Problems · by component

2005 Ford Freestyle electrical system problems

142 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Freestyle cite electrical system, 10% of all 1,459 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
142
10% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. OVER TIME, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME TOTALLY INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, OR OTHER GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARNEY FORD (LOCATED AT 237 MOOSEHEAD TRAIL, NEWPORT, ME 04953, (888) 460-7356) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR DAYS TO WEEKS AT A TIME. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIELECTRIC GREASE WAS ADDED TO THE WIRE CONNECTORS AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BETWEEN 60-68 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1200 MILES IN 2007 AND AGAIN BY 2012. *TP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2019Electrical systemODI 11253137
“DASH CLUSTER DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. FOUND PROBLEM TO BE SHODDY SOLDER WORK ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSING MULTIPLE FAILURES IN THE DASH CLUSTER AND FUEL SYSTEM. HAPPENED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 MPH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2019Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11230688
“WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. I AM STILL ABLE TO ACCELERATE, STEER AND STOP; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS, HEATER AND RADIO SHUT OFF AND ALL OF MY GAUGES QUIT WORKING. MY DASHBOARD SAYS "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" BUT THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER (WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AT TIMES), BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON DIFFERENT ROAD TYPES AND VARYING SPEEDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11228563
“ALL ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WITH NO WORKING GAUGES, BUT CAR DRIVES. WITHING PAST YEAR, HAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED 2 TIMES, ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE, INJECTOR COILS & SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED/REPLACED, BATTERY REPLACED, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY & GASKET, . HAD DIAGNOSED AT 2 FORD DEALERS IN DIFFERENT STATES AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO STAY ON. BOTH DEALERS WERE ADAMENT IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH CLEARLY IT IS NOT SINCE THE ERROR LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL OR RCM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TEST FOR EITHER. DEALER WANTS ME TO FOOT THE (HOURLY / UNION) LABOR RATE WHILE THEY TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. CURRENTLY CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH LOCAL MECHANIC WHO IS GOING OVER THE CAR TO FIGURE IT OUT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DETERMINED YET.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2019Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11222441
“VEHICLES SAYS AWD MALFUNCTION AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR WON'T SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE POWER LOCKS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED SHORTLY BEFORE THE AWD MALFUNCTION, MAKING IT WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO SHUT. THE POWER LOCK WAS UNLOCKED/LOCKED A COUPLE TIMES FIXING THE ISSUE FOR NOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2019Power train, Electrical system, WheelsODI 11171879

Showing 6 of 142 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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