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.
It started with the instrument cluster acting funny the guages dropped to 0 and jittered after a few seconds they went back to normal... now my reverse lights stay on and the cluster doesn't work for longer periods of time.
We own a 2005 Ford Freestyle. Over the last 4-5 months we have had issues with the instrumentation panel "going black". this has caused the vehicles reverse lights to come on and stay on. It was happening about once every few weeks and has increased to a weekly issue. We have to unhook and rehook the battery to temporily fix the problem each time. A mechanic indicated it is an issue with the electronic cluster controlling the instrumentation panel. Upon searching multiple sites this seems to be the most frequent non-recall issue for this year/make/model car. When it happens while driving the vehicle instrumentation goes crazy, the car bucks, and the reverse lights come on. I have been told it is a component problem with the mother board which is a defect and even replacing it will not necessarily fix the problem in the long term as this could occur with the new electronic cluster as well.
Request to re-open NHTSA defect investigation #PE07058 - instrument cluster failure: Electrical system: Instrument panel the NHTSA should re-open the NHTSA defect investigation #PE07058 because the car's reverse lights incorrectly turn on during this problem and seem to be related this issue. Ford's own technical service bulletins (tsb #0662 and tsb #06179) even state that the reverse lights are part of the problem. We have seen this problem first hand. My Ford 2005 Freestyle is experiencing the instrument cluster failure problem researched in NHTSA defect investigation #PE07058 and causes the car's reverse lights to come on while car is driving forward or in park. We have witnessed the reverse lights come on while the car is in park and also when the car is driving forward. This is in contradiction to the defect investigation that said the exterior lights were not affected. Quote from #PE07058: "... 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. Here are Ford's technical service bulletins that contradict your research findings: Tsb #0662 -- intermittent instrument cluster gauge sweep/reset - multiple warning lights on - reverse lights on - vehicles built before 2/17/2006. (NHTSA id #10019951, January 01 2006) tsb #06179 -- intermittent instrument cluster operation - including gauges sweep/reset - multiple warning lights illuminated and/or reverse lights stay on. This applies to vehicles built before 02-17-06. (NHTSA id #10021037, no date provided).
2005 Ford Freestyle w/87,213 mi., purchased used with 87090 miles. Driving approx 40 mph, slowing to stop, put turn signals on, no turn signals. Noticed check transmission & air bag lamps lit. Pulled over, shut the engine off & took key out, speed still registering a speed of 40 mph. Cycled the car on & off 3 times & then the check engine light came on. In transit to dealer & the entire instrument panel lights, then sweeps thru all the warning lamps, the reverse gear taillights & the brake lights light, then the check engine lamp lights & no gauges register, incl speed!! dangerous!! this cycle repeated approx 3 times before check engine came on steady. Called dealer & told to put on hazard lights & bring car in asap. Was told today that the entire instrument panel must be replaced, but that this is no guarantee that the problem won't occur again. Weather at time of incident was dry, temps in upper 40's.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. After starting the vehicle, the entire instrument panel and headlights failed without warning. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle has not been inspected at this time. The failure mileage was 60,000. The current mileage was 63,000. Updated 01/05/10 updated 01/06/10.
- Wethersfiled , CT, USA
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The instrument panel flips on and off at random intervals causing the car to jump into "safe mode". if this occurs at high speed the car bucks and becomes uncontrollable until it slows down below 40mph. In a possible related issue the battery light continuously flickers on and off even with a brand new battery installed. The alternator appears to charge when ever it feel like it and not continuously. There are so many electrical issues in this car I will not let anyone in my family drive or ride in it. With on 64000 miles on the vehicle none of these problems should be occurring. I fear a major accident each day I get in and drive it work.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. She stated that the speedometer gauges failed intermittently as well as the dashboard, air conditioner, tail lights and RPM gauges. While driving approximately 25 mph she attempted to make a right turn into a garage and the turn signals failed to operate. Due to the failure a vehicle following her nearly crashed into her. She has reviewed the technical service bulletins and NHTSA action number: PE07058 investigation which was closed in 2008. The contact is aware of the safety risk and the possibility that a crash could occur. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were under 41,000.
I was driving the veh normal and all of a sudden the rmp jumps really high following this my veh shuts down, wrench light comes, and the fail safe engine mode displays. Also, when the veh is put in park and shut off, then back on again the light disappears, and everything appears normal. Today would be twice this has happened so after reading other reviews with same issue found out its throttle body that needs replaced. I will call dealer tomorrow to find out more, but why isn't this part on recall. Hope its covered under powertrain :(
The dashboard instrument panel fails regularly and all gauges (speed, gas, temp, etc.) fall to zero. The dashboard and other interior lights also do not work when this happens. At first, it happened intermittently and would work most of the time, but not all. Now, it happens regularly and I have driven several times without knowing my speed or fuel level. Sometimes the computer resets. At times, the gauges resume working within a minute, other times, they do not work for the entire drive, leaving me with no way of knowing my speed or fuel level and now way of seeing inside the car when it is dark. I did some research and found a tsb on the issue at Ford, but it is expensive to fix and really is a safety issue that should be covered because of the lack of knowing the speed and fuel levels. I brought it in yesterday and it will cost $750 to fix.
We recently purchased a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The dashboard gauges will randomly all bottom out for a few seconds, and then come back on. This happens at least once nearly everytime we drive. Occasionally the gauges will 'freeze' where they are and the dashboard lights (including odometer) will go out. This lasts for a few seconds, and when the lights come back on, all of the gauges bottom out for a few seconds and then come back on. While trying to figure out what the problem is, we discovered that there is a common defect in the gauge cluster and an online search reveals hundreds of complaints about this. There is an open investigation, but no recall to date. This is a safety hazard despite what Ford says, not knowing how fast you are going (even if it is just for a few seconds) is dangerous, but the worst part is the distraction when you see your gauges going crazy out of the corner of your eye. Distracted drivers are not safe drivers. The dealer tells us they've changed dozens of these, and the cost is nearly $900! for and the NHTSA know this is a problem, Ford should take responsibility and make it right.
While driving the instrument cluster and lights would randomly go on and off and engine would shut down. This occurs on a regular basis, making the vehicle unsafe. The problem is a cold solder joint on the "crystal" located next to the four sided processor chip on the printed circuit board. Ford is aware of this problem and sent out a tsb to all of it dealers in Feb 2006. There is currently a 6 month backlog of the part to repair this problem due to so many occurrences. The problem also locks out the shift locking mechanism preventing the vehicle once placed in park to going into gear or neutral for towing. The problem starts out with just the dash instruments flickering but progresses to the problem I have outlined above.
2005 Ford freestyle_- bought in 2007 has approx 19,000 miles on it bought extended service warranty for upto 100,000- approximately June 2008 check engine light came on and information center said "half fuel life op" took to dealer they changed out the fuel pump and the light came back on about 1 week later while on vacation. Took it back to the shop they changed out the other fuel pump as it has 2. it did it again shortly afterwards. They have changed the sending unit and then the fuel gauge started freaking out- showing half a take when full and going up instead of down after driving it. It has had the software redownloaded in the computer and I don't even know what all. It has been in the shop well over 30 days and is in there again for the same issue.
While driving my car the instrument gauges will loose power and all read zero for approx 10 seconds. The air bag light will also come on. This has happened approx 20 times in the last 4 weeks. The car as a result of this has stalled 2 times.
Instrument cluster had several power interruptions - all gauges momentarily went to zero several times and the check engine light illuminated. Vehicle would surge until instrument cluster power returned to normal. Dealership replaced instrument cluster - not under factory warranty.
2005 Ford Freestyle. Intermittently turns off (engine stops, loss of electrical power) while the vehicle is being driven. Most often occurs while turning. Reported to Ford dealer, they state they cannot fix because they cannot duplicate the event. Corporate and got same response. I requested that Ford dealer install video-data recorder and assign vehicle to service technician to drive daily, so that event data can be recorded and analyzed. Service manager stated that he would not place the life of his service technician in jeopardy by driving a vehicle that looses operational power while driving. Evidently, Ford does not have a problem placing my life or the lives of my family in jeopardy, however. Updated 01-14-08.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle stalls intermittently. While idling, driving at high speeds, or turning at low speeds, the vehicle shuts off. The instrument panel lights illuminate when the failure occurs. On three occasions, the vehicle was towed because it failed to restart. While driving 60 mph, the safe mode engine indicator light illuminates. The dealer has performed multiple diagnostics and cannot duplicate the failure. The current mileage is 49,000 and failure mileage was 43,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle shut off completely and had to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who stated that the vehicle had several error codes. The contact stated that the vehicle was now repaired. The current and failure mileage were 48,000.
My 2005 Ford Freestyle was purchased used, under factory warranty in may of 2006. Since that time it has been in the shop eight times for the same problem. It started right after the purchase of the vehicle. After the car had been parked and the engine turned off, when trying to restart the vehicle it would click when the key was turned but not start. It would take two or three tries to get the car to start. The dealer was unable to determine the problem. Then after the car would not start on the first try, when it did start the oil light was on, the parking brake light was on, the back-up lights were on when the car was in drive, the left blinker light was on and could not be turned off, the air conditioner would not work and once the car was turned off the battery would drain and the car would not start. The dealership witnessed the problem on multiple occasions, had someone from corporate come down to work on the car and it seemed fine for about two months. Then on christmas morning we started the car and the same thing happened. It was towed to the dealership and they replaced the battery but were unable to duplicate the problem. They are now flying in a "technical engineer" to work on the car.
: the contact stated the vehicle was modified to allow the driver to be seated in a wheel chair. Shortly after the modification a problem began while attempting to open the door to lower the ramp. The door does not open automatically to engage the ramp for exit or entry. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer were the mother board was replaced. The replacement of the part did not remedy the problem. The vehicle was returned to the local dealer where the keyless entry remotes were replaced. The replacement of the remotes did not remedy the problem. The vehicle was taken to the original modification dealer were it was inspected and was determined the remotes were obstructed by a foreign body which was removed. This did not remedy the problem. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mobility dealer who determined the entire flooring materials needed to be removed in order to secure the lock down for the front seat wheel chair. This procedure was completed to remedy a second problem the contact was unaware existed. Additionally, the independent mobility dealer recommended replacing the mother board because of unpredictability. The dealer determined the original and replacement boards were not the appropriate application for use in the conversion. The dealer recommended the use of a completely different brand of mother board. The dealer ordered the new mother board and is awaiting shipment. Currently the only way the door and ramp can be used is by someone manually opening the door and pulling out the ramp. This process renders the vehicle impossible to use by the contact alone.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saint John, 00, USA