IllustrationCVT FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 87,500 MILES WHILE MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT AND HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A CONTROLLED STOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE FOR ANOTHER 5 MILES OF DRIVING BEFORE IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. *TR
2005 Ford Freestyle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Freestyle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 893.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freestyle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1140–25K
15325–50K
33950–75K
31275–100K
307100–150K
74150K+
1,299 reports with mileage · 160 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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 reportsTRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF RIDICULOUS COST. SEAT BELT IN MIDDLE SEAT IS STUCK AND MY CHILDREN CAN'T SIT IN THAT SEAT BECAUSE IT IS STUCK. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS FORD BUY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY FAMILY VEHICLE! *TR
WHEN IDLE IN DRIVE THE RPM'S SURGE BY ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL REDUCTION IN POWER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL REDUCTION IN POWER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL REDUCTION IN POWER. THE ENGINE RPMS ALSO INCREASED ABNORMALLY AS THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR SPAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, WRENCH ICON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL REDUCTION IN POWER. THE ENGINE RPMS ALSO INCREASED ABNORMALLY AS THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR SPAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
WHEN STOPPING, IDLING, PUTTING CAR IN GEAR, ETC., THE CAR WILL LUNGE ALMOST STRIKING CAR AHEAD OF ME. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE AC IS ON OR IF MY STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I USUALLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE STOPPING IN A DRIVE THRU OR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE I FEAR I'M GOING TO HIT SOMEONE. IF I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, THE…
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WHEN STOPPING, IDLING, PUTTING CAR IN GEAR, ETC., THE CAR WILL LUNGE ALMOST STRIKING CAR AHEAD OF ME. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE AC IS ON OR IF MY STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I USUALLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE STOPPING IN A DRIVE THRU OR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE I FEAR I'M GOING TO HIT SOMEONE. IF I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH UNTIL YOU TURN OFF THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! *TR
WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD FREESTYLE ON APRIL 4, 2013. IT HAD 74,590 MILES ON IT. ON OCTOBER 1, 2013 THE CTV TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNINGS CAME ON, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10MPH, IT LURCHED AND CRUNCHED AT 3500-4000RPMS. WE MADE IT LESS THAN ONE BLOCK BEFORE IT JUST STOPPED…
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WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD FREESTYLE ON APRIL 4, 2013. IT HAD 74,590 MILES ON IT. ON OCTOBER 1, 2013 THE CTV TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNINGS CAME ON, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10MPH, IT LURCHED AND CRUNCHED AT 3500-4000RPMS. WE MADE IT LESS THAN ONE BLOCK BEFORE IT JUST STOPPED IN THE ROAD. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ONE, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO TEN MPH AND LIMP IT BACK HOME. LATER THAT DAY AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR TEN MINUTES, THE CAR FIRED UP NO PROBLEM AND WAS DRIVABLE UNTIL THE OCTOBER 3, 2013 WHERE THIS ACTION REPEATED BUT IT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT A BLOCK BEFORE STOPPING. AGAIN, BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED ONE MORE TIME AND TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER AN AFTERNOON OF FULL DIAGNOSES, WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW REFURBED (SO NOT EVEN NEW) TRANSMISSION FOR $6400.00! WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME FROM THE MECHANICS WHILE WE CONSIDER OUR OPTIONS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CTV TRANSMISSIONS THAT FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF AND HAS NO PLANS TO CORRECT. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE WITH THIS LEMON! WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS LOW MILEAGE. THANK YOU. *TR
TRANSMISSION DIED OUT IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 89. LOST POWER AND WENT INTO A LOW GEAR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WRENCH LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME TO DRIVE 40MPH, PULLED OVER AROUND 11 TIMES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. I WAS AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED A FEW MONTHS AGO AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WRENCH LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME TO DRIVE 40MPH, PULLED OVER AROUND 11 TIMES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. I WAS AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED A FEW MONTHS AGO AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY ASSURED ME THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS LUNGING FORWARD (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT). HOWEVER THEY ALSO STATED THAT IT REALLY SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT THEY WERE ONLY INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN IT AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD GET CLOGGED AGAIN. WHEN I SPOKE TO THEM TODAY THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND I WOULD HAVE TO FIX AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP HURT BY THIS. I AM A FAMILY OF SIX AND I AM REALLY SCARED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHILE IN THIS VEHICLE. FIRST THE LUNGING BACKWARD AND FORWARD.... NOW THE CAR LOOSING SIGNIFICANT POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY... SERIOUSLY THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE... PLEASE HAVE FORD LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS OR EVENTUALLY THEY WILL BE SUED BY SOMEONE. AS I WAS PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ANOTHER GENTLEMAN STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT HE AS WELL OWNS A FREESTYLE AND HE IS HAVING SAME ISSUES AND CURRENTLY IS IN THE PROCESS OF A LAWSUIT WITH FORD. TOO MANY SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THE VEHICLE/TRANSMISSION FOR FORD NOT TO RECALL. !!!!!!!!! *TR
Official recalls
206V383000 · 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
2PE11018 · 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.