10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 16 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 78,716 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle would surge forward unexpectedly when no pressure was being applied to the accelerator pedal. The brakes were effective in stopping the vehicle during the failures. The failure was experienced on an intermittent basis when the vehicle was idled. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where they located a failure within the egr valve and mass air flow sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number PE11018 (vehicle speed control) that may be related to the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000 and the current mileage was 107,600. The VIN was unavailable.
- Hamshire, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light with the brakes engaged, the vehicle lunged forward and the engine revved to a very high RPM. The failure also occurred while in reverse. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Columbus, OH, USA
I have a 2005 Ford Freestyle that has been surging forward when I am at a complete stop & the engine fail safe mode with a wrench has shown up. I have 4 kids & this has happened on the highway with them in the car on the highway & it is very scary to lose power on the highway & try to get to the shoulder without getting hit by another car.
- Lawson, MO, USA
Started car, put it in reverse, car lunged. Not the first time it has done this. Each time the lunge, either in reverse or drive, happens with no warning whatsoever. It just about always starts when the car is started or moved into gear after idling.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
My 2005 Ford Freestyle lunges when placed in drive or reverse, it happens before the accelerator is pressed and I must stomp the brake to stop it. I have had many close calls in the past two weeks. Today a "fail safe engine mode" message came on.
- Kernersville, NC, USA
The contact owns 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated the vehicle would accelerate when the brakes were applied. The failure occurred intermittently and more frequently whenever the air conditioner was on. The vehicle was not inspected by a mechanic. The failure mileage was 62,500 and the current mileage was 72,000.
- Butler, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. While changing gears from park to drive the vehicle suddenly lunged forward while depressing the brake pedal. The contact applied excessive force to the brake pedal in order to control the vehicle. The failure occurred intermittently and over time occurred more frequent. The engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle would lunge backwards when switching the gear from park to reverse as well. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: PE11018 (vehicle speed control) that may be related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
My 2005 Ford Freestyle will lunge at low speeds, usually while parking in the driveway or parking lot. This happens quite frequently while the car is in drive or reverse and even caused the front end to lunge into a concrete wall of a parking garage causing minimal damage before the brakes could be applied.
- Fairborn, OH, USA
My vehicle will jump ahead at different times. Most of the time it is when you put the car in gear. It lunges very quickly so you have to be aware if it at all times. The first time it happened it took me by surprise it jumped ahead so quickly. I have noticed lately when the air conditioning is in use it will jump/lunge ahead numerous times.
- Monroe, MI, USA
2005 Ford Freestyle began lurching forward when at a very low speed (pulling into/idling in a driveway). We were able to stop the vehicle by pressing on the brakes.
- Everett, WA, USA
I have a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The vehicle randomly surges in forward an reverse. I have found many complaints online saying it is the throttle body. It seems to happen most often when first shifting out of park to reverse or forward. Happens even more often when air is on. It is very disappointing there has been nothing done about this. This vehicle is supposed to be a safe family car!! it has put my son and wife in many close calls. I hope NHTSA makes Ford do something about this and soon!!
- Taylorville, IL, USA
I own a 2005 Ford Freestyle sel. I am experiencing engine surges (sudden acceleration) on a daily basis. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealer where they didn't find any problems and blamed it on engine load from the ac systems. While I have not had any accidents yet I have on several occasions been forced to stand on the brake to avoid hitting other vehicles and in one case a pedestrian. Ford won't do anything because they say that they can't find anything wrong and there are not recalls.
- Elgin, IL, USA
When go to back it lunges back and if you are sitting in traffic it will lunges forward and then stall out or die and the rpms go up real high.
- Houston, MO, USA
While idling my Freestyle will accelerate without my foot being on the gas pedal. I am always afraid to take my foot off the brake while idling just waiting for the car to jump forward.
- Kentucky, KY, USA
My 2005 Ford Freestyle sel fwd has sudden acceleration problems in both forward and reverse. This issue happens more frequently and is worse in the warmer months. This issue has been going on for the past 4 years with my vehicle. The sudden acceleration caused my Freestyle to shut down and go into engine failsafe mode the last time. The acceleration issue occurs multiple times a day. The dealer says that since there is not a recall on the vehicle there is nothing that they can do that won't come out of my pocket. I am worried that the car will one day lunge forward or backwards into another vehicle or a person walking around the car. Ford needs to be forced to issue a recall and correct this problem before someone is gravely injured.
- Novi, MI, USA
The vehicle is experiencing a surge in the engine performance at a low speed and also when shifting into drive, neutral, reverse & park. The surge of the engine causes the vehicle to lunge forward or rearward (depending on what gear is selected) and when put in neutral or park a sharp increase in engine RPM's is experienced to the extent that the engine stalls. This problem is a constant occurrence, not intermittent or every once in a while.
- Washington, MI, USA
I purchased at 2005 Ford Freestyle in 2006. My vehicle now has 88,800 miles on it as of 07/18/11. Over the past year my vehicle has began accelerating when I shift the vehicle into a forward or reverse gear. My foot is always firmly on the brake. Recently, I have been turning the A/C on low and watching the RPM's before I shift into gear. My car will still jump on me and the motor will accelerate even at 500 RPM"S. I will not go through a drive thru because this is where my car will cause the most problems and I never know when my vehicle will begin to malfunction. I have called 2 Ford dealerships and they are aware of this issue, but they would have to duplicate the problem before they can diagnose anything. They state it could be a number of issues. I am reluctant to take it in cause I know that I will be spending lots of money and the problem will not be resolved. I think Ford needs to isolate the problem and fix it. This seems to be very similar to the issues that some of the Ford Taurus's had in the past. This car is just a revamped Ford Taurus....different look same problems!
- Fair Play, SC, USA
My 2005 Ford Freestyle ltd/ has experienced idle surges several times in past 2 years of ownership. The most recent occurance on 7-15-2011.
- Littleton, CO, USA
The contact owns 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly. The contact attempted to exit a driveway and when the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the vehicle surged backwards. The contact crashed through a fence and did not stop until crashing into another vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed in the crash. The failure mileage was 41,000. Updated 08/11/11 updated 08/31/11 updated 09/07/11 updated 3/08/2012
- Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA
- Kokomo, IN, USA