NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
120 reportsClear category filter57,445 miles · Aug 7, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
RECENTLY, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN LUNGING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND YESTERDAY IT DID IT TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO BIG COUNTRY FORD AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TELL ME IT IS MY WATER-PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. THEY ALSO SAID MY MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN, WHICH WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FREESTYLES AND TAU…
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RECENTLY, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN LUNGING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND YESTERDAY IT DID IT TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO BIG COUNTRY FORD AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TELL ME IT IS MY WATER-PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. THEY ALSO SAID MY MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN, WHICH WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FREESTYLES AND TAURUS X MODELS. AS I READ ONLINE, THE LUNGING PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE COMMON WITH THESE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469581
48,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012
EnginePower Train
LUNGING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469382
57,000 miles · Aug 5, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR (2005 FORD FREESTYLE) WOULD NOT ACCELERATE/MAINTAIN SPEED AND QUICKLY DECELERATED AND HAD TO BE PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TRAVELING THE 3 HOURS LEFT IN THE 9 H…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR (2005 FORD FREESTYLE) WOULD NOT ACCELERATE/MAINTAIN SPEED AND QUICKLY DECELERATED AND HAD TO BE PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TRAVELING THE 3 HOURS LEFT IN THE 9 HOUR TRIP BACK HOME. THE FORD SERVICE SHOP SAID THE THROTTLE BODY ($900), AC COMPRESSOR ($1,300), AND TOP ENGINE MOUNT ($330) NEED TO BE REPLACED. BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING AND DANGEROUS THEME WITH THIS FORD VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469260
105,000 miles · Aug 5, 2012
EnginePower Train
I JUST RECENTLY HAD MY FREESTYLE(05)BECOME INCREASINGLY HORRIBLE LUNGING IN PARKING LOTS,DRIVE THRU'S,ETC. UPON READING ABOUT IT ON YOUR WEBSITE I REALIZED HOW MUCH OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE OCCURING FOR ALL THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. IT JUST RECENTLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE I JUST HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469236
89,000 miles · Aug 5, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control
FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. AFTER THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD THE DASHBOARD READOUT SAYS: "ENGINE FAILURE MODE". THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY JULY 6TH WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST LUNGED INTO SPEEDING TRAFFIC, AND MORE RECENTLY ON FRIDAY AUGUST 3RD WHILE AT A STOP SIGN…
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FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL. AFTER THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD THE DASHBOARD READOUT SAYS: "ENGINE FAILURE MODE". THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY JULY 6TH WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST LUNGED INTO SPEEDING TRAFFIC, AND MORE RECENTLY ON FRIDAY AUGUST 3RD WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THIS ISSUE COMES 18 MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AT 50,000 MILES AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $5,000. I WISH TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO THE NHTSA AS I AM SEEING MANY OTHER REPORTS FOR THIS VERY ISSUE REPORTED AND THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY RISK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469232
102,153 miles · Aug 2, 2012
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
1. PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, STEERING WAS TURNED SHARPLY AT THE TIME AND FOOT ON BRAKE 2. PULLING IN GARAGE AND VEHICLE SURGED WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469046
53,000 miles · Jul 29, 2012
Engine
WAITING IN LINE ON THE EXIT RAMP IN DALLAS. AC WAS ON. THE CAR STARTED SURGING FORWARD AND ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD TO KEEP FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED AC OFF AND LIMPED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF…
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WAITING IN LINE ON THE EXIT RAMP IN DALLAS. AC WAS ON. THE CAR STARTED SURGING FORWARD AND ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD TO KEEP FROM HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED AC OFF AND LIMPED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE UNITED AIRLINE CENTER. AFTER THE PROGRAM, WE MADE IT BACK TO OUR HOTEL WITH RUNNING THE AC. I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND AFTER READING SEVERAL CASES ON LINE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FREESTYLE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. IS THIS ISSUE BEING REVIEWED? *JS
NHTSA ODI #10468181
82,512 miles · Jul 29, 2012
EnginePower Train
MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES VIOLENTLY AFTER WARMING UP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE AND YOU COME TO A STOP. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL FEET AND WHEN YOU TRY TO BRAKE TO STOP THE FORWARD PROGRESS, IT USUALLY DIES AND GIVES THE "WRENCH" CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL YOU TURN …
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MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES VIOLENTLY AFTER WARMING UP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE AND YOU COME TO A STOP. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL FEET AND WHEN YOU TRY TO BRAKE TO STOP THE FORWARD PROGRESS, IT USUALLY DIES AND GIVES THE "WRENCH" CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL YOU TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON. IT DOES THIS MOSTLY DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER. RARELY THROUGH THE COOL OR COLD WEATHER. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10468180
135,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
WHEN CAR IS STOPPED, TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, FOOT USUALLY ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD FOR 2 -3 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE AND HAVE TO THIS POINT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE DAMAGE OR INJURY HAS OCCURRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10467895
67,000 miles · Jul 26, 2012
EnginePower Train
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "SURGING" PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE AND THE ENGINE SURGED AND LURCHED BACKWARDS INTO THE DRIVING AREA. I PUT IT INTO PARK AND NOTICED THE ENGINE RPMS GOING UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF STAYING CONSTANT WHILE IDLI…
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I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "SURGING" PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE AND THE ENGINE SURGED AND LURCHED BACKWARDS INTO THE DRIVING AREA. I PUT IT INTO PARK AND NOTICED THE ENGINE RPMS GOING UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF STAYING CONSTANT WHILE IDLING, THEN IT EVENED OUT. I TRIED AGAIN AND THE CAR SURGED AGAIN (I WAS READY FOR IT THIS TIME AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN) AND WAS ABLE TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE AND DRIVE NORMALLY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS, BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN DOING IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10467772
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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