Ford Freestyle 2005–2007

Summary

3 model years in 1 generation, 3,652 owner complaints in total.
No model year stands out as the most complained-about of its generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 74,000 miles (3,295 of them give one).
Owners reported 101 crashes, 14 fires, 36 injuries and 0 deaths across these model years.
2 recalls and 3 federal investigations cover these model years.

2005–2007

Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Most reported system	Note
2005	1,459	125	Accelerator & Cruise Control
2006	1,300	56	Accelerator & Cruise Control
2007	893	27	Accelerator & Cruise Control	not compared

Every model year

A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Investigations	Bulletins	Combined MPG	Page
2005	1,459	2	2	43	19–20	yes
2006	1,300	1	1	23	19–20	yes
2007	893	0	2	9	19–20	yes

What owners report across all years

System	Complaints	Share	Median mileage
Accelerator & Cruise Control	1,617	46%	73,000 mi
Powertrain	1,291	37%	78,769 mi
Engine	674	19%	79,000 mi
Fuel & Propulsion	395	11%	75,000 mi
Electrical System	265	8%	85,000 mi

Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.

Accelerator & Cruise Control

Owner report The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. While starting the vehicle, the vehicle revved high. While driving at high speeds, the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that several times, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine war…

Owner report Says transmission data error check engine and trac control all display and only allow me to drive 20-35 MPH some time I can turn the car off and back on and the codes will shut off but they come back on in the middle of the highway what usually takes me 30 minutes takes me an hour and a half to get to some times 2 hour…

Powertrain

Owner report The contact owns a 2007 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH in a parking lot, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle jolted forward. The contact stated that the vehicle was also hesitating before moving forward when the gear shifter was shifted into drive. The contact st…

Owner report Transmission is slipping not getting power when gas is pressed down Rpms are jumping not going into gear. Making a terrible sound in park. Passenger door not closing

Engine

Owner report I was driving down the road and my car just stopped like it went into Neutral but it was in drive the car starts up but when I’m Drive doesn’t go anywhere

Owner report The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled with the battery, oil pressure, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but of…

Largest recalls

Campaign	Component	Filed	Vehicles
06V383000	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	2006-10-05	139,537
05V515000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING	2005-11-09	123,206

Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Open investigations

None open.

Service bulletins

Ford issued 75 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about electrical system.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2024-05-24	POWER TRAIN	Motorcraft® Continuously Variable Chain-Type Transmission Fluid (XT-7-QCFT in non-Canadian markets, CXT-7-LCF12 in Canada) is no longer manufactured and will only be available until inventory depletes. The recommended replacement fluids are…
2016-09-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate …
2012-11-29	ENGINE	FORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. MOMENTARY ENGINE IDLE RPM SURGE MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND MAY OCCUR, DUE TO DEPOSITS BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY, AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE PARKING OR ENTERING DRIVEWAY AND CHECK ENGINE LAMP MAY …
2007-11-28	SERVICE BRAKES, AIR	FORD MERCURY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN 2005 THROUGH 2007 FWD AND AWD FORD FIVE HUNDRED, FREESTYLE AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES - REAR BRAKE WEAR. ALSO HAVE AN OWNER'S LETTER. *NJ UPDATED …
2007-04-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	MIL WITH DTC P0106 AND/OR P0109. *KB
2006-08-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB
2006-01-01	SUSPENSION:FRONT	GRUNT OR SQUEAK FROM FRONT SUSPENSION DURING FULL LOCK TURNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2006-01-01	SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER	HEATED SEATS INOPERATIVE. *TT
2006-01-01	SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY	SECOND ROW SEAT RECLINE CONCERN. *TT
2006-01-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL	INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGE SWEEP/RESET - MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON - REVERSE LIGHTS ON - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 2/17/2006. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.

This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.