There are 20 stored owner reports matching the brakes leading-label group for the 2005 Ford Freestar in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 20 of 20 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ODOMETER FAILED TO TRACK SPEED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
WAS ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. THE FREESTARS DASH LIGHTS LITE UP AND WENT BACK OFF. AC CUT OFF THEN EVERYTHING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE FREESTAR DIED AT 65. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. AGAIN ON MAY 5 2012 THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE AC STARTED TO BLOW HARD AND IT WOULD SLOW BACK DOWN THEN THE DASH LIGHTS ABS,BRAKE,BATTERY LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF THEN THE FREESTAR DIED AGAIN AT 70 MPH. BRAKES DIDN'T WORK I WAS GOING THROUGH A INTERSECTION AND HAD TO USE THE E BRAKE. FREESTAR HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH I JUST HIT THE HIGH SPOTS. IT HAS HAD TEST AFTER TEST AND I'M ALWAYS TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY! I JUST WANT MY VAN FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND ABS MODULE. UPDATED 06/22/12*JB
VAN STALLS AT LIGHTS. JUST CUTS OFF. MECHANIC SAID IT HAS SOME THING TO DO WITH THE PCM. TRANS HAS BEEN REPLACED. BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT. REAR BRAKE CALIPERS CEASED UP . THIS VAN IS A ROAD HAZARD. NEVER KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO OR WHEN IT IS GOING TO FAIL . *TR
MY CAR IS A FORD 2005 FREESTAR. IT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT RESPOND EVEN IF I PUMP THE BRAKES, THEN, GOES BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY FORD 2 TIMES, GOODYEAR ONE TIME AND MEINEKE ONCE AS WELL. FORD COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND SENT THE CAR AND US HOME. THEY SAID THE DO NOT "WANT TO THROW PARTS AT IT". THEY SAID THEY CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE BOOSTER AND ALSO FOR AIR IN THE LINE, BUT ALL CHECKED OUT OKAY. I CALLED THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALER, THAT WE SHOULD "LEAVE IT WITH THE DEALER" BUT THEY CANNOT HELP US WITH TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE A SON WITH A BRAIN INJURY. THIS CAR IS OUR ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. PLEASE HELP. *TR
I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN. THIS AUGUST MY INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY ABS MODULE FAILED AND AS A RESULT IT MELTED MY WIRE HARNESS. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT FORD PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDSTARS. I'D LIKE THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS THIS IS A HEFTY REPAIR ($3,000.00 +) THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. AS A RESULT, I AM DRIVING IN A VEHICLE WITH NO ABS AND NO WORKING INSTRUMENT PANEL - INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER. THANK YOU. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS KEEP WEARING OUT EXTREMELY FAST. I JUST HAD THE BRAKES DONE NOT QUITE A YEAR AGO AND NOW THE ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. *TR
TOOK MY 2005 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN WITH ONLY 43,223 MILES INTO FORD DEALER FOR ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION. ADVISED BOTH REAR CALIPERS WERE BAD, CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF BREAK PADS AND ROTORS WHICH NEEDED TURNED. THE REPAIR COST ME $581.40. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES, AND NEVER HAVE I HAD CALIPERS FAIL AT 43K MILES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT I AS A CONSUMER HAD TO FOOT THE BILL FOR. I DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED AND SHUT OFF WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED; HOWEVER, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE DEFECTED AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THEM. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. (WHICH I DO EVERY 5K, THIS WAS AT ABOUT 40K). REAR DRIVER BRAKE PADS WERE DOWN TO 10%, ALL OTHERS WERE FINE. WHEN REPLACING PADS, THE MECHANIC FOUND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE CALIPER, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE CALIPER FAILURE CAUSED OVERHEATING AND DRAGGING OF THE CERAMIC BRAKE PAD ON THE ROTOR, CUTTING A HUGE GROOVE INTO ROTOR, WHICH NEGATED ANY CHANCE OF MACHINING. THE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ALL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON THE CAR... BIG $$$$. THIS FAILURE SEEMED PRE-MATURE, AND WAS UNUSUAL EVEN TO A SERVICE MANAGER WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. (HE SUGGESTED THAT FORD SHOULD BE NOTIFIED, WHICH THEY WERE, TODAY, 11/26/2007). *TR
THE LEFT REAR CALIPER FROZE AND WORE OUT THE BRAKE AND ROTOR. THEN IN 2012 THE LEFT REAR CALIPER FROZE AND WORE OUT BRAKE AND ROTOR. AS WELL AS THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTAR GRINDING BEGAN BACK BRAKES HAVE HAD VAN MAINTAIN AT DEALERSHIP SINCE GOT NEVER HAD REPORT BRAKES NEED REPLACED AS NOISE INCREASED AT 42,068 MILES TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOUND BACK BRAKE AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED BUT NOT FRONT BRAKE THIS GOOD THIS IS A FWD VEHICLE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD GO FIRST FORD REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS WANTED 475.00 BUT AFTER POINTING OUT NEVER ADV ANY PROBLEM FINAL PRICE PAID 332.01 AFTER CHECKING MAINTENANCE HISTORY IN COMPUTER CHECKING INTERNET MULTI PROBLEM BACK BRAKES HAVE CONTACT CORP FORD WILL NOT ASSIST OR RECALL ISSUE AT MOMENT THIS IS HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM ORIGINAL BACK BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. *JB
AT APPROX. 33,000 MILES STARTED EXPEIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS- SOFT PEDAL, REQUIRING EXCESS PRESSSURE TO STOP SAFELY. OCCASIONAL INSTANCES OF ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING BECAUSE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE AT SAME HEIGHT. A NARROW ACCELERATION MISS DROVE ME TO MY SERVICE SHOP WHERE I ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THE PADS & ROTORS WERE IN FINE SHAPE. BUT THE MASTER CYLINDER PROVED TO BE BAD. IT TOOK 4 REPLACEMENT CYLINDERS FROM LOCAL DEALERS TO GET ONE THAT FIT AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. NOW AT 54,000 MILES THE PEDAL IS AGAIN SOFT AND BRAKING IS GETTING HARDER EACH DAY. VISUAL INSPECTION OF PADS AND ROTORS SHOW PLENTY OF USEFUL LIFE REMAINING. SINCE WHEN IS 30,000 MILES AN ACCEPTABLE AVERAGE LIFE FOR A MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER?
REPEATED SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL..SOMETIMES GOES TO FLOOR ON SUDDEN BRAKING. RANDOM 'SQUEAL AND SQUEAK' FROM FRONT BRAKES. ACCORDING TO SERVICE MGR. AT ORANGE FORD-LINCOLN IN ORANGE, TEXAS, THIS IS COMMON SINCE ASBESTOS WAS REMOVED FROM PADS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. VERY IRRITATING AND DANGEROUS. *JB
I RETURNED FROM A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY 2005 FORD FREESTAR. TO INVESTIGATE I REMOVED THE WHEELS AND FOUND THE PASSENGER REAR ROTOR AND DISC PAD WERE METAL TO METAL. I CHECKED THE OTHER WHEELS, THEY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE, PADS STILL HAD A LOT OF MATERIAL REMAINING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIG FORD, IN CRAIG, COLORADO FOR REPAIRS. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE CALIPER AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE CALIPER, ROTOR AND PADS. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD LATER THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. NOTE, I HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE NEW ROTOR FOR THE PASSENGER REAR, REAR PADS AND TURNING THE DRIVER REAR ROTOR WHICH I WAS TOLD IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR E REAR BREAK JOB; I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR A CALIPER SO I PRESUME CRAIG FORD REUSED THE CALIPER. SINCE WORK WAS BEING DONE ON THE REAR, AND I WAS HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, I INSTRUCTED CRAIG FORD TO DO A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB REPLACING PADS AND TURNING ROTORS ON THE FRONT AS WELL SO THAT I WOULD BE STARTING AGAIN WITH 100% NEW BRAKES ON ALL 4 WHEELS. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, ROB SOVINE, THAT HE CHECKED AND THERE APPEARED TO BE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF 2005 FORD FREESTAR PASSENGER REAR BRAKES WEARING PREMATURELY, WITH NO KNOW REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM; AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE, BUT SINCE I WAS NOT THE ONLY OWNER EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO MR. SOVINE, I FELT AND STILL DO FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NM
AT APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES WE HEARD A TERRIBLE SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF OUR 2005 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN AND AFTER VISUAL INSPECTION THE BRAKE PAD ON THE DRIVER'S REAR WAS WORN TO NOTHING. IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY OUR WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC WE WERE INFORMED THE CALIPER WAS STICKING AND CUT INTO THE ROTOR. HE PUT A SET OF BRAKE PADS ON SO WE COULD DRIVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SUNSET FORD, IN GRAVOIS. WE WERE TOLD SINCE WE DID NOT USE MOTOCRAFT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. NOW AT 50,000 MILES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE VAN NEEDS ANOTHER SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. *TR
BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PUSHED HARD GOES TO THE FLOOR. BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PRESSED NORMAL HAS A SPONGY FEEL TO IT. ALMOST RAN INTO THE BACK END OF A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. VEHICLE MAKES HORRENDOUS NOISE "POPPING SOUND" WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. THIS POPPING SOUND HAPPENS EVERY TIME BETWEEN 30 -45 MILES PER HOUR DURING A "HARD' BRAKE SITUATION. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS BUT THE DEALER SAID THE ABS SYSTEM AND BRAKES CHECKED OUT OK ACCORDING TO FORD'S SPECIFICATIONS. *JB
UNDER NORMAL BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS EQUAL TO GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. UNDER HEAVY BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS BELOW GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNDER BRAKING. UPDATED 11/28/2005 - *NM
DT: ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT SIMPLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT DID SLOW DOWN BUT AS DRIVER PROGRESSED THE BRAKE SHOE HUNG TO THE ROTOR AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THEY WERE STILL APPLIED. AFTERWARDS CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE IN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS A ROTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER GRINDED RUST OR " LOT ROT" OFF THE ROTORS AND PLACED THEM BACK ON THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AGO HOWEVER THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE BRAKE PADS STICKING TO THE ROTOR AND THE CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALER WHO SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *NM
THE ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN ABOUT A FOOT, AND IT WILL STICK. THE BRAKES ARE LIKE SPONGES. CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO COMPLETELY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Sep 14, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.