IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *TR
2007 Ford Freestyle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 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
320–25K
14125–50K
29550–75K
18775–100K
121100–150K
33150K+
809 reports with mileage · 84 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 428 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 360 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
360 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY CAR LUNGES WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE FROM PARK AND ALSO WHEN I GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE LUNGE IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO HIT A NEARBY VEHICLE. *TR
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING RECENTLY. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND MY MECHANIC JUST TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WHICH COSTS APPRO…
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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING RECENTLY. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND MY MECHANIC JUST TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WHICH COSTS APPROXIMATELY $6,000.00 TO REPLACE. I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AS WELL. *TR
12/10/09 MILEAGE: 35,621 DEALER SERVICE FOR RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE ON COLD START UP, DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, BUT WAS LIKELY THE TRANSMISSION AS SAME NOISE WAS LATER HEARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. 12/08/11 MILEAGE: 53,401 DEALER SERVICE FOR NOISE IN ENGINE AT IDLE - MUCH WORSE WHEN COLD, DIAGNOS…
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12/10/09 MILEAGE: 35,621 DEALER SERVICE FOR RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE ON COLD START UP, DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, BUT WAS LIKELY THE TRANSMISSION AS SAME NOISE WAS LATER HEARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. 12/08/11 MILEAGE: 53,401 DEALER SERVICE FOR NOISE IN ENGINE AT IDLE - MUCH WORSE WHEN COLD, DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER REMOVED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FOUND INPUT SHAFT BEARING SCORES AND INPUT SHAFT SCORED. DIFFERENTIAL SHAFT SPLINES WORN DOWN AND SPLINES ON PTU WORN DOWN AND SEIZED TOGETHER. TRANSMISSION WAS THEN REPLACED WITH REBUILT UNIT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THIS CAR 3/28/12 MILEAGE: 55,234 DEALER SERVICE FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE IN TRANSMISSION, DESCRIBED AS A GROWL. DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION CONCERN AND NOISE WAS VERIFIED. WERE ASKED TO RETURN UNIT TO DEALER AT LATER TIME FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS 4/2/12 MILEAGE: 55,338 DEALER SERVICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, CORRECTED BY INSTALLING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THIS CAR. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT REBUILT TRANSMISSION CARRIED A ONE YEAR WARRANTY 7/1/13 MILEAGE: 63,301 WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET, VEHICLE PRODUCED LOUD CLUNK SOUND AFTER WHICH IT WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUTS. VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP. FORTUNATELY, STREET WAS EMPTY. TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERABLE, AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN ANY GEAR UNDER ITS POWER. VEHICLE COASTED IN ANY GEAR, INDICATING THAT FINAL DRIVE LINE WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED THAT A 4TH TRANSMISSION AND REPLACEMENT OIL COOLER WERE NEEDED FOR $6,900. DURING THE DIAGNOSIS, FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP HAD TO DRAG IT OUT OF SERVICE BAY. *TR
THE ENGINE REVS UP & THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, EVEN WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE HAS EVEN REVVED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN PARK IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE TO MAKE WEEKLY TRIPS OF 300+ MILES DUE TO MY CHILD'S MEDICAL CONDITION. I AM STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP A LITTLE WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. OCCASIONALLY, THE SAME LITTLE LURCH WOULD HAPPEN AT A STOPLIGHT. TODAY, WHILE STOPPED AT IDLE THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY REVVED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED…
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OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP A LITTLE WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. OCCASIONALLY, THE SAME LITTLE LURCH WOULD HAPPEN AT A STOPLIGHT. TODAY, WHILE STOPPED AT IDLE THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY REVVED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. SHORTLY AFTER, A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED, BUT NOT AS PRONOUNCED AS THE PREVIOUS EVENT. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE SEEMED TO HAVE DEGRADED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DESCENDING A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DESCENDING A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SLAMMED INTO A LOW GEAR. WRENCH LIGHTS AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. DEALER SAYS PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO FIX AND I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. ($7000). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND A VIOLENT JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED LARGE FRAGMENTS EMITTING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITH FLUID LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND A VIOLENT JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED LARGE FRAGMENTS EMITTING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITH FLUID LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO