2005 Ford Freestyle: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Nov 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 98,000 miles · IN

Own a 2005 ford freestyle, v6, 3.0, all wheel drive, limited edition. I started hearing loud grinding and knocking noises from the CVT transmission. The vehicle will start, and the rpms will increase and decrease uncontrollably. This is the reason the CVT transmission in these vehicles are going bad, malfunctioning, and breaking continuously. The rpms are delayed in the decreasing rpms process, which tells the computer to shift prematurely, or to quickly, causing any internal parts and external parts to be damaged. These vehicles are equipped with a computerized throttle positioning sensor that is attached to the actual throttle body. The computer is sending improper commands to the throttling position sensor, rpms, shifting delay and synchronized shifting sensors. This is putting too much of a load on the gears, bearings, clutches, and other parts pertaining to the functioning of the CVT transmission shifting and everyday use. Ford motor company (as stamped on the VIN and vehicle information sticker inside and on the driver side door jam of the vehicle) should have perfected and or recognized these issues during the manufacturing, testing, and or dino sessions. All vehicle designs are to be tested, diagnosed if any issues occur, and are to be fixed, redesigned, and replaced. Ford should take recognition to the customers and dealers that own these vehicles. People are purchasing these vehicles without the knowledge of possible failure and technical difficulties of these units. These issues can cause the vehicles, especially the vehicles that are all wheel drive, to lock up, brake, break, accelerate uncontrollably, and cause wrecks, fender benders, or more severe injuries, and even the lives of people of this great nation. The united states government will need to take action immediately, before ford motor company vehicles kill, eliminate, and or decease people.

Filed Mar 26, 2014 · Transmission · 106,439 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased on february 6, 2014 and advised the dealer during a test drive there was a noise. The dealer stated that there was a loose belt and stated to schedule a service appointment. While driving 25 MPH the vehicle was making a grinding noise and then it stalled and would not shift in or out gear. The vehicle had to be towed to a local mechanic that was recommended by the dealer. The failure nearly caused a crash to occur. The dealer advised the contact that they would pay half of the repair cost; however, instead the dealer provided another transmission. After the transmission was installed the identical failure recurred. The contact was concerned about a potential crash. The dealer did not diagnose the failure. The failure occurred on february 26, 2014. The vehicle was in the mechanic possession from february 26, 2014 to march 19, 2014; however, the failure recurred and was towed back to the local mechanic. The mechanic was referred to the contact by the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer gave the mechanic a transmission with no warranty; however, there is a limited warranty provided by the local mechanic. The failure mileage was 106,439.

Filed Jan 22, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 33,000 miles · KY

I have more than one complaint. 1) shortly after buying my used 2005 freestyle I would be driving both at higher and lower speeds and I would loose all control of the vehicle. It would not respond to gas or steering. It was like it was losing power but it was still running. I had several near misses when this would happen. I was lucky that when I bought my freestyle it was "certified" and under warranty, otherwise the repairs would have cost me over $1200. My ford dealer replaced the kind of sensor/brain as they called it. Has been working sense. 2) air compressor needs to be replaced now. I thought the A/C wasn't blowing cold enough, I finally told it to a repair shop I trust and he said he couldn't understand I had any cool air at all. 3) brakes, rear most of all, have been replaced several times. Way too soon and anytime it's wet they squeal like crazy. Guess I need to have them changed again. 4) transmission issues are starting now. I roughly have 90k miles and hoped this would be my last car for several more years. I hate to trade it in and start another car payment and let this car get back out to some other unsuspecting soul.

Filed Oct 20, 2011 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

I purchase my 2005 ford freestyle in june 2005. July 2005 traveling to georgia between 55/60 MPH, the check engine light and transmission icon appeared. Upon trying to accelerate, I could not move no more than 30-40 MPH with the RPM's racing. I had to pull over and let the car rest approximately 15-20 minutes. Upon starting the car and putting into drive gear it was very hard and lunged. The car sounds like you're racing the engine with the vehicle in park. The frequency of the engine/transmission light with trying to accelerate and can not is a persistent issue. It also lunges when the air conditioner is turned on. Once the car is shut off and started again, while your foot is on the brake which has to be with more pressure than usual to control the lunge. Sitting in traffic with the air on with cars ahead of you is frightening since it will lunge then also. This has been an ongoing issue since the purchase of this vehicle. I've also had the brakes repaired more than normal. Since acquiring this car. Recently, I've gotten the brakes done in february, may and currently need another repair with all the squealing.

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Brakes · VA

I bought my 2005 ford freestyle new in january 2006. By november 2008 the rear brakes began grinding. I had them replaced at my local ford dealership; it was still under the 3 year/ 36,000 miles warranty. Now, a year and a half later the brakes are grinding again and need to be replaced. The vehicle has less than 30,000 miles on it but is no longer covered under the 3 year warranty. The brakes shouldn't have to be replaced this often. However, in july 2007 we received a letter from ford stating that the rear brakes would be covered under the original 3 year/ 36,000 miles warranty. This raises a red flag that ford knew about the brake issues but did nothing about it, and still hasn't done anything.

Filed May 6, 2010 · Engine · 58,000 miles · PR

My vehicle has had a habit of lurching forward in an involuntary motion. Many times I've gone from park to drive, with brakes applied, the RPM increase and a strong lurch forward is done. Even with the brakes applied it nearly forces itself to go forward when I thro it in reverse, it will repeat this involuntary action. When I am at a stop light or stop sign it will want to do the same action forward. I fear I will some day hit a vehicle or people in parking lot. I have taken it to my ford dealer and the computer does not give any faults. I have taken it some four times for the same thing. In addition, I keep informing them of the power steering. It makes loud humming and grinding noise, but the dealer keeps telling me their is nothing wrong with the system. The air conditioner also has a fault, when not in use it will run by itself and blow cold air. I have to turn it on and off until it stops blowing. Once it did it with the engine off. I have also complained to the dealer but with the same results, their is nothing wrong. I keep asking myself, how can I make the ford auto maker responsible is the vehicle lurches forward and hits another car or worse, I can hit a pedestrian?

Filed May 22, 2008 · Transmission · 59,100 miles · MN

Experienced a loud squeal from transmission when vehicle driven at 40 MPH or less. Found fluid leak on transmission case. Brought vehicle to dealer. Was told by service rep that transmission needed upgrade to new transmission case bolts to address leaking problem and upgraded gearing to address squeal. Total cost estimate to be $4,000.

Filed May 5, 2008 · Brakes · 12,521 miles · CA

Brakes were going out, car wobbling back and forth, grinding sounds. This is the 4th time that this has occurred over the last 15 months. We have had to replace the brakes on the back twice now and the front twice, the rotors twice also.

Filed Mar 3, 2008 · Brakes · 45,854 miles · MI

I own a 2005 ford freestyle and there are 45,854 miles on the car. Over the previous few months, while backing up, I heard a grinding noise from the rear of the car. As a retired salesman who drove over 1,000,000 miles without replacing any brakes on a car, I did not immediately come to the conclusion that this noise was coming from the rear brakes. I was under the impression that the front brakes historically would fail before the rear brakes would. I finally did take the car to brakes only america, inc., in lansing, mi, where I was told that the entire rear brake system was worn out. I had to have the rotors and pads replaced for a cost of $269.85. Staff at the brakes only store told me that the quality of the rear disc brakes are not of the same quality as the front, which on my car, are still in very good condition. I contacted ford motor company today, march 3, 2008, and they told me that until december 31, 2007, the company reviewed each complaint regarding these rear brakes on an individual basis, even after the expiration of the warranty. Because of the timing of my rear brakes failing, ford said that it could not help me with this matter. If there was a recall from ford, I did not receive this notification.

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 27, 2007 · Brakes · 20,000 miles · KY

I had to have the rear brakes replaced on my 2005 ford freestyle at 24,000 miles. The reason I consider this a safety hazard is that I do not know of any vehicle that has to have the rear brakes replaced at such low miles. Thus, when the grinding noises appeared at less than 20,000 miles, I never even guessed that it might be the brakes. I have talked to other people with this issue and no one can believe that rear brakes had to be replaced at that low a mileage total. There is a tsb out that says that ford understands that this is happening and will replace the brakes at no cost if they wear out at less than the regular warranty period. However, if this is such an issue that they have a tsb out on it, I believe they understand it is an issue and many people can't afford to replace brakes on a new car so they may continue to drive in the hopes it is not a big issue.