There are 50 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2005 Ford Freestylein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES AND WHEEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF *JS
WAS COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES, IT ACCELERATED MORE. TO AVOID HITTING 3 CARS IN FRONT OF ME, I WENT OVER A CURB, UP A HILL AND OVER AND EMBANKMENT. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIDE STREET. THE IMPACT OF COMING OFF THE EMBANKMENT BLEW 2 TIRES AND TOTALED OUT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE CAR. AS FAR AS THE SPEED OF THE CAR, I WAS DOING 35 UNTIL THE ACCELERATION FAILED AND WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES, IT WENT FASTER. I READ ON YOUR WEBSITE WHERE FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LUNGING AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN I READ FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE POSTED THERE PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I DO BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BAD. I DID GO TO THE ER TO GET CHECKED OUT BUT BESIDES SEAT BELT BURN, I WAS FINE.
CAR LUNGED FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE THRU. FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND AIR CONDTIONING WAS RUNNING, CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A SURGE OF POWER CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNG FORWARD AND THEN CAR CUT OFF. THIS HAPPEN BEFORE IN AUGUST OF 2008 AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ON AC UNIT, BUT IT IS STILL HAPPENING. DEALERSHIP AND FORD CONSUMER CARE WAS CONTACTED,BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM OR FIX IT. THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION NEEDED ONLY A NEW IN PUT SHAFT, BUT FORD FAILED TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT THEY CLOSED THEIR PLANT THAT MAKES THE PARTS FOR FREESTYLE. NO INPUT SHAFT COULD BE FOUND, SO HAD TO PAY FOR A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $6000.00. AGAIN FORD WAS CONTACTED, COULD ONLY SAY OH WELL. *TT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
SCARY CAR. A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN CAR IS IDLE/FOOT ON BRAKE THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THIS IS CREEPY. FIRST TIME HAPPENED WHEN PARKING IN FRONT OF A WALL. LUCKILY, I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO NOT HIT THE FRONT. I JUST CAME HOME AND ROLLED INTO PARKING SPACE. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE BUT OUT OF NOWHERE IT JUST WENT BY ITSELF SO MY NATURAL RESPONSE WAS TO BRAKE REALLY HARD. IT SLOWED THE SURGING, BUT DANG IT! IT SCARED THE BEGEZZY OUT OF ME. IF I WASN'T ALERT, I THINK THAT WALL WOULD DAMAGE THE FRONT CAR...LET ALONE HIT SOMEONE(S) IF THEY ARE IN FRONT OF THIS IDLE CAR. SECOND TIME WHEN MY HUSBAND ROLLED INTO THE MALL'S PARKING SPACE AND IT DID IT TOO. I SAT NEXT TO HIM AND IT WAS JUST FREAKY WEIRD. IT HAPPENED 3 OTHER TIMES ALSO. FORD BETTER RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SEEING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE POSTED ONLINE ALREADY. I HAD TO LOOK IT UP ONLINE AND FOUND A MAJOR CAR MAGAZINE STATED IT WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, I THINK I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER CAR MAKER. THIS FORD FREESTYLE 2005 AWD LIMITED IS A SCARY CAR: AIR CONDITIONER AND IDLE/FOOT ON BRAKE = SURGING OR LUNGING FORWARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREE STYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE WRENCH FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ABNORMALLY HIGH RPMS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
REAR BRAKES ON MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. HAVE APPROX. 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE, NOT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 5 TIMES ON THIS CAR. IT IS AN ODD SIZE TIRE SO IT IS HARD TO FIND DECENT ONES FOR THE SNOW AND THEY CAN BE REALLY EXPENSIVE IF YOU DO FIND THEM. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE NEW IN JANUARY 2006. BY NOVEMBER 2008 THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN GRINDING. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP; IT WAS STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MILES WARRANTY. NOW, A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THE BRAKES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED THIS OFTEN. HOWEVER, IN JULY 2007 WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THE REAR BRAKES WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MILES WARRANTY. THIS RAISES A RED FLAG THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE BRAKE ISSUES BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND STILL HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. *TR
OUR 2005 FORDFREESTYLE HAS A KNOWN SURGING PROBLEM. EVERYTIME IT WOULD SURGE WE WOULD TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TO BE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY THE CAR LUNGED 2 FT FORWARD AND SHUT DOWN WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. WE HIT THE FUEL RESET BUTTON TO GET IT WORKING THEN WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP; PAID AROUND $3000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL RESET BUTTON AND SENSORS TO ONLY HAVE IT START BACK UP A WEEK LATER. WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY ANOTHER $1000. NOW A MONTH LATER THE CAR IS SURGING AGAIN. THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THANKFULLY A BACK ROAD, THE CAR JUST SHUT ITSELF OFF AND NON OF THE SYSTEMS WORKED. THE BRAKES BARELY WORKED. WE HAD TO LET THE CAR COAST TO A STOP. IT IS CURRENTLY A VERY LARGE AND EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT. *TR
MY LEFT REAR BRAKE HEATS UP AND SMOKES. I HAVE TAKEN RIDES OF LESS THEN 10 MILES. I WILL BE REPLACING THE BRAKE SHOES FOR THE 4TH TIME. I HAVE ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I'M AFRAID THAT ON A LONG TRIP THE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 2005 FORD FREESTYLE VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE REAR BRAKE PADS NO MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE CONTINUE TO FAIL, I AM ON MY 4TH SET WITH ONLY 64,000 MILES . INTERESTINGLY THE FRONT BRAKE PADS APPEAR ALMOST NEW. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THESE BRAKES AND HOLD THAT REPLACING THE REAR BRAKES EVERY 15-20,000 MILES IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL LUNGING INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO LUNG FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN BACKING OUT A PARKING SPACE ETC.. THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT WAS ON 08/25/09. THE NEXT TIME WAS ON 09/22/09. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THIS CAR THAT THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE DEALER ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE FOR 5697 MILES BEFORE THE PART ARRIVED. I REQUESTED A RENTAL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT JUSTIFY A RENTAL. ON 02/08/10 MY NEW THROTTLE BODY WAS INSTALLED. TODAY IS 02/22/2012 AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. THE FORD FREESTYLE IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I AM ON MY SECOND SET OF (REAR) BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED. OUR AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKS PROPERLY DURING THE WINTER. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PAGES OF FORUMS WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES DEALING WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES ON THE EXACT SAME CARS. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST FORD FOR THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. I HAVE PAGES OF DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTYLE ON THIRD REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER AFTER ONLY 57,000 PREVIOUS CALIPERS FROZE NEEDING REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $350.00 PER OCCURRENCE. FORD AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS NOT IN WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLYING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE UNTIL THE BRAKES RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT SUGGESTED HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ UPDATED 03/3/12
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH SNOW AND SLUSHY STREETS, THE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS ACTIVATED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NO ABS ACTIVITY AND NO BRAKES. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. I STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. IT HAD NO DAMAGE BUT I HAD A BROKEN BUMPER COVER ($1300 TO REPAIR). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TO HAVE THE ABS AND BRAKES CHECKED. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD, EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THEY WERE FORWARDING MY LETTER TO THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR EVALUATION. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM YET. *TR
I OWN A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH HAVE REAR BRAKE ISSUES, I RECEIVED A LETTER IN JULY 07 TELLING ME OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH MY REAR BRAKE PADS THAT THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN WET AND EXPANDED WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE PADS TO DRAG ON ROTORS AND WEAR OUT SOONER. SO I TOOK INTO A FORD DEALER THEY REPLACED MY PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE REAR BRAKES ONLY, THIS WAS AT AROUND 30000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 48900 MILES ON THE CAR AND MY REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY WORN TO THE METAL ON THE PAD. I TRIED TO TALK WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT WAS SENT RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER WHICH SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME WITH THE REPLACEMENT THE REAR BRAKE PADS. I UNDERSTAND BY READING YOUR WEBSITE THAT BRAKE PADS ARE NOT CONSIDERED SAFETY RELATE ISSUE BUT SEARCHING THE INTERNET RELATE TO FORD FREE STYLE REAR BRAKE ISSUES I WAS VERY SURPRISE TO FIND OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY ARE EVEN TALKING ABOUT REAR CALIPERS THAT ARE LOCKING UP AND NOT ALLOWING THE PADS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE ROTORS, SO THERE NOT DRAGGING AND WEARING OUT WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEF HAS HAPPEN IN MY CASE. I AM TRYING TO FIND HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF ALL THE COST RELATED TO THIS REPAIR HAVING TO BE DONE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF MILES BETWEEN REPAIRS AND BEFORE IT DOES BECOME A FAILURE AND DOES CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE THERE LIFE. OH I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT MY FRONT BRAKES WHICH TAKE MOST OF THE BRAKING HAS 48900 MILES ON THEM AND I AM JUST REPLACING THEM. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THAT GM ESCAPED THIS REAR BRAKE DESIGN THAT THE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS DESIGN. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE USE FORD FREESTYLE OWNERS. *TR
THIS FREESTYLE HAS SURGED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. WE REPLACE A FAILED THROTTLE BODY IN 2010. RECENTLY IN SHOP IN 9/11 FOR NONSTART. *TR
IN JULY OF 2005 I PURCHASED A NEW FORD FREESTYLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTHS, OR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 20,000 MILES (IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS VERY ISSUE). FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS AN ENGINEERING ISSUE WHERE THE REAR CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING AND CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS. THEY ISSUED A RECALL "FIX" FOR THIS IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. WELL . . . 20,000 MILES LATER- IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. THE DEALER, NOW ON 8/21/08, REFUSES TO REPAIR THE REAR BRAKES EVEN THOUGH FAULTY ENGINEERING OR FAULTY PARTS (OR BOTH) WERE USED. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DATES THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED: 2/22/06, 7/20/06, 4/4/07, 8/2/07, 9/17/07, 11/26/07. *TR
BRAKES WERE GOING OUT, CAR WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH, GRINDING SOUNDS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THE BACK TWICE NOW AND THE FRONT TWICE, THE ROTORS TWICE ALSO. *TR
MY REAR BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS GONE OUT 2 TIMES WITHIN 51,000 MILES AND THE STRUTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS COVERED AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026