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
What owners actually said
1,459 reports
79,100 miles · Jun 10, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE ON OUT OF STATE VACATION, OUR 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WAS IDLING IN PARK WITH THE AC RUNNING. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED QUICKLY (UNINTENDED) WITH NO INPUT AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR, THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, IT IDLED ROUGHLY FOR A MINUTE AND THEN RAN OK. THIS TY…
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WHILE ON OUT OF STATE VACATION, OUR 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WAS IDLING IN PARK WITH THE AC RUNNING. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED QUICKLY (UNINTENDED) WITH NO INPUT AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR, THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, IT IDLED ROUGHLY FOR A MINUTE AND THEN RAN OK. THIS TYPE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS RANDOMLY OCCURRED 6 TIMES TOTAL WITHIN A PERIOD OF ONE WEEK. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE ENGINE DIED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WE DROVE THE CAR TO AN AUTOPARTS STORE WHERE THE CODES WERE READ. THE CODES WERE P2106 & P061B. WHEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED, THE WRENCH LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND DESCRIBED THE EVENTS IN DETAIL. THE FORD DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT NO CODES WERE DETECTED. THEY SAID WE NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. THEY CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BECAUSE OF A TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD (TSB 06-21-1). THE CAR HAS 79,857 MILES SO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE THROTTLE BODY. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUT THEIR ONLY COMMENT WAS THAT IS WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. WE HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER PARTY WHO HAS HAD THE SAME OCCURANCE WITH THEIR FREESTYLE. THEIR THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAS ONCE AGAIN STARTED THE UNATTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL POSTS ON INTERNET FORUMS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODIES HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AND THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY RESULT IN A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK. OUR CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY IS STILL INTACT ON THE CAR. THE CAR IS ALSO VERY SLOW TO DECELERATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335753
80,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE SURGES IN HOT WEATHER. THROTTLE GETS STUCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335487
75,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
2005 FORD FREESTYLE, CAR HAS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN PLACING CAR IN REVERSE AND/OR DRIVE. CAR INSPECTED AT FORD GARAGE. NOTHING REPORTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335409
65,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Power Train
MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES WHEN PUT INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335068
77,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335052
20,000 miles · Jun 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTENTLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE SLIGHTLY REVVED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR, SPONTANEOUSLY AND WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIFTY TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTENTLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE SLIGHTLY REVVED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR, SPONTANEOUSLY AND WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIFTY TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE FAILURE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN WHICH THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. ALSO, THE ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10334469
Mileage unknown · May 26, 2010
Power Train
CAR EXPERIENCES SUDDEN SURGES AND ACCELERATION WHEN IDLING (IN FORWARD OR REVERSE), AND WILL SUDDENLY DROP INTO FAILSAFE MODE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REQUIRING TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT SPEED. CAR DROPS INTO FAILSAFE AND WILL NOT RESET - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. HAVE REPLACED AND CLEANED AIR FILTER,…
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CAR EXPERIENCES SUDDEN SURGES AND ACCELERATION WHEN IDLING (IN FORWARD OR REVERSE), AND WILL SUDDENLY DROP INTO FAILSAFE MODE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REQUIRING TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT SPEED. CAR DROPS INTO FAILSAFE AND WILL NOT RESET - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. HAVE REPLACED AND CLEANED AIR FILTER, AIR INTAKE, MAF SENSOR. SUSPECT THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT NEEDED, BUT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER OF FORD THROTTLE BODIES HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND FORD HAS FAILED TO IDENTIFY OR PROVIDE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332433
79,000 miles · May 25, 2010
Power Train
LOUD NOISES COMING FROM CAR, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION DAYS PRIOR TO DRIVING TO WORK. DRIVING TO WORK CAR TURNS OFF AND COMES TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION. CAN START CAR BUT CAN'T MOVE IT. CAR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAVING CAR LOOKED AT BY DEALER. READING MESSAGE BOARDS AND FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE …
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LOUD NOISES COMING FROM CAR, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION DAYS PRIOR TO DRIVING TO WORK. DRIVING TO WORK CAR TURNS OFF AND COMES TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION. CAN START CAR BUT CAN'T MOVE IT. CAR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HAVING CAR LOOKED AT BY DEALER. READING MESSAGE BOARDS AND FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY, NO WAIT LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. PEOPLE BEING TOLD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS ONLY TO HAVE THEM REPEATEDLY BREAK MULTIPLE TIMES. MAKE: FORD MODEL: FREESTYLE TRANSMISSION: CVT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332270
92,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Suspension
2005 FORD FREESTYLE...LOWER RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM FAILED AT FRAME ATTACHMENT BRACKET...NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL AT LOW SPEED...HAD FAILURE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331978
70,719 miles · May 21, 2010
Electrical System
ELECTRICAL GROUND CONNECTION FAILURE 2ND REPAIR WITHIN 70,000. *TR
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.
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
2
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
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.
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