2005 FORD FREESTYLE Complaints

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 40-45 AND CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHINING SOUND, A COUPLE OF SECOND LATER SPEED STARTED DECREASING AND THE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HAD IT SENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (MEINEKE) WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY GONE OUT AND THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE IN THE AMOUNT OF 6498.00 AND THAT WAS PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION ( THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN WILL COME IN DUE TO BACK ORDER) AND LABOR. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THE FAULTY CVTS/ HOWEVER STILL NO RECALL TO FIX THE REPAIR AT FORDS EXPENSE. *TR

ENGINE SURGING WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, THEN SURGING FORWARD, HARD TO STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE TOWED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR FAILED AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RESURFACE UNTIL THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS FIXED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. *TR

IN 2010, MY CAR WOULD GO INTO "ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" AND I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT. AFTER A FEW TIMES, IS STARTED LURCHING FORWARD WHEN IT WAS IDLING. AT THAT TIME, I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. TODAY, APRIL 10, 2013, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE "ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" KICKED ON TWICE AND THE SECOND TIME, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO WORK AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY OFFICE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC RUN. IT COST $75 AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THAT THEY CAN DO IS CLEAN AND RESET THE COMPUTER UNDER A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL. I PLAN TO DROP IT OFF TODAY AT A DEALERSHIP ON MY WAY HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR NOW HAS OVER 109,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY IN 2010 AND IT IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS FIXED CORRECTLY AND THE COST IS TAKEN ON BY FORD FOR THE FAULTY PART! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 5/22/13 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 122,946.

CVT TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES MANY LAWSUITS OVER THIS OUR TRANSMISSION STOP YESTERDAY. READING THE COST OF REPLACE AND THIS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS PLEASE HELP! *TR

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MY CAR HAD AN UNEXPECTED LURCHING/LUNGING PROBLEM WHENEVER I WAS PULLING IN & OUT OF PARKING SPACES. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. I NOTICED ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THE SUGGESTED FIX WAS TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, SO ON 9/17/12, I HAD MY REGULAR MECHANIC PERFORM THIS REPAIR. IN DEC 2012, I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY OR REIMBURSE ME IF I HAD ALREADY HAD IT DONE. THIS LETTER WAS APPARENTLY A RESULT OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS WITH NHTSA AND A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILED OVER 2 YEARS AGO. NO SOONER HAD I APPLIED FOR THE REFUND WHEN THE SECOND ISSUE (THAT THE FORUMS ALL DESCRIBE) STARTING OCCURRING - I.E. A LOUD WHINE WHENEVER I HAVE THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. THE SOUND GOES AWAY ONCE IN DRIVE, BUT I'VE HAD 3 GARAGES TELL ME THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THE REPAIR COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $4,000 TO $7,000. NUMEROUS DOCUMENTATION EXISTS THAT THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING AROUND 100,000 MILES AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PART NO LONGER MAKES IT, SO ONLY REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS CAN BE USED. APPARENTLY FORD HAS THE MARKET CORNERED ON THOSE AND THERE IS A HUGE BACK-ORDER PROBLEM TO EVEN GET THE WORK NONE. ALL THIS INDICATES A PROBLEM ON FORD'S PART, BUT A LACK OF RESPONSE UNTIL ANOTHER CLASS ACTION IS THROWN AT THEM WHICH IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING MY CAR, SINCE IT SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO DIE. I DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT I DO WANT THE NHTSA TO PUT PRESSURE ON FORD TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SINCE MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE REACHING THE MILEAGE POINT WHERE THE FAILURE IS BOUND TO OCCUR AND AN ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN. THE THROTTLE-BODY PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE CVT PROBLEM SO PLEASE HAVE THEM FIX IT. *TR

ISSUE 1: THE CAR LUNGES PERIODICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS VERY STARTLING AND CAUSES PANIC-REACTIONS TO SLAM THE BRAKE TO STOP. I DON'T BELIEVE THE COUNTER-MEASURES I'VE BEEN USING ARE A VERY GOOD LONG-TERM "DEFENSIVE-DRIVING" STRATEGY ESPECIALLY IF IT GETS WORSE NOR DO I FEEL ITS A SITUATION A DRIVER WITH A FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO FACE ON A REPEAT AND REGULAR BASIS. IT USUALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS LIKE MOVING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING POSITION (I'VE ALMOST DRIVEN THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR AND INSIDE GARAGE WALL OR HIT PARKED CARS IN PARKING LOTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS), APPROACHING OR LEAVING STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS (I NOW SLOW DOWN TRIPLE WHAT I WOULD IN ANOTHER VEHICLE TO AVOID GETTING CLOSE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE IT LUNGES), AND USUALLY MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS HAS BEEN ON-GOING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. FINALLY WHEN I RESEARCHED RECALLS, I NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN IF ITS HAPPENING TO OTHERS AS WELL AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS NEEDING TO STOP SUDDENLY TO AVOID SOMETHING LIKE A CAR OR PERSON AND THE CAR LUNGING AND STRIKING IT ANYWAY. ISSUE 2: THE CAR IS LOSING ABOUT 100 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS COMPARED TO 1 YEAR AGO AND 150 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS COMPARED TO 2 YEARS AGO. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC 2010 IT GOT ABOUT 430 MILES PER TANK. NOW IT GETS ABOUT 280 MILES PER TANK. *TR

THE VEHICLE 'S ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, TO NO AVAIL. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING AGAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TRYING TO PUT IT IN GEAR, IT SUDDENLY WORKED! KNOWING I HAD A 250 MILE TRIP BACK HOME, I WAS VERY LEERY ABOUT TAKING A CHANCE WITH IT. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT. I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WAS USED AND IT "THREW" SEVERAL DIFFERENT CODES, RENDERING IT UNDIAGNOSABLE? THE MECHANIC CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP. AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HIM. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF WAITING, I CALLED FORD MYSELF AND WAS TREATED EXTREMELY RUDE AND ALSO WAS TOLD MY MECHANIC WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM! TWO MONTHS LATER, I GET A LETTER SAYING THE 'THROTTLE BODY" NEEDED TO BE "CLEANED OUT"...AT THEIR EXPENSE. THIS PROCEDURE WAS DONE AND I AM CONTINUOUSLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS COLD (AROUND 32 DEGREES). THE VEHICLE WILL RUN AFTER WARMING THE ENGINE (SHUTTING IT DOWN/RESTARTING REPEATEDLY) BEFORE IT DECIDES TO FINALLY RUN "NORMAL". I WAS TOLD THIS RESETS THE CODE??? I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, THEY DO NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT OR THEIR NAME! FORD HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CVT TRANSMISSION AND THEY NEED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND WE, THE CONSUMER, NEED HELP WITH THIS ON GOING ISSUE. MOST CAN NOT AFFORD TO HANDLE THIS REPAIR AND THOSE WHO DID, HAD NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! I BELIEVE, WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (USED) IN 2007, FORD KNEW OF THIS ISSUE, BUT GAVE NO KNOWLEDGE TO ME. I DID ASK ABOUT THIS CVT TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE GREATEST TRANSMISSION EVER...REALLY!!!! *TR