10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,574 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Ford Freestyle electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Ford Freestyle Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #82

Sep 012013

Freestyle

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The dash turned off. All of the dash components are not working including the mileage, speedometer, gas, oil, turn signals etc. It is not safe to drive. It fails several times during the day and at night keeping me guessing if I am driving the speed limit or not and if my turn signals are working. The airbag safety light also is not working, flashing on and off keeping me wondering if I have any safety at all. This problem is not just happening with my car but others in my year and make. It is not safe for the driver, passenger, and other cars on the road. This needs to be fixed. As of now, the bug has not fixed itself. The electronics have been off for a full day and I am worried they won't turn back on. Please do some further work on this problem. Thank you.

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #81

Nov 112013

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
I have a 2005 sel Freestyle with about 130K miles on it. This morning while driving to work with speed of 55mph all of a sudden the ABS and AWD lights came on and the message center displayed "check traction control" and "AWD malfunction", then entire panel went dark (RPM, gas, oil, speed and odometer). I noticed that the gauges were making a ticking noise at that time as well. I pulled off the main hwy and shut car off, I then tried to restart the car. All of the gauges lit up again, but car would not start, acted like battery/alternator was shot. Had to get it towed home and was late to work. Not sure where to start to solve the issue, have seen too many posts with the same issues. I think that Ford needs to step up and take the appropriate steps to recall these vehicles before fatalities begin.

- Lancaster, WI, USA

problem #80

Nov 062013

Freestyle

  • 96,000 miles
Gauges bottom out occasionally and the lights on the gauges will also go out for a few seconds. I googled this and found several forums and articles where others have run into this. A defect/short in the gauge cluster. To date though the NHTSA or Ford have not done anything. Driving at 50mph and at night time has to be considered a dangerous situation for myself and others.

- Marysville, OH, USA

problem #79

Oct 132013

Freestyle

  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have had this car for over two years now. In those two years our instrument cluster has been replaced by the Ford dealer 4 times now. When driving the instrument cluster goes off and sends fuel shutoff codes to the fuel system which causes the vehicle to shake. Other items replaced were the onboard computer and alternator. The computer has been reprogrammed once, but no help. I have seen the technical release for this issue, but this has been a huge safety concern for my family. When the car starts to shake and you are doing 65/70 mph it could cause an accident.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #78

Jul 102013

Freestyle

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, all of the gauges failed as the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.

- New Berry, SC, USA

problem #77

Jul 022013

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 130,450 miles
I took my car in to be serviced for maintenance (power steering service and transmission service) to the Ford dealership in thomasville, ga. After a few days my 2005 Ford Freestyle started to display transmission data error, check track control, and check engine lights. I called the company and was advised to bring it in and I did. The alerts were not on at the time but the service man jerry and josh told me they would check my vehicle and let me know what - if anything was wrong. They kept it all day and when I returned to pick it up I was informed that it was fine and they re-serviced my transmission. About two weeks later my car started the same thing all over again while in traffic it seemed not to want to pull off normally with all these alerts lighting up after church one Sunday. I called Ford of course they were closed but the next day was Monday I called and was asked to bring the car back in. This time once it started to do the same things jumping in gear and knocking hard this time the service man who answered my call says they are looking for a transmission and advised me that Ford would pay for half the work and parts. I asked if they didn't cause it why would you offer to pay half. The last time they got my Ford Freestyle they gave me a borrowed vehicle and told my husband 4 days later that the car has electrical problems that they will pay none of the repair. I was told twice my car was fine now my husband just got a new job and no way to get to it because I believe Ford damaged my vehicle and refuses to right their wrong. What can I do now?

- Ochlocknee, GA, USA

problem #76

Apr 012013

Freestyle

  • 122,946 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving approximately 50 mph, the entire instrument panel began to fluctuate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing where they stated the instrument cluster would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate mileage was 122,946.

- Ossining, NY, USA

problem #75

Jan 112012

Freestyle

  • 55,000 miles
The first incident my fuel gauge is off & producing incorrect data of gas remaining in car & driver window would roll up and down when trying to just roll it up. I took the car back to the dealership they did not fix the issue. Another incident I was on the highway and the stalled while driving. Third incident I was at a stop light with my 5 year old daughter in the car, all of a sudden the car made a loud revving up noise then shot us forward into oncoming traffic. I was barely able to back up before the cars reached us. Another time I was driving with my daughter taking her to daycare then going to work and we were going through a school zone. We stopped at a stop sign and there was a family with 3 children crossing and the car shot us forward again and we almost hit the family. Several times when picking up my daughter I would put the car in reverse and my foot was on the brake pedal still all of a sudden the car shot us back into the cars behind us. This car is very unsafe. I fear for the safety of others and my daughters and my life when getting into this car. Ford should recall this vehicle and replace it with a new car. People shouldn't be at risk for this.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #74

Sep 192012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
While maneuvering my vehicle in a small space (forward, reverse, turning the wheel) the car began to surge and lunge (has occurred before, but mostly in reverse.) there was loud whining when I turned the steering wheel (that began recently and is almost constant.) the engine began to rev loudly, the car trying to lunge even with the brake applied. I reversed the car several feet from the road for fear it would lunge into traffic. The engine light (1st time ever) and the wrench symbol came on. Car went into limp mode, would not accelerate or exceed 30mph. (4th or 5th time this has happened in the one year I've owned the car.) diagnostic codes given by autozone on 9/19/12: P2106 (throttle actuator control system) & P061B (internal control module torque calculation performance error.) upon restart, engine light off. Dealer was contacted, and on 9/26/12 I drove the car to repair shop. They said smart junction box melted, must replace (electronic chassis control module )before doing repairs to the throttle body, cvt and suddenly non-working A/C (was working prior). No repairs have been made to the vehicle as the dealership (not Ford) refuses to honor the 36,000ml warranty with car. Recent problems prior to 9/26/12:*highway driving (55+mph/sometimes using cruise) car revs high rpms/will not accelerate at all/resumes later*sputters/stalls/loses power when slowing/stopping (it does restart) instrument panel brightens/dims*power locks malfunctioning (unlock function works with fob only) often while driving car locks/unlocks continuously/car randomly unlocks after being parked/turned off player not working/displayed error code/2 month later working again*security system function inconsistent/disables randomly*gears not engaging right away, then a loud noise and car surges/lunges into drive/reverse* lunging (mostly reverse) and surge/lunge when in drive/brake applied.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #73

Jan 142007

Freestyle

  • miles
I've had problems with this vehicle numerous times over the past few years. I filed a complaint on here once but do not remember the dates or the username/password I used. This vehicle is the worst car I have ever owned. I've sunk thousands into repairs in the last couple of years. I've had instrument cluster replaced 4 times, replaced engine mounts, my A/C compressor went out on it, throttle body replaced. And now it sits on blocks we thought was the fuel pump went out so replaced it. Didn't do any good. Not sure what it is the instrument cluster still doesn't work correctly, it was surging til the day the other day when it just wont go anymore, it will start and run but won't go. I was told it could be numerous things, throttle body again, instrument cluster still not right, might be my transmission, could be my pedal throttle sensor, fuel switch out..........so what do I do nickel and penny everything I have into a lemon that obviously the NHTSA nor Ford care about. I'm a single mother with two children, we live 7 miles from town...and now I have no transportation. I bought this vehicle in 2005 and paid quite a bit for it. Its like toilet paper or diapers....disposable! I will never purchase a Ford again.

- Cherokee Village , AR, USA

problem #72

Oct 102012

Freestyle

  • 88,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The failure recurred intermittently as the contact drove at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer advised that the computer had to be reset. After the repair the failure continued. The check engine warning light was also illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

- Gap, PA, USA

problem #71

Oct 242012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Engine sputter then failure. Then computer error states, fail safe engine mode. Diagnostic reveals throttle body failure. Common problem according to service department recall pending, why won't U act. Web full of this complaint.

- Keres, KY, USA

problem #70

Oct 242012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Engine sputter then failure. Then computer error states, fail safe engine mode. Diagnostic reveals throttle body failure. Common problem according to service department recall pending, why won't U act. Web full of this complaint.

- Berea, KY, USA

problem #69

Oct 152012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • miles
My instrument panel started going out while I was driving down the highway one night and it caused my reverse lights to flash on and off. This is a problem that Ford knows about and it is a problem due to faulty solder joints on the back of the instrument panel, there is a tsb for this, but there is no recall on this why? this problem has also led to my transmission going out again, and Ford will do nothing about any of it. I am not the only one who has had this problem either there are tons of owners of this car that have had these issues. Ford needs to be held accountable for these issues that are a result of faulty manufacturing. We are a hard working family and we spent everything we had replacing the transmission in our car six months ago, and our warranty was up seven days before our transmission went out and now thanks to the faulty instrument panel doing whatever it was doing to the computer when it was cutting in and out it has tore my almost $4000 transmission up and now I have no car to haul all of my children around in. I also contacted Ford via email and the response I got was save your receipts in case of a recall or a forgiveness program is started up.

- Carlisle, IN, USA

problem #68

Jul 162012

Freestyle

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact decelerated to 40 mph as the vehicle began to lunge forward abnormally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who stated that the transmission would need to be replaced again however, they did not have the necessary parts to complete the repair. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission was rebuilt however, the failure recurred. The contact was informed that there was an electrical problem that was causing the recurring transmission failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.

- Ligonier, PA, USA

problem #67

Apr 012011

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
The vehicle unexpectedly surges when turning into a parking space or sitting at drive through. Also having issues with engine dying when reversing.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #66

Jun 292012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 131,000 miles
I was backing up out of a parking spot very slowly and the car surged backward about a foot, I was able to depress the brake and stop it. The fail safe mode then engaged. I turned the car off and sat for a couple minutes and restarted it and started backing out. The same thing happened again, the surge backward and the failsafe mode engaged. I once again stopped and turned off the engine and sat for about 15 minutes. When I restarted the car the check engine light was on but I was able to back out of the parking space all right, and the failsafe mode did not come back on. It was an extremely hot 100 degrees day, and the A/C was on. This is extremely scary. I could have hit someone.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #65

Apr 012011

Freestyle

  • 100,000 miles
When parking, driving very slow (under 10mph) or backing up my car lunges forward with surge of power and foot on brake not gas. Sometimes it dies and gave error code engine failsafe mode. Worse when acon, don't remember it being an issue in the winter. Took to dobbs and was told it was my throttle body and my computer would need reset. Cleaned throttle body to see if that would correct issue. Improved, but did not correct. Very scary and dangerous in traffic, approaching stop signs, especially if pedestrians nearby. Fear could lunge at them.

- Crystal City, MO, USA

problem #64

Jun 132012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 104,500 miles
Car lost power at 35-40 mph for just a few seconds. Many instances of lunging in forward and reverse. Frightening to drive in parking lots.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #63

Mar 012012

Freestyle 6-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
I owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The instrument cluster sporadically shuts down and you are unable to see the speedometer, odometer or any gauges on the dashboard for about 10 seconds. The problem recurs several times a day. The answer I have received is that my car is receiving a surge of energy causing this malfunction. My vehicle has completely shorted out at this point and my lights on the inside of the vehicle and dashboard flicker, but the motor is not attempting to start. Hoping it is a blown fuse but maybe the alternator.

- Memphis, TN, USA

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