IllustrationAT ABOUT 26,000 MILES BEGAN HEARING METAL SOUNDS FROM REAR BRAKES WHEN STOPPING THE CAR. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ROTORS AND PADS WERE SHOT, AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SEVERAL INTERNET SEARCHES, I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE DESIGN. *JB
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
85 reportsNOTICED REAR BRAKE NOISE ON RIGHT REAR. AT 17,529 MILES, FORD DEALER CHECKED AND CLAIMED REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED REPLACING AT COST OF APPROX. $400. DEALER CLAIMS NO WARRANTED ITEMS RELATING TO REAR BRAKES ARE COVERED. HAVE BEEN DRIVING NEW FORD VEHICLES SINCE 1980 AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AT SUCH LOW MI…
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NOTICED REAR BRAKE NOISE ON RIGHT REAR. AT 17,529 MILES, FORD DEALER CHECKED AND CLAIMED REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED REPLACING AT COST OF APPROX. $400. DEALER CLAIMS NO WARRANTED ITEMS RELATING TO REAR BRAKES ARE COVERED. HAVE BEEN DRIVING NEW FORD VEHICLES SINCE 1980 AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE BEFORE. *JB
I TOOK MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WITH LESS THAN 15000 MILES IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $300.00 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IN WARRANTY. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BUT I COMPLAINED TO THE MANA…
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I TOOK MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WITH LESS THAN 15000 MILES IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $300.00 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IN WARRANTY. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BUT I COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION HE ADJUSTED THE BILL (THE MANAGER SAID ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH AN 05 FREESTYLE THE SAME WEEK). MY QUESTION IS HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THE REAR BRAKES GOING ON 2005 FREESTYLES? THERE VERY WELL COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE BRAKES. THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ALTHOUGH I DID ASK TO SEE THEM BUT DURING THE HEAT OF MY PROTEST I FORGOT ABOUT THE PARTS AND LEFT WHEN THE WORK WAS FINISHED. *NM
PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE BRAKES WORE OUT BY 20000 MILES, WHILE THE FRONT BRAKE ARE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. *NM
NOISE FROM REAR REPORTED TO DEALER AT 19,000 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKES WERE WORE TO THE METAL AND THAT BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT CAR MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WHICH IT WAS NOT. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SECOND OPINION, WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. DEALER…
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NOISE FROM REAR REPORTED TO DEALER AT 19,000 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKES WERE WORE TO THE METAL AND THAT BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT CAR MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WHICH IT WAS NOT. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SECOND OPINION, WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND FAULTY PART FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED WARRANTY WORK. HAD TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. *JB
A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT 16,410 MILES REVEALED THAT THE REAR BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE WERE SEVERELY WORN. THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE PADS WERE DANGEROUSLY THIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, REPAIR OF THE BRAKES BY THE DEALER OF PURCHASE ENTAILED NEW PADS AND RESURFACING OF THE ROTORS. PREMATURE WEAR AND POSSIBLE B…
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A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT 16,410 MILES REVEALED THAT THE REAR BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE WERE SEVERELY WORN. THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE PADS WERE DANGEROUSLY THIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, REPAIR OF THE BRAKES BY THE DEALER OF PURCHASE ENTAILED NEW PADS AND RESURFACING OF THE ROTORS. PREMATURE WEAR AND POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE IS OF CONCERN. I HAVE ASKED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (FORD) FOR ASSURANCES THAT PREMATURE WEAR WILL NOT REOCCUR AND NONE WAS PROVIDED. FURTHERMORE THEY PROVIDED NO REMEDY. *NM
REAR BRAKES FAILED AT 31,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE DOWN TO THE METAL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE. WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECKED THE CALIPERS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WERE NOT. AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD PR…
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REAR BRAKES FAILED AT 31,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE DOWN TO THE METAL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE. WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECKED THE CALIPERS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WERE NOT. AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD PROBLEMS, FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2005 FORD FREESTYLE . WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS REAR BRAKES WERE HEARD DRAGGING AND BRAKE DUST WAS ALL OVER REAR WHEEL. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO SPRAYED THE BRAKES WITH BRAKE CLEANER AND SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND." DROVE CAR FOR 20K MILES AS IS, RETURNED IT TO DEALER WITH BRAKE COMPLAINTS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM F…
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PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2005 FORD FREESTYLE . WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS REAR BRAKES WERE HEARD DRAGGING AND BRAKE DUST WAS ALL OVER REAR WHEEL. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO SPRAYED THE BRAKES WITH BRAKE CLEANER AND SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND." DROVE CAR FOR 20K MILES AS IS, RETURNED IT TO DEALER WITH BRAKE COMPLAINTS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AT 33K MILES, DEALER SAID PADS WERE METAL TO METAL AND ROTORS DAMAGED. DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. LOOKING AROUND THERE ARE AT LEAST 20 OTHER PEOPLE IN FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM REPORTING SAME ISSUES. MY UNDERLYING CONCERN IS PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE BALANCING SYSTEM IN THE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL COUPLED WITH ROUGH STOPS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 08/04/06. UPDATED. *TT
REAR BRAKE PADS FAILED AFTER 21264 MILES FRONT PADS WERE FINE FORD DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED WHILE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED BUT WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES. THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT SEEN IT BEFORE AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS AFTERNOON A VISITOR WITH A FREESTYLE STATED THAT AFTER 22,000 MILES THEY HAD T…
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REAR BRAKE PADS FAILED AFTER 21264 MILES FRONT PADS WERE FINE FORD DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED WHILE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED BUT WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES. THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT SEEN IT BEFORE AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS AFTERNOON A VISITOR WITH A FREESTYLE STATED THAT AFTER 22,000 MILES THEY HAD TO HAVE A REAR BRAKE JOB WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY. A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AUTOMOBILE SHOWED A SIMILAR FAILURE TO WHAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED. SINCE MOST BRAKING IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FRONT BRAKES THIS COULD BE AN INDICATION OF A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE 2005 FREESTYLE BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB
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.