILIGENCE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. WE HAVE BOTH OWNED FORD TAURUS WAGONS WHICH ONE HAD NEARLY 400000 MILES ON THE CLOCK WHEN WE SOLD IT STILL RUNNING GREAT! OUR FORD ALSO HAS HAD MANY OCCURRENCES OF THE THROTTLE STICKING UNDER ACCELERATION SO MUCH SO THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO PULL OVER AND RESTART IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594104

117,000 miles · Apr 24, 2014

Power Train

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LAST WEEKEND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN OUR 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING FINE WITH NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN WE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLUNKING NOISE WE HEARD THE SOUND OF METAL CLANGING AROUND UNDER THE CAR AND HITTING THE ROAD...THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN SKIDDING AND IT FELT AS IF THE BACK OF THE CAR LIFTED OF THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT I FELT AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS DRIVING BEHIND US, AS IT IS VERY LIKELY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW OIL RUNNING OUT OF THE CAR ONTO THE ROAD. WE THEN NOTICED THE TRAIL OF MANGLED METAL IN THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT I KNEW WE WERE IN BIG TROUBLE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. GARAGE CALLED ON MONDAY ONLY TO TELL US THAT A USED TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR IS VERY HARD TO FIND AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ONE LOCALLY...AND FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT REPLACING WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $6000-$7000, MAYBE MORE SINCE THIS TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WE COULDN'T TURN IT IN FOR A CORE. SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY CAME APART CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BIND AND LITERALLY TEAR ITSELF APART. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FOR $6,500 AND HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 11 MONTHS. I AM SEEING THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. NOT ONLY CAN I NOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR, THERE IS NO WAY I AM GOING TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A TRANSMISSION THAT IS LIKELY TO FAIL JUST AS THIS ONE DID. SO I AM WITHOUT A CAR WITH 4 CHILDREN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT WITH THIS CAR AND FORD SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584581

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.