Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Ford Freestyle problems

Owners filed 1,459 complaints about the 2005 Ford Freestyle with NHTSA between Feb 2005 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (587).

Complaints
1,459
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
32
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control587
  2. Power train447
  3. Electrical system142
  4. Engine and engine cooling129
  5. Engine120
  6. Fuel system, gasoline95
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic85
  8. Structure61
  9. Fuel/propulsion system41
  10. Latches/locks/linkages37
  11. Steering21
  12. Fuel system, other18
  13. Service brakes17
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)16

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200530
200632
200763
200846
200964
2010218
2011447
2012239
201386
201474
201541
201645
201720
201813
201923
20204
20214
20221
20232
20243
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

587 reports16 crashes
“The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. While starting the vehicle, the vehicle revved high. While driving at high speeds, the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that several times, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who cleaned and replaced the throttle body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2024Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11569427

Power train

447 reports8 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2021Power trainODI 11423269

Electrical system

142 reports2 crashes1 fire
“When temperature get below freezing car doors will not latch shut and come back open. Car doors work fine when temp are higher. There is a recall already for this NHTSA# 06v383000 Ford# 06545. I have a Ford Case# XXX My car was not included in recall and either should be or needs to be further investigated. I don't want my kids falling out while I go down the highway and I can't wait 45 min for the car to warm up. This had done this all last winter and is doing it again and Ford refuses to do anything.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2025Electrical system, StructureODI 11704107

Engine and engine cooling

129 reports
“THE DASH BOARD INFO READS SAFE MODE (ENGINE FAILURE) THE LITE AND A WRENCH APPEAR ON THE DATA ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE MOTOR STILL ON GOES DOWN TO 1 TO 3 MPH WHILE DRIVING, ON STREET OR FREEWAY, THE CAR HAVE TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND PROCEEDS TO RUN FOR AWHILE AND DOES THE SAME THING AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.IT HAVE BEEN WORKED ON BY LICENSE MECHANICS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.. NEED A SOLUTION. IT IS A UNSAFE SITUATIONS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10552551

Engine

120 reports4 crashes1 fire
“Says transmission data error check engine and trac control all display and only allow me to drive 20-35 MPH some time I can turn the car off and back on and the codes will shut off but they come back on in the middle of the highway what usually takes me 30 minutes takes me an hour and a half to get to some times 2 hours I can't run my AC cuz that over does my alternator and heats my car I've only had it a year and it's been giving me problems 5 months after getting it I have kids and it gets rough going slow in the heat and hoping if I press to much on the gas please help I am broke and have nothing but this car left and I've spent $2000 for people to tell me nothing is wrong with it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2022Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11468338

Fuel system, gasoline

95 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“TRAVELING ON HWY AT APPROX 60 MPH, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" MESSAGE APPEARED AND CAR POWERED DOWN. PULLED OVER, TURNED CAR OFF, WAITED 1 MIN, RESTARTED CAR. MESSAGE WAS CLEARED AND CAR DROVE AS NORMAL. ABOUT 20 MILES LATER, SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MESSAGE APPEARED. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MESSAGE REMAINED. VERY LOW POWER UPON ACCELERATION. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. RECEIVED ENGINE CODE P2111, P2112 RELATING TO THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. ETB HAD BEEN CLEANED 11/13 BY DEALER PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 12/14. SERVICE PERFORMED TO REPROGRAM ETB, NO CLEANING WAS NEEDED. PROBLEM RECURRED 12/23/14. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND NO POWER UPON ACCELERATION PERSISTS. CODES INDICATE ETB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2015Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10670132
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.