IllustrationMY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE LTD/ HAS EXPERIENCED IDLE SURGES SEVERAL TIMES IN PAST 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE MOST RECENT OCCURANCE ON 7-15-2011. *TT
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 09/07/11 UPDATED 3/08/2012 *LN
OUR A/C COMPRESSOR RECENTLY WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS WAS ONE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FREESTYLES; THE SECOND BEING A LUNGING OR LURCHING PROBLEM THAT INVOLVES THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THIS ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEE…
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OUR A/C COMPRESSOR RECENTLY WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS WAS ONE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FREESTYLES; THE SECOND BEING A LUNGING OR LURCHING PROBLEM THAT INVOLVES THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THIS ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COMPRESSOR (OR THE THROTTLE BODY), BUT THAT THESE WERE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE FREESTYLE. INTERESTINGLY, THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXERACERBATED BY THE A/C, AND I VIRTUALLY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH LURCHING AND LUNGING UNTIL THE COMPRESSOR AND OTHER RELATED COOLING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME, THE LUNGING STARTED AGAIN WITH A VENGENCE. THESE ISSUES SEEM TO BE RELATED AND COSTLY TO REPAIR. *TT
2005 FORD FREESTYLE - WHEN FIRST PUTTING MY CAR INTO GEAR, EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE CAR LUNGES OR "REVS" UP AS IF IT IS GOING TO TAKE OFF. PLACING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF OR ON LOW SEEMS TO HELP SOMEWHAT. IN AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS GONE INTO AN "ENGINE SAFE MODE" AND HAS STOPPED …
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2005 FORD FREESTYLE - WHEN FIRST PUTTING MY CAR INTO GEAR, EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE CAR LUNGES OR "REVS" UP AS IF IT IS GOING TO TAKE OFF. PLACING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF OR ON LOW SEEMS TO HELP SOMEWHAT. IN AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS GONE INTO AN "ENGINE SAFE MODE" AND HAS STOPPED COMPLETELY. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A NOT SO CROWDED PARKING LOT AT THE TIME. WE RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRETY WHICH HAS MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD, AND WHILE TURNING TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND FIRE HYDRANT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT YET REPAIRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD, AND WHILE TURNING TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND FIRE HYDRANT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE VEHICLE PERIODICALLY LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, FROM PARK TO DRIVE, REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO REVERSE. WHEN THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURS THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS ISSUE OCCURS ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGING THE VEHICLE LUNGES SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT HAVING FOOT APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, AT LOW SPEEDS. THE RPM INDICATOR CLIMBS HIGH WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING. THE ONLY SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE KEEPING FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRAVELING AT IDLE SPEEDS…
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2005 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGING THE VEHICLE LUNGES SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT HAVING FOOT APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, AT LOW SPEEDS. THE RPM INDICATOR CLIMBS HIGH WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING. THE ONLY SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE KEEPING FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRAVELING AT IDLE SPEEDS. THIS LUNGING EFFECT HAS RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LURCHING AT LOW SPEEDS & AT IDLE. IT IS OCCURRING WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE HARD TO PREVENT THE LURCH FROM HITTING ANYTHING. IT IS ALSO LURCHING WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO A…
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THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LURCHING AT LOW SPEEDS & AT IDLE. IT IS OCCURRING WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE HARD TO PREVENT THE LURCH FROM HITTING ANYTHING. IT IS ALSO LURCHING WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO FREESTYLE OWNERS. MOST FORUMS INDICATE THAT IT IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE & THAT IT CAN EITHER BE CLEANED OR REPAIRED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE REGARDING THIS ISSUE & I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY. IF THE CAR WERE TO LURCH INTO AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT OR POSSIBLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE POSSIBILITY OF HITTING A PEDESTRIAN IN A PARKING LOT AND CRASHING INTO OUR GARAGE. *TR
1- THE ENGINE CRADLE TOTALLY RUSTED OUT REPLACEMENT EST. 3,000.00 . DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED 2-THE HOOD IS PITTED DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED EST.1000.00 3- RADIATOR COOLANT TUBE MADE FROM STEEL RUSTED OUT AND COOLANT LEAKED . EST 250.00 4-DOOR LATCHES FAIL IN COLD WEATHER DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED .DEALER SAYS ITS BEEN FIXED UN…
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1- THE ENGINE CRADLE TOTALLY RUSTED OUT REPLACEMENT EST. 3,000.00 . DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED 2-THE HOOD IS PITTED DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED EST.1000.00 3- RADIATOR COOLANT TUBE MADE FROM STEEL RUSTED OUT AND COOLANT LEAKED . EST 250.00 4-DOOR LATCHES FAIL IN COLD WEATHER DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED .DEALER SAYS ITS BEEN FIXED UNDER RECALL .ITS STILL A PROBLEM .
THE VEHICLE WILL SLIGHTLY ACCELARATE (OR LUNGE) WHEN IDLING AND FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND/OR AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TT
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.