2005 Ford Freestyle: engine failure

Filed Apr 28, 2015 · Engine · 68,500 miles · OH

Kept having issues starting the vehicle along with while driving on the high way not being able to get up to the speed needed. Took it too beechmont ford in ohio today and because check engine light would come on then go off . When I spoke to somebody I was told $100 for an hour to diagnose then I was told they needed two more hours. I finally get a call and they say I might need an entire new engine ! How is that possible with not even 69 thousand miles on it: I just purchased the car in august ! How can these cars be out there with such problems? A new engine! All because of code ps305 and ps 316. Not to mention everytime I asked about the recalls being taken care of on my car I never was give an answer clearly.

Filed Nov 16, 2013 · Engine · MI

The dash board info reads safe mode (engine failure) the lite and a wrench appear on the data on the dash. The vehicle motor still on goes down to 1 to 3 MPH while driving, on street or freeway, the car have to be shut off and restarted and proceeds to run for awhile and does the same thing and no one can seem to find out what the problem is.it have been worked on by license mechanics several times and the problem is still there.. Need a solution. It is a unsafe situations.

Filed Nov 24, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · AR

I've had problems with this vehicle numerous times over the past few years. I filed a complaint on here once but do not remember the dates or the username/password I used. This vehicle is the worst car I have ever owned. I've sunk thousands into repairs in the last couple of years. I've had instrument cluster replaced 4 times, replaced engine mounts, my A/C compressor went out on it, throttle body replaced. And now it sits on blocks we thought was the fuel pump went out so replaced it. Didn't do any good. Not sure what it is the instrument cluster still doesn't work correctly, it was surging til the day the other day when it just wont go anymore, it will start and run but won't go. I was told it could be numerous things, throttle body again, instrument cluster still not right, might be my transmission, could be my pedal throttle sensor, fuel switch out..........so what do I do nickel and penny everything I have into a lemon that obviously the federal safety agency nor ford care about. I'm a single mother with two children, we live 7 miles from town...and now I have no transportation. I bought this vehicle in 2005 and paid quite a bit for it. Its like toilet paper or diapers....disposable! I will never purchase a ford again.

Filed Aug 5, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 89,000 miles · MI

For a number of weeks, my 2005 ford freestyle has lunged forward while sitting still. After the car lunges forward the dashboard readout says: "engine failure mode". This happened on friday july 6th while stopped at a red light and almost lunged into speeding traffic, and more recently on friday august 3rd while at a stop sign. This issue comes 18 months after replacing the vehicle transmission at 50,000 miles at the cost of more than $5,000. I wish to report this issue to the federal safety agency as I am seeing many other reports for this very issue reported and think that this needs to be a recall as this is a very big safety risk.

Filed Jun 22, 2012 · Engine · 112,111 miles · RI

While putting the vehicle both into drive and reverse it revs and/or rpms drop, and lunges until I hit the brakes or the motor cuts out and displays engine failure safety. It has done this twice, then a check engine light came on. I will schedule an appointment with the dealership, however it does cause a bit of nerves when it happens.

Filed Sep 1, 2011 · Engine · 129,500 miles · KY

We just bought a used 2005 ford freestyle and the dealer we bought it from told us the awd malfunction alert would come on, but it would not stay on long enough for a mechanic to check what was wrong with it. We did notice the alert coming on, but on our 4th day of driving the vehicle, we were pulling away from a drive thru window and preparing to maneuver around two vehicles stopped in front of us and I had just taken my foot off the brake and not even touched the gas pedal when the car lunged forward. I applied the brake and then slowly took my foot away again and the car lunged and the engine died. The car still had enough momentum after the engine died to allow me to coast away from the two vehicles in front of me. I tried to start the car again and it lunged and died again. On the third try, it started and I was able to get out of the parking lot, but I was very frightened. I did make it home alright, but the awd malfunction alert stayed on and at times the alert would also read "failsafe engine mode". Also, the traction control alert icon lit up and a wrench was lit up under it in the instrument panel. We hope ford will help freestyle owners soon before someone has a terrible accident.

Filed Aug 9, 2011 · Engine · 62,721 miles · AR

About a month ago, I received error messages on my dashboard ranging from check engine light to critical engine failure. I took my car to the local dealership and he said there were all sorts of error codes that needed to be cleared out. He said this was common and happens every 3 to 4 years. I paid the money, had the error messages / computer chip reset, and went on my way. During the last couple of weeks, my car will surge while I'm temporarily stopped (at a stop light, drive through window, etc), and the engine dies about 50% of the time. The car will lunge 3 to 5 feet as soon as I take my foot off of the break and before I can touch the gas pedal. It is extremely unnerving, it has been very hot in arkansas during the last few weeks (temps in the high 90s / low 100s) and my air conditioner is on while this happens. It appears from similar comments posted, I have a throttle body that is failing.

Filed Jul 26, 2011 · Acceleration · 83,178 miles · IN

My 2005 ford freestyle has been acting up for quite some time now and it is to the point where I need to get it checked out I feel it is very unsafe to drive. When I start my car and go to put it in drive or reverse the car will take of lunging!! I have to stand on the brake for it to stop sometimes it revs up so much that my car goes into engine failure mode and my car shuts down. This has been going on for the past year and now it is to the point where it does it all the time on a daily basis. I feel the vehicle is unsafe for me and my family!! I took my car in today to the ford dealership where I bought my car and the service man checked it out and they told me I need a new throttle body for it which is going to cost $800! I have no choice but to get it fixed I need a safe vehicle for my children. The car will be ready for me in a couple of days. I have not had any accidents due to this however there have been many time where I have almost hit other vehicles and people!! Very scary what is going on with this ford freestyle. I hope that this matter is seriously checked out before someone is seriously hurt.

Filed Jul 25, 2011 · Acceleration · 91,000 miles · SC

I own a 2005 ford freestyle. It has started jumping and accelerating on it own. After is does this the car goes into engine failure mode or cuts off. It has done this several times. I don't feel comfortable going through a drive through because the car will start jumping. I started looking online about this problem and saw this is a wide spread problem and ford needs to fix this.

Filed Jul 21, 2011 · Acceleration, Engine · 117,380 miles · OH

We have an 2005 freestyle. My wife was picking up our grandson from vacation bible school on 7/19/2011. The car lunged forward and almost ran over some other kids crossing over the road in front of her. The crossing guard frantically waved his arms for my wife to stop which she was trying to do. By luck the engine died. Someone is going to die from this yet and then ford will have a big lawsuit on there hands with thousands of people on the side of the plaintiff. I can't understand ford's position on this issue since they are rated highly for quality. They had the publics support when they didn't take a bailout. Why damage a good reputation?

Filed Jul 4, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 125,000 miles · MD

Our freestyle has experienced mild but worsening unintended acceleration for two years now, but it was always "mild" and did not cause the car to lurch forward even when the driver's foot was hard on the brake pedal. Then we had a new problem: no cold air from the AC at idle. We responded (6/11) to a mailed promotion from hertrich ford (easton md) for an AC "tune up." they did nothing but add dye to our refrigerant and "clean" our air ducts with disinfectant. So we turned to the owners' forum, myfordfreestyle.com, and quickly diagnosed the problem: a seized-up pressure control valve. Apparently ford dealers refuse to perform this simple repair (part cost $40) and will only replace the entire AC compressor ($800 + labor). So we ordered the valve online and had a competent local mechanic replace the valve (1-hour labor plus cost of refrigerant). The AC is "good as new", but the unintended acceleration is now much worse. The incidents always occur at very low to no speed and when maneuvering the car (I.e. Parking, k-turning, etc.). In all of these situations, both the AC and the power steering pump are demanding/drawing near-maximum power from an essentially idling engine, nearly stalling the engine; the electronic engine/idle control then kicks-in and hugely "over-reacts" by revving the engine to 2,000+ RPM. Even with your foot on the brake, an automatic in drive is going to surge quite far at 2000+ RPM. Please look at the myfordfreestyle.com website: note that almost all of the complaints about unintended acceleration come during hot weather months and a few also note the problem is much worse with the AC on. It took us less than 30 minutes on the website to diagnose both the AC problem and unintended acceleration problem. It is inconceivable that ford has not been aware of both of these problems for years. (surely ford's customer relations staff monitor owner forums).

Filed Jun 29, 2011 · Acceleration · 70,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact stated that while in a drive through line with her foot on the brake pedal, she noticed the vehicle would surge forward. The engine failed warning light would illuminate occasionally. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. ..updated 09/15/11 *bf updated 09/26/11