NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,459 reportsMileage unknown · May 24, 2007
Tires
MY '05 FORD FREESTYLE AWD SHOWED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR AT 10,000 MILES, DEALER DID A REALIGNMENT AT N/C. TIRES ROTATED AS RECOMMENDED. AT 22000 TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN. FORD DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. DEALER UNABLE/UNWILLING TO ASSIST. TIRES BEING REPLACED TOMORROW WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE LINE, TIRE PEOPLE WILL EXAMINE THESE CO…
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MY '05 FORD FREESTYLE AWD SHOWED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR AT 10,000 MILES, DEALER DID A REALIGNMENT AT N/C. TIRES ROTATED AS RECOMMENDED. AT 22000 TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN. FORD DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. DEALER UNABLE/UNWILLING TO ASSIST. TIRES BEING REPLACED TOMORROW WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE LINE, TIRE PEOPLE WILL EXAMINE THESE CONTINENTALS FOR DEFECTS/EXPLANATION OF PREMATURE WEAR, BUT I DON'T EXPECT ANY RECOMPENSE. I'LL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #10191652
8,000 miles · May 21, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES GET VERY HOT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND SMELL LIKE THE PADS ARE BURNING. ALSO, A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST COVERS THE REAR WHEELS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191374
19,300 miles · May 17, 2007
Tires
I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTACT TOURING TIRES, 215-65-17 - CT95. THE FOUR TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT WITH 19,000 MILES. CONTINENTAL STATED THERE WAS NO TREAD LIFE WARRANTY FOR THESE TIRES. FORD INSISTED THIS WAS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY CONT…
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I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTACT TOURING TIRES, 215-65-17 - CT95. THE FOUR TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT WITH 19,000 MILES. CONTINENTAL STATED THERE WAS NO TREAD LIFE WARRANTY FOR THESE TIRES. FORD INSISTED THIS WAS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY CONTINENTAL. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THOSE TIRES OVER THE INTERNET. IT SEEMED THERE WAS A DESIGN OR QUALITY PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191037
37,434 miles · May 17, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2005 FORD FREESTYLE - I WAS TOLD THE REAR BRAKES NEED ED TO BE REPLACED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ANOTHER OWNER WITH ONLY 24,000 MILES WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME I WAS. THIS WAS NOT DRIVER RELATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191000
7,000 miles · May 15, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, ROTOR, AND REAR BRAKE PADS. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME ON APRIL 14, 2007 WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $80 A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, ROTOR, AND REAR BRAKE PADS. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME ON APRIL 14, 2007 WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $80 AND THE VEHICLE HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
NHTSA ODI #10190811
17,500 miles · May 10, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDED DOWN TO THE ROTOR. FORD STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND IS NOT TAKING ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE ALSO WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDED DOWN TO THE ROTOR. FORD STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND IS NOT TAKING ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE ALSO WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 18,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10190432
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
23,200 miles · May 4, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HAVE A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 23,200 MILES WHEN A DRAGGING SOUND CAME FROM THE REAR BRAKES - BY THIS TIME IT WAS TO LATE. REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $353.00. WE QUESTIONED THAT THIS SEEMED PREMATURE - WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS NORMAL, THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE OTHER …
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HAVE A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 23,200 MILES WHEN A DRAGGING SOUND CAME FROM THE REAR BRAKES - BY THIS TIME IT WAS TO LATE. REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $353.00. WE QUESTIONED THAT THIS SEEMED PREMATURE - WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS NORMAL, THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS - I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189801
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2007
Electrical SystemStructure
2005 FORD FREESTYLE IS HAVING INTERMITTENT DASH BOARD PROBLEMS. GAUGES ON DIGITAL DASHBOARD WILL GO TO ZERO FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW ZERO EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189778
31,828 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WE TOOK ARE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK . THE CAR HAD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF CAR. FORD SAY THE BRAKES ARE DOWN TO METAL TO METAL . THE CAR HAS 31614 MILE ON IT THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SAYS THEY ONLY WARRANTY BRAKES FOR 12 MONTHS. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE BRAKE C…
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WE TOOK ARE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK . THE CAR HAD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF CAR. FORD SAY THE BRAKES ARE DOWN TO METAL TO METAL . THE CAR HAS 31614 MILE ON IT THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SAYS THEY ONLY WARRANTY BRAKES FOR 12 MONTHS. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE REAR BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD ALSO I HAVE HAD THE CAR 16 MONTHS AND DRIVEN THE CAR 26119 MILES. FORD HAS HAD TO TSB ON THIS THE FIRST ONE IS 06-22-17 THE LAST ONE 07-5-9. REAR BRAKES DRAG , NOISE,DUST, AND/OR PREMATURE PAD WEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAD NO BRAKE LEFT ON THE REAR OF THIS CAR . METAL TO METAL. I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT FORD I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH THEM THREE TIME WITH NO HELP . *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189138
Official recalls
2Oct 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.
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.
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