2005 Ford Freestyle: brake failure

Filed Feb 7, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 98,000 miles · AR · crash

Where to begin.... The brakes are shot. Don't work at all. During the summer and fall the car will randomly go into "failsafe mode" and just stop. It has to be turned completely off for several minutes before attempting to turn back on and will generally do this up to 8 times before I just shut it off and leave it until the next day. During these months it will also get a mind of it's own and just leap forward. I have to stop 2 car lengths behind any car in front of me when I'm coming to a stop, otherwise it will lunge forward (even though I have my foot firmly applied on the brake) and hit the car in front of me. Oh, and will jump curbs, hit garage doors, all that good stuff too when it gets this surge. Then, during the winter months the door latch gets stuck and the car doors are literally frozen open. I can't drive anywhere with two small children and car doors that won't shut. Oh, and my vehicle wasn't included in the recall so I can't get it fixed. Oh and did I mention the brake system doesn't work? Like won't hold brake fluid, air is all in the lines, and hardly no brakes. Have you ever tried driving with no brakes?? It sucks! And forget driving on the highway with my kids in this car. I don't trust it at all!!

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Airbags, Brakes · 1 miles · FL · crash

I was driving my infant son home from the hospital after cardiovascular surgery. It was a light drizzle following a period of heavy rain. The roads were wet but there was no standing water. Cars were braking in front of me to make a left hand turn. I applied my brakes, the pedal was up, but there were no brakes. The vehicle did not even begin to stop. I pushed them again and again and there was still no braking of the vehicle causing a rear end collision with the car in front of me who rear ended the car in front of him. Note: the airbags never deployed! I had to take my infant back to the hospital via ambulance to have him checked out because of the prior surgery. The dealership said the car did not throw any codes and that there was no way to test the anti-lock brakes and no way to prove that they failed. I am a very cautious driver, always leave plenty of space to stop between me and the cars in front of me. I have never had an accident or moving violation, and yet the response that I received from the dealership was "well the front ends are made to collapse in the event of an accident".. That is not the issue. The accident should never have happened because the vehicle should have stopped. There was more than enough space to stop, I was applying the brakes, and did so multiple times to try to get them to work (so obviously I had plenty of space to stop) and yet the car would not even slow down. A vehicle should stop when you apply the brakes, anti-lock mode or not! Someone could have been killed and one of those people could have been my infant son!!!!!

Filed May 16, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact stated whenever the air conditioner was on for a long time and the vehicle was shifted into reverse gear it would lunge forward. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who advised her that they were unable to diagnose the failure. In addition, she also experienced brake failure when driving at low speeds and decelerating; the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised her that the metal part of the brake pedal fractured through the calipers causing it to leak the fluid. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 2, 2010 · Acceleration · 100,215 miles · PA

I had my 92 yr old friend in my 2005 ford freestyle 500. I am 41. We had just left the hardware store. I put the vehicle in reverse. ( I just bought the vehicle from kenny ross ford as a used vehicle in nov. 2009.) the vehicle accelerated as soon as the transmission kicked in and it threw us backwards into the parking lot. I slammed on the brakes but at the same time the car stalled and I had no brakes. I stood on the brake peddle and finally came to a stop approximately 20 feet back into the parking area. My 92 year old friend was shaken so very badly I feared a heart attack. If I were older and not so strong, we could have been killed... Garage said throttle body issue. I came home after telling him I felt as if I were driving a toyota, and he said it wasn't covered under my powertrain warranty and it would be $879.00 to fix. I haven't even owned it for a year yet. Are you kidding me. Now I am scared to drive it.

Filed Feb 15, 2009 · Brakes · 40,000 miles · MI · crash

While driving in heavy traffic with snow and slushy streets, the traffic ahead of me stopped. I applied the brakes and the ABS activated for about 1 second and then I had no brakes at all. No matter how hard I pushed the brake pedal, there was no ABS activity and no brakes. Fortunately I was only going about 5 MPH. I struck the vehicle in front of me. It had no damage but I had a broken bumper cover ($1300 to repair). I took the vehicle to the dealer I bought it from to have the ABS and brakes checked. They found nothing wrong. I wrote a letter to ford, explaining what happened. They said they were forwarding my letter to their engineering department for evaluation. I have heard nothing from them yet.

Filed Aug 20, 2007 · Brakes · 7,000 miles · KY

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact experienced brake failure. He took the vehicle to a shop and the mechanic stated that the brakes and rotors were very damaged and the vehicle should not be driven. The vehicle is currently located at the repair shop. The contact called ford, but they refused to offer assistance. The VIN, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 7,000.

Filed Jun 23, 2007 · Brakes, Suspension · 27,655 miles · TX

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.

Filed Apr 17, 2007 · Brakes · 36,195 miles · TX

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.

Filed Apr 5, 2007 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. While driving 20 MPH the contact heard the brakes producing a squeaking noise. The vehicle was not driven on a regular basis. The dealer stated that the rear brakes failed and were currently being replaced. This failure occurred often with ford freestyle vehicles. The current and failure mileage were 16,000.*ak updated 05/21/07.

Filed Mar 19, 2007 · Brakes · 29,797 miles · NY

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 $475.00. 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.

Filed Oct 11, 2006 · Brakes · 16,410 miles · GA

A routine oil change and tire rotation at 16,410 miles revealed that the rear brakes of the vehicle were severely worn. The repair technician stated the brake pads were dangerously thin. Subsequently, repair of the brakes by the dealer of purchase entailed new pads and resurfacing of the rotors. Premature wear and possible brake failure is of concern. I have asked both the dealer and manufacturer (ford) for assurances that premature wear will not reoccur and none was provided. Furthermore they provided no remedy.

Filed Sep 28, 2006 · Brakes · 31,500 miles · CA

Rear brakes failed at 31,000 miles. Dealership said the brakes and rotors were down to the metal and would have to be replaced. Front brakes were fine. Was told that they checked the calipers to see if there was a problem and would possibly be covered under warranty. They were not. After checking to see if anyone else has had problems, found numerous other owners that have had the same problem.