2005 Ford Freestyle Steering Problems

I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. INSTEAD HE TOLD ME IT WAS JUST SOME RATTLING THAT WAS COMING FROM SOMETHING LOOSE AND NOT IMPORTANT. ITS RATTLING LIKE CRAZY UNDER MY CAR. I LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR IT AND THERE IS AN IMPORTANT RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON IT. PLEASE. IT CAN HARM MY NEWBORN CHILD AND MELT WIRES AND IS GONNA COST SO MUCH MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. PLEASE. ITS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR IT ON EXACTLY WHAT ITS BEEN DOING. EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA FALL APART AND INSIDE THE CAB IS GETTING HOTT AND HARMFUL FUMES ARE COMING INTO THE CAB. ITS DANGEROUS. THE HEAT SHIELD IS BROKEN I GUESS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN WHILE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HEAD. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION TO THE FRONTAL LOBE OF HER HEAD AND SUSTAINED A CONTUSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 194,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING 80MPH (POSTED 80 SPEED LIMIT) THE CAR STARTED TO GLIDE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH LITTLE TURNING OF THE WHEEL. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE GOING 15-25MPH. THE FEELING IS A COASTING FEELING, LIKE YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF CORRECTING IT WITH THE STEERING. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALREADY OF THE SAME FORD OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, HEARD LOUD POP (CLAP SOUND). THEN DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. TRIED TO FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACE OS SENSOR FROM FORD AND NOW IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR.

POWER STEERING DOESNT WORK WELL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I PURCHASED THE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE USED. ISSUES: (1) SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, THEN I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE FLUID, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. (2) RANDOM SURGES OF POWER, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A FEW ACCIDENTS AND WAS SEVERELY FRIGHTENING (CORRECTED BEFORE A RECALL) (3) THIS PAST WINTER PROBLEMS WITH SHUTTING THE FRONT DOORS, THEN WITH OUT WARNING ( WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SETS ) THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR FEW OPEN WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER. THE CHILDREN SCREAMED, I WAS THANKFUL THAT A CHILD WAS NOT SEVERALLY INJURED AND THEN, I HAD CALL SOMEONE TO PICK US UP. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD I WAS THE ONLY COMPLAINT! LATER AT A CHILDREN'S RECREATION, I PARKED NEXT TO A WOMAN WITH CHILDREN DRIVING THE SAME MODEL. I ASKED HER IF SHE EXPERIENCED DOOR ISSUES, SHE STATED BOTH DOORS FLEW OPEN WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS, AND STATED HER HUSBAND LUBED THE DOORS DOWN. (4) NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY DECIDE NOT TO MOVE, BUT IF I TURN THE FREE STYLE ON AND OFF IT MIGHT GO INTO GEAR. NO TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON INDICATED AN ISSUE. MY OPINION IS THE 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WAS CREATED TO MARKET TOWARD FAMILIES, THE DESIGN AND MARKETING WORKED, BUT AS A RESULT SEVERAL FAMILIES ARE NOW IN DANGER. *TR

2005 FORD FREESTYLE SEL FWD - 116K MILES, VERY GOOD CONDITION, 2ND OWNER. ON 11/1, I REQUESTED MECHANIC TO DO A FULL INSPECTION ON THE CAR, NO KNOW ISSUES, BUT JUST TO CHECK IT OVER BEFORE WINTER. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR, AND SAID CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ONLY THIS CRADLE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT RUST, IN FACT THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM IS STILL ON THE CAR (THAT IS MOST SHOCKING, THE EXHAUST OUT LASTED THIS SUBFRAME). AS I STATED THE CAR IS IN FANTASTIC SHAPE, AND RUNS GREAT. WE EITHER HAD TO FIX OR SCRAP THE CAR AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ESTIMATES FROM DEALERS TO REPLACE WERE AROUND $3000. WE ENDED UP USING A LOCAL BODY SHOP WE TRUST TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME WITH A USED / RUST FREE ONE FOR $1150. I RETAINED THE SUBFRAME AND CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH OVER 100K MILES ON IT, BUT GIVEN ITS GREAT CONDITION (IF YOU SAW PICTURES YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND) THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR A SUBFRAME, THAT HOLDS ALL THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING U-JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING WOULD CATCH AND IT PULLED ME TOWARD THE DITCH LINE AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO CORROSION TO THE STEERING SHAFT. *TR

WHERE TO BEGIN.... THE BRAKES ARE SHOT. DON'T WORK AT ALL. DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY GO INTO "FAILSAFE MODE" AND JUST STOP. IT HAS TO BE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN BACK ON AND WILL GENERALLY DO THIS UP TO 8 TIMES BEFORE I JUST SHUT IT OFF AND LEAVE IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. DURING THESE MONTHS IT WILL ALSO GET A MIND OF IT'S OWN AND JUST LEAP FORWARD. I HAVE TO STOP 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND ANY CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP, OTHERWISE IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY APPLIED ON THE BRAKE) AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. OH, AND WILL JUMP CURBS, HIT GARAGE DOORS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF TOO WHEN IT GETS THIS SURGE. THEN, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE DOOR LATCH GETS STUCK AND THE CAR DOORS ARE LITERALLY FROZEN OPEN. I CAN'T DRIVE ANYWHERE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND CAR DOORS THAT WON'T SHUT. OH, AND MY VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO I CAN'T GET IT FIXED. OH AND DID I MENTION THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK? LIKE WON'T HOLD BRAKE FLUID, AIR IS ALL IN THE LINES, AND HARDLY NO BRAKES. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED DRIVING WITH NO BRAKES?? IT SUCKS! AND FORGET DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. I DON'T TRUST IT AT ALL!! *JS

THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP; NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS (I WOULD REAR END SOMEONE IF I DIDN'T ALLOW MORE SPACE BETWEEN THE OTHER VEHICLE AND MINE THAN LEGALLY ALLOWED.). WHEN YOU TRY TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONING THE CAR SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AT. THE CAR MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR 4 MONTHS AGO AND AM NOW BEING TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND A VALVE. I NOTICED THE LUNGING IMMEDIATELY AND WAS ABLE TO ALLOW MYSELF MORE SPACE TO MAKE UP FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL, HOWEVER OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD ARE NOT AWARE OF MY ISSUES WITH LUNGING AND WHEN THEY PULL IN FRONT OF ME, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SLOW MYSELF. I AM HIGHLY PERTURBED BY THE CONTINUING ISSUES. IN LOOKING ONLINE I FIND THAT I AM JUST ONE OF MANY PEOPLE WITH THESE VERY SAME ISSUES WITH THE FREESTYLE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAR AND QUITE FRANKLY I HAVE 3 MORE YEARS OF PAYING FOR IT BUT I NEED IT TO RUN PROPERLY. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THAT I HAUL IN MY CAR AS WELL AS THEIR FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND IT'S SCARY. MY SON IS ASTHMATIC AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND THE CAR COME SUMMER SINCE I AM UNABLE TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. I JUST WISH THAT I HAD KNOWN THAT THE CAR WAS NOT THE "STEAL" I THOUGHT IT TO BE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I EVEN SPENT $2000 MORE THAN I HAD PLANNED TO BECAUSE I LIKED THIS CAR SO MUCH. . *TR

1. PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, STEERING WAS TURNED SHARPLY AT THE TIME AND FOOT ON BRAKE 2. PULLING IN GARAGE AND VEHICLE SURGED WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. *TR

MY 2005 LIMITED EDITION FREESTYLE HAS A FEW ISSUES THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. MY THROTTLE IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES. THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WITH NO WARNING WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. IT ALSO HAS CAUSED IT TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFICULTLY ACCELERATING WHEN IN MOTION AND STARTING THE IGNITION. I'M AFRAID THAT IT WILL SURGE FORWARD AND CAUSE ME TO HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WHERE IT GETS SO BAD THAT THEY'VE EVEN LOST ALL ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ONE PERSON WHO HIT SOMETHING IN HIS GARAGE SENDING IT FLYING THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL. MY HUSBAND HAS TRIED CLEANING OUT THE THROTTLE WITH NO SUCCESS. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH NO WARRANTY AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. *TR

CAR WAS PARKED IN REAR OF APARTMENT COMPLEX.WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IT LUNGED BACK WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, SMASHING THE REAR OF THE CAR INTO THE APARTMENT BUILDING WALL. I DID HAVE A SEAT BELT ON BUT THE IMPACT CAUSED SEVERE NECK TRAUMA AS MY HEAD WAS TURNED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, IT WOULD "LOSE POWER", THE WRENCH LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE NO TRANSMISSION POWER. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER, TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP INCORRECTLY DIAGNOSED AND CHARGED ME A REPAIR FOR CLEANING THE SENSOR - AND REFUSED TO REFUND ME MY DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS NOT FIXED. I DID MY OWN RESEARCH TO LEARN IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY WOULD APPLY THE CREDIT TOWARDS REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY....BUT NOT ALL THE CHARGES. THEY WERE HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AFTER COMPLETELY FAILING TO FIX MY CAR AND CHARGING ME ALMOST $500. *TR

WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IF TURNING THE STERRING WHEEL THE CAR TAKE OFF AND YOU HAVE TO BUT THE BRAKE ON HARD TO STOP CAR. THIS HAPPENS 95% OF THE TIME. *TR

MY 2005 LIMITED EDITION FREESTYLE HAS A FEW ISSUES THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. MY THROTTLE IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES. THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WITH NO WARNING WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. IT ALSO HAS CAUSED IT TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFICULTLY ACCELERATING WHEN IN MOTION AND STARTING THE IGNITION. I'M AFRAID THAT IT WILL SURGE FORWARD AND CAUSE ME TO HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WHERE IT GETS SO BAD THAT THEY'VE EVEN LOST ALL ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ONE PERSON WHO HIT SOMETHING IN HIS GARAGE SENDING IT FLYING THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL. MY HUSBAND HAS TRIED CLEANING OUT THE THROTTLE WITH NO SUCCESS. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH NO WARRANTY AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS . WE ARE ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH WATER IN THE CAR. WE'VE HAD PUDDLES ON THE BACK PASSENGER FLOOR AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I DO NOT HAVE A MOON/SUNROOF. WATER HAS ACTUALLY POOLED OUT FROM THE CAR ONTO THE GROUND WHEN I'VE OPENED THE DOOR. THE DOORS WILL BE DRY AND WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THE WATER IS GETTING IN THE CAR. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD AS BOTH ME AND MY DAUGHTER ARE ALLERGIC TO IT. THERE IS ALSO A WHIRLING NOISE THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. WE NOTICED THIS RIGHT AFTER BUYING THE CAR AND THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT THAT IT'S JUST A NOISE THIS MODEL CAR MAKES. THE FIRST 2 ISSUES SEEM TO HAVE AFFECTED A VERY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY FORD HASN'T RECALLED THE CARS AS THIS COULD LEAD TO SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF THE CAR BEING TURNED ON (DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN MOTION). STEERING GETS REAL SENSITIVE. *TR

RIDING DOWN ROAD AND CAR STARTED LUNGING AND TRYING TO GO ON ITS OWN. THEN TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD THEN ONLY GO 40MPH BUT IT WOULD REV UP AND TAC AT 5 OR MORE. TOOK IT TO AMERICUS SUNBELT FORD, THEY SAID IT NEEDED TRANSAXLE FLUID AND PUT SOME IN. LIGHT WENT OFF AND IT WORKED. VERY DANGEROUS TO BE IN ROAD AND CAR WON'T GO FAST ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE A/C QUIT RIGHT AFTER THIS. HAD A/C FIXED AND IT WAS OK. NEXT THE THROTTLE BODY IN JUNE 2012 MESSED UP AND I HAD IT FIXED AT SUNBELT FORD AND THEY CHARGED ME ALMOST $900. RAN FOR A WHILE THEN FORD HAD A RECALL ON THROTTLE BODY AND I TOOK IT IN AND THEY CLEANED IT BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR WHAT I PAID TO GET FIXED. MAY 2014 A/C COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AGAIN GOT IT FIXED AND ON JULY 13, 2014 IN ATLANTA GA ON INTERSTATE 85 AROUND NORCROSS WITH THE TRAFFIC FLYING 75 80 MPH BY ME JERKING ALONG AT 40MPH AND THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY SINCE I HAD MY CHILD AND HUSBAND WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE WERE NOT AT AN EXIT TO GET OFF BUT WHEN WE LIMPED TO ONE I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND IT QUIT GOING UP THE SMALL HILL. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD THEREFORE WE WERE IN HARMS WAY AGAIN. WITH THE HELP OF STRANGERS WE PUSHED IT TO SAFETY. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 169 MILES BACK TO MY HOME AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS FULL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT IT WILL NOT GO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND PAY ME FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND A CAR THAT WON'T GO. *TR