IllustrationRPM SURGE WHILE PARKING. WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR LUNGES. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, CAR HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO LUNGE. MOST ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE AC WAS RUNNING AND WHEEL WAS SHARPLY TURNED. *TR
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
587 reportsFIRST INCIDENT, 35 MPH DRIVING, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE CUTS OUT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, LOSS OF ACCELERATION ABILITY. HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART. HARD TO RESTART FOR A MOMENT. CONTINUES TO HAPPEN MORE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (55 MPH AND 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE). ALSO, LUNGES WHILE FOOT IS ON BRAKE, FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING IF…
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FIRST INCIDENT, 35 MPH DRIVING, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE CUTS OUT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, LOSS OF ACCELERATION ABILITY. HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART. HARD TO RESTART FOR A MOMENT. CONTINUES TO HAPPEN MORE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (55 MPH AND 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE). ALSO, LUNGES WHILE FOOT IS ON BRAKE, FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING IF IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. RESEARCHED ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, SO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND BEHAVIOR DIMINISHED FOR A WEEK OR TWO. CONTEMPLATING REPLACING THROTTLE BODY OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA SEATING FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND IT HAS HAPPENED THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SO NOW ITS NOT TRUSTWORTHY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR
MY CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD SUDDENLY WHEN PUT INTO PARK, AND SOMETIMES REVERSE AND MOSTLY DRIVE. SCARY. *TR
AT LOW SPEEDS WITH THE A/C ON, THE VEHICLE LUNGES FOWARD (WHILE IN DRIVE) OR BACKWARD (WHILE IN REVERSE). THIS IS NOTICED MOST WHEN PULLING IN OR OUT OF A GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE. *TR
FOR QUITE SOME TIME, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES AND WILL STALL WHEN OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING, AND BACKING UP) WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. IT EITHER LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS (IF IN REVERSE), THEN STALLS AND GOES INTO FAILSAFE MODE. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING. THE CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS. NOW IT'S HAPPENING WHEN IDLING A…
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FOR QUITE SOME TIME, MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES AND WILL STALL WHEN OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING, AND BACKING UP) WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. IT EITHER LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS (IF IN REVERSE), THEN STALLS AND GOES INTO FAILSAFE MODE. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING. THE CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS. NOW IT'S HAPPENING WHEN IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS OR IN TRAFFIC WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON...WHICH IS GREAT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN FLORIDA WHEN IT'S 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE...HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE I CAN'T DRIVE WITH AIR ON OR CAR WILL STALL IS HIGHLY ANNOYING. WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE CAR HAS 147K MILES ON IT (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) AND I LOVE MY CAR. THE LUNGING IS SCARY THOUGH. I'M HAVING TO LOOK FOR PARKING SPACES WITH LIMITED NEIGHBORS SO WE DON'T LUNGE INTO ANOTHER CAR. *TR
ON 9/5/2012, WAS SITTING IN DRIVE THRU AT MCDONALD'S. WHEN I PICKED MY FOOT UP OFF THE BRAKE TO EASE FORWARD, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I QUICKLY STEP ON THE BRAKES HARD, BUT EACH TIME I TRIED TO EASE FORWARD THIS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. LUCKILY, I WAS FAR ENOUGH BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE A…
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ON 9/5/2012, WAS SITTING IN DRIVE THRU AT MCDONALD'S. WHEN I PICKED MY FOOT UP OFF THE BRAKE TO EASE FORWARD, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I QUICKLY STEP ON THE BRAKES HARD, BUT EACH TIME I TRIED TO EASE FORWARD THIS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. LUCKILY, I WAS FAR ENOUGH BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN INCIDENT. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, AND WHEN BACKING SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL THIS LAST OCCURRENCE. *TR
VEHICLE PLACED IN PARK ON A 100+ DEGREE DAY WITH AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, THE IDLE BECOME ERRATIC, SURGING TO ABOUT 1800 RPM AND THEN DOWN TO APPROX 300(ALMOST STALL), BACK TO 1500 DOWN TO 400(ALMOST STALL). VEHICLE DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER A 30 MINUTE PERIOD. LATER THAT SAME DAY, OUTSIDE TEMP STILL 100+, WHILE SLOWLY REVER…
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VEHICLE PLACED IN PARK ON A 100+ DEGREE DAY WITH AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING, THE IDLE BECOME ERRATIC, SURGING TO ABOUT 1800 RPM AND THEN DOWN TO APPROX 300(ALMOST STALL), BACK TO 1500 DOWN TO 400(ALMOST STALL). VEHICLE DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER A 30 MINUTE PERIOD. LATER THAT SAME DAY, OUTSIDE TEMP STILL 100+, WHILE SLOWLY REVERSING, VEHICLE SURGES SEVERAL TIMES. HAD TO "STAND" ON BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. LATER AGAIN THAT DAY, TEMPS STILL 100+, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE SURGES AGAIN. CURRENT ODOMETER 106840. HAD MY PERSONAL MECHANIC COME OUT TONIGHT AND LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. WE BELIEVE IT TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY. NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES. COMPUTER "SCAN" INDICATES THAT VOLTAGES TO THROTTLE BODY MAY BE INCORRECT(LOW). I AM REPORTING THIS, AS AN INTERNET SEARCH RETURNED MANY HITS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I'VE NOTICED THE CAR TO LUNGE AND IDLING VERY HIGH. WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL FOR INSTANCE, THE CAR LUNGES OUT AND I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I'M AT A FULL STOP; AT TIMES YOU CAN HEAR THE CAR IDLING VERY HIGH AND WHEN YOU LET GO OF BRAKE THE CAR LUNGES OUT. DURING TRAFFIC, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CONTI…
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I'VE NOTICED THE CAR TO LUNGE AND IDLING VERY HIGH. WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL FOR INSTANCE, THE CAR LUNGES OUT AND I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I'M AT A FULL STOP; AT TIMES YOU CAN HEAR THE CAR IDLING VERY HIGH AND WHEN YOU LET GO OF BRAKE THE CAR LUNGES OUT. DURING TRAFFIC, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUALLY KEEP THE BRAKE ON, OR THE CAR WILL THRUST FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE AHEAD. *TR
MY VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT A PASSING CAR. THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE CAME ON AND CAR CONTINUED TO LUNG FORWARD. I NOTICED THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE AC WAS ON. I EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WHEN THE AC WAS OFF. FORD WANTED ME TO PAY $1800 TO FIX THE THROTTLE BODY AND INTAKE VALVES. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE WEB, I SAW MULTIPLE…
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MY VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT A PASSING CAR. THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE CAME ON AND CAR CONTINUED TO LUNG FORWARD. I NOTICED THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE AC WAS ON. I EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WHEN THE AC WAS OFF. FORD WANTED ME TO PAY $1800 TO FIX THE THROTTLE BODY AND INTAKE VALVES. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE WEB, I SAW MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THIS BEING LOOKED INTO WITH A HIGH SENSE OF URGENCY. IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE AS I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY UNTIL THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED TODAY. I LIVE IN TX SO UNDERSTANDABLY IT IS HOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT SHIFTED BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE WHEN VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING. THE FAILURE RECURRED F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT SHIFTED BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE WHEN VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY AND WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED OR THE WEATHER WAS HOT. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED AGAINST A POOL TABLE IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. THE BUMPER WAS SCRATCHED AND THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED BUT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
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.