5.2
fairly significant- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 18,139 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Rear brake failed for the second time with in 27,000 miles. Ford refused to help. I believe there is a problem with the braking system in this SUV. Also, had to replace both strut bearings and I have on starting to go out again. I think this car should have never left the plant.
- Mesquite, TX, USA
2005 Ford Freestyle - rear rotors and breaks need replacement after 29K miles.
- North Haven, CT, USA
Rear brakes get very hot during normal driving and smell like the pads are burning. Also, a large amount of brake dust covers the rear wheels.
- Plainview, NY, USA
Have a 2005 Ford Freestyle with 23,200 miles when a dragging sound came from the rear brakes - by this time it was to late. Rear brakes and rotors had to be replaced for $353. We questioned that this seemed premature - we were told by the dealer this is normal, they see it all the time. I would have to agree with the other complaints - I believe this is a design flaw and should be investigated.
- Schererville, IN, USA
I am leasing a 2005 Ford Freestyle and last April 20/07 I brought the vehicle to witt Lincoln Mercury in escondido, calif. For an oil change. The recorded mileage was 15,524 miles and after the service was done I was informed that the rear brakes require immediate attention as the rotors need to be machined and the pads are worn out. I feel that Ford Motor Co. Should be made aware of this problem that the brakes prematurely wore out. I started the lease last July 2005 and I do mostly city driving. This is the first time I have this kind of car problem where the brakes wore out too soon!
- Temecula, CA, USA
Rear disc brake pads failed with 20,000 original miles.
- Moorpark, CA, USA
Our 2005 Freestyle hit 36K miles and immediately the back pads/rotors went bad. Grinding noises took me into ntb. They stated that the calipers were frozen and to go to dealership. Dealership said they weren't but the pads/rotors were bad and needed to be replaced/resurfaced - at $475! this is crazy. At 36K miles we have to replace the rear brakes? premature wear & possible brake failure does not sit comfortably with me - especially since the dealer swears up and down that the calipers are fine.
- Magnolia, TX, USA
Premature rear brake wear on a 2005 Ford Freestyle sel fwd with 20,300 miles on it. Notice much more brake dust on rear wheels. Dealer "acknowledges" there is a problem with this and other cars in the same family yet Ford will not investigate or cover repair costs. How long before a mishap is caused by a failure of this safety device? obvious design flaw in the brake pad or in the electronic braking program. Please investigate.
- Columbia, MD, USA
- the contact owns 2005 Ford Freestyle with a current and failure mileage of 23,489 miles. The contact went to the dealer to have the rear brakes serviced, and was informed that there was a service bulletin for the rear brakes. When the dealer tried to get the manufacturer to cover the cost, the manufacturer denied the claim.
- Germantown, MD, USA
2005 Ford Freestyle, purchased new. Ford has serviced as well as nys inspections. At 30,000 mile service the rear brakes had little disc pad left, rear rotors were warped beyond repair, caliper frozen. Ford said not covered by warranty (bumper to bumper 3 yrs 36,000 miles) and had to pay $475. Caliper now frozen and again not covered by warranty. Called Ford at 800-392-3673 and confirmed problem that rear brakes failed before front brakes, they acknowledged there was a design flaw, but refused to cover with warranty, and said to keep my receipts in case a recall was issued.
- Pleasant Valley, NY, USA
Inspection of rear brake noise showed pads worn and rotors damaged after just 8000 miles on new Ford Freestyle 2005 ltd AWD. Pads and rotors were replaced by dealer under warranty. At 19000 miles rear pads are again completely worn with one pad scraping rotor.
- East Northport, NY, USA
Just got a repair bill for my 2005 Ford Freestyle to replace rear rotors and pads - car has only 22,000 miles and is not being driven in any unusual manner. Previous Ford products were Ford Windstar and F150 both requiring brake service around 90,000 miles. Premature wear of rear Freestyle brakes is referenced all over the internet. There appears to be a design flaw with car that does not meet customer expectations. Dealer service manager claimed > that Ford designed brakes to minimize front nose dive during braking. > what could be the reason for this" why did all my other Ford products not > need this? does it have something to do with safety crash ratings" > I feel this is a totally unacceptable design since I will need to change > brake pads on an annual basis. Ford customer care just said this was normal and had no alternative rationale. It would seem that Ford should at least provide some reasonable rationale for the premature wear.
- Barnegat, NJ, USA
Premature brake wear and grinding noise from rear wheel area.
- Fort Collins, CO, USA
I purchased a Ford Freestyle new, had braking problems from start, 1st time in to dealer said no problem, 2nd time replaced front pads, 3rd time rear pads and cut rotors, I had an issue with cutting rotors on vehicle w/7000 mi. 20,000 miles later, rear brakes are shot, rotors need replacing, Ford service manager says "normal wear and tear, this vehicle is designed to wear out brakes quickly. " "also told me he won't listen to me, I don't tell him what to do" when I said if this vehicle is made to go through brakes quickly it is a design flaw, and Ford should stand behind their products.
- Jackson, NJ, USA
I own a 2005 Ford Freestyle... I took the car in for a tune up and was told that my rear brakes (pads and rotors) need to be changed (90% worn). The dealer told me that my front brakes were only 40% worn. How could this be" the dealer told me that it looks like normal wear and tear! don't we expect the front brakes to wear out faster than the rear? is there a problem here" Ford customer relations offers only words but no action.
- Kirkland, 00, USA
I bought a new 2005 Ford Freestyle in July, 2005. At tire rotation, inspection, the rear brake pads were found to be badly worn and in need of replacement at around 16,000 miles.(December 2006) the dealer service rep. Said that it would not be covered under warranty. I am a retired truck driver, and I am trained to use my brakes probably 1/3 as much as the average driver. I am ready to turn this over to my attorney, or a class -action suit.
- Surprise, AZ, USA
2005 Freestyle with 28,000 miles was brought in for a recall and oil change. We were informed that the rear brake pads needed to be replaced, though the rotors were okay. The front brakes had greater than 50% of the pad material left. The representative went through a few unsatisfactory explanations (obviously had no clue what he was talking about) including the car "uses its rear brakes to do most of the stopping, " some Freestyles "just do this, " we are not driving it correctly, and finally, the 500 series cars use their rear brake pads much quicker than their fronts. (this is descriptive, not an explanation!) we paid the costs of the rotor resurfacing and the new pads. I was told the pad wear was even and the calipers are working properly. Obviously someone messed up their sums in designing the brake system, since this front wheel drive, front engined, softly sprung car should use its front brakes much more than the rears to generate its stopping power. If the rears are wearing out pads twice as fast as the fronts, they are not "quite right." Perhaps bigger rear brakes and a proportioning valve adjustment are what is needed, but Ford has missed the boat here and it will cost us, of course.
- Dallas, TX, USA
Rear brakes on right side failed at 7,800 miles. We had a near accident due to lack of adequate brake assistance. Disk and pads were damaged. Dealer stated that brakes warranty was overdue (12 mo.) and we had to paid for repairs on third party shop.
- Bayamon, PR, USA
Noticed rear brake noise on right rear. At 17,529 miles, Ford dealer checked and claimed rear brake pads and rotors need replacing at cost of approx. $400. Dealer claims no warranted items relating to rear brakes are covered. Have been driving new Ford vehicles since 1980 and have never experienced this problem at such low mileage before.
- Cinnaminson, NJ, USA
- Bay Shore, NY, USA