Problems with 2005 Ford Freestyle POWER TRAIN

I purchased my 2005 ford freestyle new in january 2006. after two years i started to experience various unintended accelerations. i took the vehicle to a ford authorized dealership and had it checked out. their work order indicated they had performed an "eec test code p2106 (throttle position sensor), it also indicated a pin point test qe1, qe9, and they proceeded to replace the throttle body". the problem went away for some time and after a few months the vehicle started to do the same thing again (acceleration). the problem really gets worse with the a/c on and while i try to maneuver into parking spaces or while i'm at a full stop waiting to turn. i have since used less my vehicle. this issue causes a great burden on me and my family since this is our daily driver and we are trying to avoid any mishaps that could involve an accident with another vehicle or person. *tr

While stopped with foot on the brake, the car surges forward and the rpms increase dramatically. this also happens while allowing vehicle to back out of a parking spot. this has occurred more than 10 times. the car has been taken to the dealership on 3 occasions and everytime we were told that they can not duplicate the problem and therefore can not fix it. it is only a matter of time before this vehicle lunges into cross traffic at a stop light. *tr

While starting up and pulling away from a parked position my 2005 ford freestyle jerked and stalled. when i restarted the wrench light on the dash lit up and the error message "fail safe engine mode" appeared. i was able to limp home about 4 to 5 miles, but had little power going up hills. the car seemed like it was in first or second gear the whole time. i have an appointment with the ford dealer tomorrow morning. this seems to be a growing complaint with these transmissions. *tr

2005 ford freestyle i backed out of a parking space and then put it into drive. the wrench light on the dash came on and when pressing on the gas, the car did not move. finally, after "flooring it", the car moved slowly. i drove home. when i stopped the car and restarted, the problem was gone. we took it to the dealer and they ran diagnostic tests. they reset the computer and said it was fine. after about a week later, it did the same thing again. *tr

My 2005 ford freestyle surges when put into forward or reverse gear without stepping on the gas pedal. *tr

Vehicle lunging into reverse 1. events to make it happen: put the vehicle into reverse with foot on brake and sometimes the vehicle will accelerate rapidly 2. occurs whether or not the engine is hot, but usually the weather is warm. 3. when first noticed the problem in 2008, was told the part to replace was the throttle body position sensor assembly and the part would be unavailable for 12 months. never replaced the parts. learned to keep foot on brake. *tr

Over a period of about 2 summers, the 2005 ford freestyle would surge while sitting at an intersection or slowing during the approach. the surge was a rapid acceleration of the vehicle which required a heavy, or a quick brake. a quick response was required to avoid a rear-end collision, entering an intersection, or striking a pedestrian. the surges seem to be related to the operation of the air conditioner. the car had gone into a "fail-safe" mode while sitting in a drive-thru. i began using the ac sparingly and would turn off the ac completely when driving in the city or approaching and intersection. however, while approaching a turn on a state route, with a speed limit of 55, the vehicle unexpectedly shutdown leaving the vehicle exposed to on-coming traffic. the date listed below is an approximation. around the same time toyota was having problems with "run-away" vehicles, i contacted the ford motor company alerting them of this hazard. i was told to contact a dealership. the dealership replaced the throttle body. i was told that the "computer" could not/did not show any information about the "fail-safe". on-line, it appears that many people have had these problems. due to the season, i will not know if the problem was corrected. i'm hoping that the family isn't in the car if it wasn't. *tr

Tl- the contact owns 2005 ford freestyle. the contact stated that on several occasions while driving, the vehicle would surge forward or reverse depending on the gear, the rpns would go up. on one occasion the vehicle shut off and had to be restarted. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that they could not duplicate the problem but they changed the cvt fluid. the current mileage is 60000 and the failure mileage was 59990. jp

On sunday, may 18, 2008, at approximately 11:15 am, my wife was driving my two (2) children to the mall which is located approximately six (6) miles from my residence. my wife related approximately one and a half miles from the mall she felt a pull in the front end of the car and then heard a loud explosion. she attempted to move the car to the side of the road to no avail. the car was then pushed off the roadway. after moving the car a few metal parts were secured from the road surface. i discovered that the transmission had sustained a catastrophic failure. the back of the transmission is missing as well as the parts contained within. the damage to this unit appears to be consistent with damage caused by a detonation. my wife related there were no warning lights, noises or mechanical failures of the vehicle before this incident occurred. i reported this matter to the dealership where the car was purchased. they seemed to show some level of concern after seeing the failed parts and offered to tow the vehicle to their service department free of charge. ford later acknowledged the damage was caused by a failure of the differential. this incident occurred in a rural area. based upon the amount of material which blasted from the transmission, had this incident occurred in town there would have been significant damage to surrounding structures, property, and persons. in closing, the ford corp. has offered to pay only half of the cost at $2,100.00 to repair the damage. in my opinion this is an admission of guilt as i did not ask for any assistance, it was volunteered. i counter offered to pay only the labor costs and requested an answer by cob friday, may 23, 2008. it is not surprising ford failed to respond. accordingly, i am submitting this complaint and request a recall of these transmissions due to the risk of public safety. *tr

Experienced a loud squeal from transmission when vehicle driven at 40 mph or less. found fluid leak on transmission case. brought vehicle to dealer. was told by service rep that transmission needed upgrade to new transmission case bolts to address leaking problem and upgraded gearing to address squeal. total cost estimate to be $4,000. *tr

The car will rev up and jump forward (or backward). sometimes stalls after jumping, worse when air conditioning is on. dealership has said there is no problem they can find. saw there was an investigations so i decided to make my complaint official. *tr

1. i noticed that there was a knocking noise of sorts coming from my vehicle when i would put it in drive. at first, it would only do it in drive. now, it makes the noise in park and in every gear except reverse. it is extremely loud. 2. after taking the vehicle to three different places, it has been determined that the input shaft and bearing needs to be replaced in my transmission. per the ford dealership, this will run roughly around $2,200.00! 3. i am currently waiting to get an appointment to get my car repaired. have called 2 separate ford dealerships and one of them told us to call back in a week when his transmission guy would be in, the other told us to call back when they open today. *tr

I have already replaced the throttle body in this vehicle around 2008. i can check with my mechanic for an exact date. it was surging into traffic, light poles in parking lots, and even pedestrians, all while my foot was on the brake. i now have the same issue with the throttle body failing again. this kind of car is going to injure or kill someone. i do not have another 800 dollars that the dealership charges to correct this problem. with no warning this car lunges forward with no regard to what or who is in front of it. please look into this further. i am fully aware that there are many others who also own this same type of car who have the same exact problem. please help advocate for the people who cannot continuously afford to fix this problem with no resolve in the end. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I first noticed a surge in the car just as it was out of warranty. the problem has gotten progressively worse with time. whenever the car comes to a stop (e.g. in a parking spot) the car surges in the direction the transmission is selected. additional brake pressure is immediately required to keep the vehicle from moving forward. likewise... when first selecting reverse from a stopped position the vehicle surges drastically which also requires prompt additional braking to keep the vehicle under control. the vehicle has always been well maintained by the dealer. the surging may be coming from an issue within the function of the throttle body, but not 100% sure of that. the addition of fuel cleaners seems to help, but only a little... and then only temporarily. symptoms occur year round, but seem to be worsened by high ambient temperatures. the vehicle is a threat to safety in it's design and should be recalled.

Transmission failed at 65000 miles on interstate. would not work in any gear. $1500+ to rebuild. common problem with freestars and windstars according to ford forums.*cn

My husband was backing our 2005 ford freestyle out of the garage at 8 am when it stopped moving, it would not go in any gear and the engine would not respond. my vehicle has 31,000 miles on it. after having it towed away on a flat bed tow truck and 2 days of diagnostics at a ford dealer repair shop it was found to need an entirely new transmission. there were 6 failure codes inside my cvt transmission. i contacted ford corp. several times and they refused to assist in costs as my 3 years had expired even though at 30,000 miles i had complete transmission failure. dealer states $5600.00 to replace. i had to replace all 4 tires at 23,000 miles as manufacturer continental tires had worn out, power steering line broke at 30,000 miles. vehicle is solely used for family transportation. *tr

Accelerating on it's own and lunges forward with foot on brake. vehicle tries to lunge mostly when going in reverse. this has been happening off and on for over the past 3 years and has gotten worse in the past months. also, while driving on the highway, the car sputters and goes into failsafe engine mode, the car must be restarted in order to have acceleration resume. holding off on replacing the throttle body due to high cost. *tr

Bought car used last month and within the last 2 weeks, car was unable to go into reverse. called the dealer, they told us to call ford roadside service. car was towed to dealer. dealer found shift bezel to be broken

Started car and was leaving restaurant parking space. engine revved up several hundred rpm and car was lurching forward as i tried to hold it back with the brake pedal. people were walking in front of car heading toward restaurant. car was lurching forward toward them and it was difficult to keep car from moving forward. the rpm's would go high enough to make the front tires spin a little bit on the paved parking lot. i killed the ignition to make car stop. the people thought i had been trying to assault them with the car because i didn't want to wait on them to walk across the parking lot in front of me. mechanic checked car out and couldn't find anything. this happens pretty frequently. it is worse when air conditioner is on and is most common when in parking lots or driveway when not even using the accelerator. *tr

We had a 2005 ford freestyle that would accelerate unexpectedly when you put the car in drive or reverse. we got rid of the vehicle after a couple times that this happened and one close call with a wall. the dealership couldn't find anything wrong. *tr

I have more than one complaint. 1) shortly after buying my used 2005 freestyle i would be driving both at higher and lower speeds and i would loose all control of the vehicle. it would not respond to gas or steering. it was like it was losing power but it was still running. i had several near misses when this would happen. i was lucky that when i bought my freestyle it was "certified" and under warranty, otherwise the repairs would have cost me over $1200. my ford dealer replaced the kind of sensor/brain as they called it. has been working sense. 2) air compressor needs to be replaced now. i thought the a/c wasn't blowing cold enough, i finally told it to a repair shop i trust and he said he couldn't understand i had any cool air at all. 3) brakes, rear most of all, have been replaced several times. way too soon and anytime it's wet they squeal like crazy. guess i need to have them changed again. 4) transmission issues are starting now. i roughly have 90k miles and hoped this would be my last car for several more years. i hate to trade it in and start another car payment and let this car get back out to some other unsuspecting soul. *tr

I've had problems with this vehicle numerous times over the past few years. i filed a complaint on here once but do not remember the dates or the username/password i used. this vehicle is the worst car i have ever owned. i've sunk thousands into repairs in the last couple of years. i've had instrument cluster replaced 4 times, replaced engine mounts, my a/c compressor went out on it, throttle body replaced. and now it sits on blocks we thought was the fuel pump went out so replaced it. didn't do any good. not sure what it is the instrument cluster still doesn't work correctly, it was surging til the day the other day when it just wont go anymore, it will start and run but won't go. i was told it could be numerous things, throttle body again, instrument cluster still not right, might be my transmission, could be my pedal throttle sensor, fuel switch out..........so what do i do nickel and penny everything i have into a lemon that obviously the nhtsa nor ford care about. i'm a single mother with two children, we live 7 miles from town...and now i have no transportation. i bought this vehicle in 2005 and paid quite a bit for it. its like toilet paper or diapers....disposable! i will never purchase a ford again. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. while parked, the contact moved the gear shifter to reverse and the vehicle lunged backward abnormally as the check transmission warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised the contact that the transmission would have to be replaced. after the repair, the failure continued. the vehicle was not further repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 14,777. updated 02/14/12*lj updated 02/17/12

Tl* - the contact stated that on december 17, 2006, while driving at 10 to 15 mph he heard a whirling sound. the contact notified the dealer of the problem and was asked to get the car serviced. the vehicle was still with the dealer because the failure was undetermined.*ak updated 1/29/2007 - as of 1 19/07 the dealer still has the vehicle. the consumer was told that the transmission would have to be repaired. this will be the third time. *nm updated 1/29/2007 - *nm

Throttle body is giving me trouble. when i am at a light or stopped my car accelerates by itself. is a safety issue as sometimes i am at a pedestrian crosswalk or just at a light. very concerned about this issue. *kb

I own a 2005 ford freestyle. almost immediately after purchase off new car lot began having trouble with engine surging while a/c was running. have had it to ford dealership multiple times and nothing has been resolved and the year 2010 is now ending. on many occasions while stopped in traffic, the engine has surged and the car lurched forward so forcefully that i had to hold the brake to the floor to avoid a collision. repeated visits to ford dealer has resulted in nothing but a $50-$100 labor bill and no repair. i am afraid that it is going to happen and someone is going to get hurt. please look into this safety issue. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 mph on dry roads, the instrument panel gauges raised up to the highest readings, then dropped down to the lowest and subsequently did not function. also, while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle surged forward without warning while the brake pedal was depressed. finally, even though the vehicle has a continuous transmission, there was still a moderate shift shock between gears. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the cause of the problems were unable to be determined. the manufacturer was also notified.

The ford freestyle surges and accelerates while idling in parking spot or while sitting at a stop light. sometimes when it surges, the car loses power and goes into "engine failsafe mode". *tr

It should have been a sign when the brakes wore out at less than a year and less than 9,000. the car would idle high and jump before stepping on the gas. the car would get a jump start before i wanted it to move. a noise could be heard while the car was in park. however, it did change noises as i change gears. driving the car would sound like it was roaring. during the winter time, the car was not good with the gears/transmission as it felt like it was slipping in the transmission and not sticking in the gear. the car is presently in the service station of the place i purchased the car and i have been advised the vehicle needs a transmission and catalytic converter. the car has a little over 62,000 miles and has been maintained. *tr

My 2005 ford freestyle would lurch forward or backward if my foot was not firmly on the brake when idling or shifting into gear. this is especially problematic when the ac is on.. *tr

2005 ford freestyle. the continuously variable transmission has a defect in that it will sporadically and randomly dramatically change gear ratios resulting in a very noticeable increase in rpm. the consequence of this is that the engine undergoes moderate to severe engine braking significantly slowing down the car without warning. this has caused a number of near accidents as cars following closely behind have no warning that the car will slow down very aggressively in front of them. i have reported the defect to my local ford dealer (frontier ford in sunnyvale, california) and it has been in their service department three separate times and they have been unable to repair the problem and have not provided acceptable options to fix the problem, apparently unconcerned about the significant safety risk posed by the defect. the most recent incident occurred saturday april 15, 2006. *jb

On the ford freestyle there is an inherent problem with transmission. when trying to pass,go up hill, or just as temperature rises in transmission. the transmission will go into traction control setting. you will loose speed power and rpm will go up and red line. this is very dangerous if you are trying to pass on two lane road. i have been almost ran over on the freeway when this occurs. ford will not acknowledge the problem. i checked on edmonds dot com and there are thousands of complaints with this problem. the people are told they must buy a new transmission. for between $5000-$7000 dollars. i have spent 2000 already and still not fixed problem. mine failed at 74,800 miles , but i was out of town in the boom docks and by the time i got back i was over mileage, they would not honor the warranty. i have over a 120,000 miles now and they can not fix it, i live in nebraska where the problem does not occur under 40 degrees outside. i started seeing a wrench appear on the console but the dealer could not find any computer problem. so they ignored it a glitch in the system. thanks scott manley this problem can and will cause a death. *tr

Trans would function normally and then when you put it in park it starts backing up! then when you attempt to place the car in drive it revs like it's in neutral. you have to shift it into low to get it into drive. this also causes it to come out of gear while driving. *nm

Car accelerates when at low idle and the a/c is running. the car will lurch forward. i can stop it with the brakes. can happen at stop lights, but usually the brake is fully depressed at stop lights. unfortunately, it happens when backing out of the driveway and switching to drive, it will lurch at that point. it will also happen when parking, either pull-in parking or parallel. just lucky i've been able to hit the brakes in time. *tr

1. i leased a 05 ford freestyle and in just 3 days the pcm was broken. in just 100 miles. i was still able to drive home that night. 2. the next day i called the dealership and told them that the engine check light was turning on and the vehicles turns on and off, so maybe they can tow the car from my home. instead they told me to drive the car to the dealership. i was on my way to the dealership and when i exited the freeway the engine suddenly stopped including the brakes which almost made me fall off the ditch. i was then towed to the dealearship. 3. the dealership had to order a new pcm and when the pcm arrive after 2 days they had to wait for another 2 days since they did not have the software to calibrate the new pcm. the car stayed longer in the dealership than with me while i was paying the lease everyday. *jb

I purchase my 2005 ford freestyle in june 2005. july 2005 traveling to georgia between 55/60 mph, the check engine light and transmission icon appeared. upon trying to accelerate, i could not move no more than 30-40 mph with the rpm's racing. i had to pull over and let the car rest approximately 15-20 minutes. upon starting the car and putting into drive gear it was very hard and lunged. the car sounds like you're racing the engine with the vehicle in park. the frequency of the engine/transmission light with trying to accelerate and can not is a persistent issue. it also lunges when the air conditioner is turned on. once the car is shut off and started again, while your foot is on the brake which has to be with more pressure than usual to control the lunge. sitting in traffic with the air on with cars ahead of you is frightening since it will lunge then also. this has been an ongoing issue since the purchase of this vehicle. i've also had the brakes repaired more than normal. since acquiring this car. recently, i've gotten the brakes done in february, may and currently need another repair with all the squealing. *tr

Vehicle was purchased on 7/16/2005. after being driven off the lot, transmission light appeared. vehicle was returned to dealer who could not locate a problem. vehicle was then driven 23 miles when all power was lost. vehicle was towed back to dealer. service tried to correct the problem for 1 week before ordering a new transmission. new transmission was installed one week later. upon picking up vehicle, engine light appeared. vehicle will now need to be returned once again. glare from tan interior is dangerous also, and accelerator tends to stick. *nm

Began when car was about one year old. it occurs just about every time it's driven. i took car to garage and they said it was o.k. it lungs in forward and reverse. *tr

Have been experiencing the awd malfunction message and traction control light coming on. had it in to be looked at. dealer replaced the pump pressure sensor. the problem went away for a few months but has returned. dealer again replaced the pump pressure sensor. my wife got 5 minutes from the dealer and the messages reappeared. dealer now says the rear differential oil pump needs to be replaced. i just spent 2 hours reading from other freesytle owners who have been through the same thing. ford doesn't specify that the rear differential oil should be changed at any certain mileage, but from what i have read this is what causes the pump to fail. furthermore, when this pump goes bad it causes the computer to mess up preventing the alternator from re-charging. my wife barely made it to work before the care shut down. if it would have happened on the interstate during rush hour i'd be typing this from the hospital. please look into this as i"m no the only freestyle owner to have the same problems. go to www.myfordfreestyle.com to see more. *tr

Hi: the cvt transmission surges at highway speed of 70 miles this is on our 2005 ford freestyle sel. it continues to do this and has being brought to the attention of the ford dealership that we bought the vehicle from and as of yet they have not taken care of this issue. *jb

I purchased a 2005 ford freestyle on 2/6/05. it stopped working on 2/07/05, the vehicle completely shut down and i was towed back to the dealership. i have been driving around in a rental for nearly a week. yet i've paid for a new vehicle. ford really should work out the quirks before putting out a new vehicle. they are supposed replace the whole transmission on 2/14. this is ridiculous!*jb

Car stops on its own. shuts off. bucks and jerks and is going to kill me and my kids and ford will not do anything about it. i can't even get a ford dealership to work on my vehicle they tell me they don't want this problem. there are to many repairs on this vehicle and now they are telling well your warranty is up now. they kept telling me at ford (1-800) we are working on it, getting me a buy back. now they tell me it is do deal and they will not fix my vehicle. my car now fills up with water when it rains. i have had 2 transmissions put in this vehicle, they replaced my brakes a few times, they replaced my computer a few times, and all the while kept telling me we are working on getting you a new vehicle. they the dealership shuts down. i have been to others and they don't want my problem. i have called ford a lot of times. they just take my information and tell me they don't have to fix your vehicle. i am fed up with this. *tr