IllustrationCTV TRANSMISSION. GOES INTO CREEP MODE. WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST. GEAR. TURN CAR OFF AND ON. RUNS FINE. TRANSMISSION GUY SAYS THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
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 reportsAFTER STARTING THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD 'HELICOPTER SOUND' UNDER THE HOOD (TO WHICH I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT WAS THE TRANSMISSION (CVT)). WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, IT VIOLENTLY RACED FORWARD, HITTING THE BRICK WALL OF MY HOUSE. I HAVE PUSHED IT A FEW FEET BACK AND HAVE NOT RESTARTED THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THIS…
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AFTER STARTING THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD 'HELICOPTER SOUND' UNDER THE HOOD (TO WHICH I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT WAS THE TRANSMISSION (CVT)). WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, IT VIOLENTLY RACED FORWARD, HITTING THE BRICK WALL OF MY HOUSE. I HAVE PUSHED IT A FEW FEET BACK AND HAVE NOT RESTARTED THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN.
MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE AWD IS SUFFERING FROM WELL KNOWN AND WIDELY REPORTED CVT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE MAKES "HELICOPTER" SOUNDS WHILE IN BOTH PARK AND NEUTRAL. MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS ARE WELL AWARE THAT CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, AND FORD IS NOT SUPPLYING REPLACEMENT PARTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A WHILE AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A WHILE AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,000.
I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT LUNGES ALMOST OVER POWERING THE BREAKS. IT ALSO WILL STALL IF I HAVE TO HIT THE BREAKS HARD TO COME TO A STOP REAL FAST. I WILL BE GETTING IN THE HIGHWAY AND EVERY SO OFTEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT IT JUST RUNS AT REALLY HIGH RPM. IT WILL ALSO LOOSE POWER …
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I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT LUNGES ALMOST OVER POWERING THE BREAKS. IT ALSO WILL STALL IF I HAVE TO HIT THE BREAKS HARD TO COME TO A STOP REAL FAST. I WILL BE GETTING IN THE HIGHWAY AND EVERY SO OFTEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT IT JUST RUNS AT REALLY HIGH RPM. IT WILL ALSO LOOSE POWER SUDDENLY AND A WRENCH LIGHT WILL COME ON THAT LIMITS ME TO 2000 RPM AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SOME OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR BUT IT IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AT THE TIME SO I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION IS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH MY AWD AND I FEEL IT CAN'T WORK BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OF MY TRANSMISSIO .
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW TRUCK ON A TWO LANE ROAD. AS ACCELERATED AND PULL ALONGSIDE THE TRUCK THE CTV TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE ENGINE RACED. I WAS ABLE TO GET AROUND THE TRUCK AND GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I CALL A TOW TRUCK AND MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 8 WEEKS. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING HEAD ON CO…
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I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW TRUCK ON A TWO LANE ROAD. AS ACCELERATED AND PULL ALONGSIDE THE TRUCK THE CTV TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE ENGINE RACED. I WAS ABLE TO GET AROUND THE TRUCK AND GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I CALL A TOW TRUCK AND MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 8 WEEKS. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING HEAD ON COLLISIONS THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED AS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IF A CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROACHING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I WOULD HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD ON COLLISION.
I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED ON A SLIGHTLY HILLY ROAD WHEN THE YELLOW TOOL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND IT APPEAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOST ITS CONNECTION. THE ENGINE STAYED AROUND 2000 RPM THEN DRIFTED DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL CHANGES. VEHICAL TOWED TO SHOP AND LEFT IT THERE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
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