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.
The weather was below freezing and the wrench light came on. I taken it to the local for dealer and he mentioned that it was the CRV transmission, but no additional error codes. The problems along with the wrench light was the motor would not accelerate and the was no indication on what was going on. When the temperatures were above freezing the wrench light was out and everything seemed to be ok. But now after several of the wrench lights, now I have a check engine light and it seams like I have lost engine power. The local dealer has told me that if it persists I will need a new transmission and that will be in access of $4,750. I believe after reading the online messages in edmunds.com and reading that this is over 170,000 Ford Freestyles there has to be a definite problem here. Will the lemon law cover this problem since I have under 60,000 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.
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.
Hello, in may this year the transmission started failing on my vehicle. I am the third owner. The previous owner, who works at Ford dealership, told me that he had to replace all electronics and sensors on the transmission ($1500 parts and labor). I took the car to several mechanic shops and at every shop I was told the transmission has to be replaced (estimates ranged between $2800 and $5000). I bought a used transmission from a 2006 model ($2100) and had it replaced by a mechanic ($700 for labor). Now the transmission is beginning to fail again. Last week it began producing loud noise and vibration. Everywhere I look on the web I see owners of Ford Freestyle complaining about the same issue! here is an example: townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F0D8ce7 I'm sure if you google up "Ford Freestyle transmission" you'll find a lot more complaints and you probably have a lot of complaints filed already! I think it is time that Ford acknowledged that they produced a defective car and recalled the entire 2005-2007 Ford Freestyle series for a free transmission replacement! this issue is very dangerous. The car suddenly loses power without any warning and stalls. We got stalled in the middle of traffic on the highway (I-288) and only escaped an accident by a miracle! thank you for your time and consideration!
In August 2012, my 2005 Freestyle surged while in reverse with my wheels at full cut as I was backing out of my driveway, as I have been doing for the last 40 years. As I took my foot off of the gas pedal to apply the brake to switch to drive from reverse, the car surged in reverse, and the right corner of my rear bumper impacted my neighbors truck behind his front door, causing me to report the accident to my insurance company to repair his vehicle. I told the agent at my insurance company I had read about this surging problem in the Freestyle forums, and asked if the accident would be contributed to mechanical failure due to defective part, rather than driver error, as I stated before I have been backing out of this driveway for 40 years with 70's Lincoln and Cadillac, all cars 5 feet longer than the Freestyle, without incident. Her reply was that if there was a recall due to this problem, then yes, it would be attributed to mechanical failure. My question is, I know the NHTSA was investigating this last year, has there been any conclusion to this investigation" if anyone has an update, can you please contact me at fcejr55yahoo.com with the information. I know it says not to use my E-mail address, but how else will somebody be able to contact me" any help will be greatly appreciated. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Bloomfield, NJ, USA
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I started my car backed out of the driveway and put the car in drive. When I went to press on the gas pedal it seemed like it wasn't in drive. I looked and it was in drive and then I looked and my engine fail safe mode light was on. I drove slowly to service station and they said that I need a new throttle body after putting it on there testing machine.
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.
Went to start my 2005 Ford Freestyle - the rpms on the vehicle increased slightly, the wrench, traction control and engine light came on, when I put the car in reverse, there was a loud thunk noise. I turned the engine off and tried it again. Same thing, I had to drive it approx. 2 miles, there was no power, but it got me to my class. When I came back out to my car an hour an a half later, only the engine light came on and the vehicle drove normally. Since then I have had it to the dealer to diagnose. At first they said it was the transmission that would need to be replaced. This is a $4000 repair. The diagnostic codes were generic and they could not tell for sure what the problem was. This behavior usually starts after the vehicle has sat for a few hours. When all the lights first come on, it says it has had a data transmission error. I turn off the car and restart. This usually resets the computer in some way. When only the engine light comes on, it will say "check engine, check transmission". sometimes no lights come on. It drives normally. I took it back to the dealer so they could experience the whole issue first thing in the morning. They have now said that it is a short in the instrument cluster. The repair will be $1025, but they can not guarantee that this will resolve the issue for sure. I have also experienced where the lights will come on while I am driving. I have to turn my vehicle off in traffic to reset it. This is not real safe. I see that my year of car and newer has had several complaints for this issue and a lunging issue. I will be contacting Ford tomorrow to see if I can get some help on this issue.
The day I bought me car there was problems. The front passenger side was soak with water ands the dealerships response was to use the heating system to dry it. The car had a high pitch noise and the gears seemed to be tight. If my foot was not on the brake even on an up hill climb the car would roll forward. When I accelerate it revs very high and did not drop much and when you take your foot off the gas it plummets. At about odometer 129689 my car started to sound like a mack truck and it increase it noise level. I was told I need to replace the transmission and it is a special transmission...one of a kind so a used one will run about 2500, a brand new one from Ford will cost around $5K and that does not include labor. Also to rebuild the one you have will cost you because they have to buy another use transmission from another Freestyle and then combine the 2. my odometer is at 136701 today my car is still running somewhat but any day it will explode and die. Trust me Ford is well aware of the problem(s) and will not recall the part(s) unless someone gets hurt or is killed. I will never buy another Ford! they have lost me as a supporter! they only make junk cars or lemons. I wish I realized at the time of purchase that it was a lemon and transmission was already bad. The Ford dealership knew and sold it to me with a smile. I had them fix one thing and they said they will fix that part and there was nothing else" why would they sell a damage car" if you have a Freestyle get rid of it if you can!!!! Ford does not take pride in their workmanship nor stand behind their product.
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.
For the past few months my car has been lunging forward or backward when going at a low speed. For example, going into or coming out of a parking space, in a drive thru line, or waiting at a traffic light. The problem seem worse when it is hot outside and/or the air is on. Yesterday the problem happen again, engine stalled and when I restarted the car the check engine light came on. I have had a few near misses with the problem, coming close to hitting a little girl in a parking lot and almost running into a car at a drive thru line just to name a couple. I remember hearing about the same problem last year and am very shocked to see that Ford is taking a chance with peoples lives like this, why has there not been a recall issued to fix the problem?
While coming to a stop the car started making a helicopter sound, and the check transmission and check trac control lights started flashing as was the AWD malfunction light.
The cars wrench light and engine light come on while sitting on hot days with the A/C on. When this happens it goes into a fail safe mode that allows only 15mph and it surges real bad in forward or reverse with a very loud and sudden thunk when putting it in gear. There needs to be a recall on this pos transmission as I am not the only one with these issues. I know many other Freestyle owners in my area alone that have the same exact problems.
The car had been making a low groaning noise for a few months and the mechanics were unable to detect any issues. My wife was driving on the highway at approximately 55mph when a loud blast came from the underside of the car. The transmission literally exploded and blew a hole in the housing and sent metal everywhere. There was an obvious sudden loss of power and the brakes were compromised because the metal had severed the brake line as well. The car was safely brought to a stop and then towed to a mechanic where it ended up having a transmission replacement for nearly $4,000. We had been having intermittent issues with sudden engine surges dating back to well before the transmission incident and continuing even to this day. It was not until finding recent information that I related these two incidents to each other. This last spring we also had the engine mounts replaced as well. I recall seeing that listed in several reports as well.
After coming home from a trip to the grocery store, about 5 mile total round trip; I pulled into my garage. With my foot on the brake and about to move the gear lever from drive to park, the car suddenly surged forward hitting a metal storage shelf. The car surged 5 feet forward while engine rpms increased from idle (about 800) to 2500 instantly and uncommanded with absolutely no throttle increase or input. It damaged the front of my car. Our Freestyle does this often. I normally can catch it. It always happens at low speed or while the car is stopped. It happens both in drive and reverse. I have since had to discontinue letting my 18 and 16 year old son and daughter drive the vehicle because of the danger involved in these uncontrolled surges.
When hot and typically with the air conditioning on the car will surge forward during backup and slow maneuvering. Occasionally it will also die. It is extremely dangerous. Almost hit a couple of students while in pullman. Even happens with the foot on the brake. I am really surprised there has not been a recall for this. This is putting Ford and high risk for a major lawsuit.
Vehicle lunging. This has happened to the car twice now. Both times with my entire family with me. Husband and two daughter of 10 and 12. While sitting in the car, with the ac running, we placed the car in either drive or reverse and the vehicle went high speed ahead without any pressure on the gas petal. Instead the brake petal was applied. Thank the good lord, no one was behind me or in front of me... since I was in a busy store parking lot both times! the second time it happened, as we continued to drive, the engine would surge or lose power along with the wrench(transmission) light coming on. This went on for 3 miles down road in heavy traffic with these problems. Eventually it felt back to normal. We went to a garage and they said the transmission was going in the car. This problem I see is very prevalent in this car. Why is nothing being done? someone will be killed before this is resolved.. I am sorry to say! car is still at garage and not repaired. Last word was that the transmission was on backorder. There are none available at this time. I have bought 5 Ford vehicles and this may be the last.
Shifting from park to reverse or to drive causes a dangerous spike in rpms and the car tries to take off with no foot on gas pedal. Seems to be increasing more and more and gives a feeling that the brakes won't hold the car from taking off on day. Makes me fearful for parking lot areas or driveway areas. Seems very dangerous and have heard that Ford will not do anything about problem no matter what.
My Ford Freestyle it raves on it's own with out me stepping on the gas. It also trys and takes off on its own it has done it various times. I just got it out the dealership on 8/7/12 due to ac compressor took the dealership a whole week to fix went to pick it up left the dealer and it started accelerating on its on and trying to take off whitout me stepping on the gas. The next day 8/8/12 I went to work when I got to our gate at my job I was getting my badge to open the gate and it started doing it again when I was parking reverse it accelerated and then it died on me it read system failure, I turned on the car again and it did it again and then it shut off again reading system failure. I took it back to the dealership after work thinking they must have did something wrong now there telling me its the throttle body and I have to pay another deductible to get it fixed. There goes 2 deductible payments back to back! they need to recall this part back I looked online and many people are having the same issue!
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mobridge, SD, USA