Illustration2005 FORD FREESTYLE WILL ACCELERATE AND USUALLY STALL. THE CAR HIT THE GARAGE HITTING A PERSON AND BREAKING THE SIDE MIRROR. *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
What owners actually said
1,459 reportsSUDDEN ACCELERATION AT SLOW SPEED BOTH IN FORWARD AND REVERSE. WORSE WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ALREADY RAN INTO CART CORRAL AT GROCERY STORE WHEN CAR LURCHED FORWARD. NO DAMAGE. *TR
VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARDS OR SPEEDS UP WHILE SLOWING DOWN (AT STOP SIGNS, GOING INTO GARAGE ETC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE FAILED SAFE MODE MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE FAILED SAFE MODE MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN THEN REPLACED THE FUEL AND AIR FILTERS AS A TEMPORARY FIX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD OR IN REVERSE WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE CODE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD OR IN REVERSE WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE CODE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,432.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I RECEIVED ERROR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD RANGING FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO CRITICAL ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF ERROR CODES THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEARED OUT. HE SAID THIS WAS COMMON AND HAPPENS EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS. I PAID THE MONEY, HAD THE ERROR M…
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ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I RECEIVED ERROR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD RANGING FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO CRITICAL ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF ERROR CODES THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEARED OUT. HE SAID THIS WAS COMMON AND HAPPENS EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS. I PAID THE MONEY, HAD THE ERROR MESSAGES / COMPUTER CHIP RESET, AND WENT ON MY WAY. DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, MY CAR WILL SURGE WHILE I'M TEMPORARILY STOPPED (AT A STOP LIGHT, DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW, ETC), AND THE ENGINE DIES ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. THE CAR WILL LUNGE 3 TO 5 FEET AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK AND BEFORE I CAN TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL. IT IS EXTREMELY UNNERVING, IT HAS BEEN VERY HOT IN ARKANSAS DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS (TEMPS IN THE HIGH 90S / LOW 100S) AND MY AIR CONDITIONER IS ON WHILE THIS HAPPENS. IT APPEARS FROM SIMILAR COMMENTS POSTED, I HAVE A THROTTLE BODY THAT IS FAILING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL AND UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING SYMBOL. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL AND UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING SYMBOL. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE, BUT MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND SOMETIMES GOES INTO "EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN" MODE AND TURNS OFF. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE OR I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTYLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE), THIS SEEMS TO BE ALIGNED WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE11018. THE ENGINE WILL REV WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND WILL LURCH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GEAR THAT IT WAS PLACED IN. THIS IS NOT DUE TO THE DRIV…
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2005 FORD FREESTYLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE), THIS SEEMS TO BE ALIGNED WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE11018. THE ENGINE WILL REV WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND WILL LURCH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GEAR THAT IT WAS PLACED IN. THIS IS NOT DUE TO THE DRIVER INADVERTENTLY PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BRAKE. THE DRIVER HAS TO FIRMLY PRESS ON THE BRAKES TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING. IF THE BRAKE IS ONLY PRESSED JUST ENOUGH TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY MOVE 3-4 FEET. THE HAPPENS SPORADICALLY BUT DOES OCCUR AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES A WEEK.
I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. I OFTEN EXPERIENCE A SURGE IN MY VEHICLES ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN I HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF AND JUST AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. TODAY I NEARLY RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN AFTER SHIFTING MY CAR INTO GEAR, AND SO I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM WHEN I G…
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I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. I OFTEN EXPERIENCE A SURGE IN MY VEHICLES ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN I HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF AND JUST AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. TODAY I NEARLY RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN AFTER SHIFTING MY CAR INTO GEAR, AND SO I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME. I SEE THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FREESTYLE. PLEASE DEMAND A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *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.