2005 Ford Freestyle: CVT failure

Filed Mar 31, 2019 · Transmission · SD

This is a complaint about the CVT transmission it seem to never shift right and traction control always acted funny shifts high or shift hard and then it finally gave out driving down the hight it made a loud clunk and I had no gears I costed to a stop

Filed Mar 7, 2018 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MI

2005 ford freestyle has a constant scraping sound from the transmission when I am driving it. We paid $ 200.00 for ford mechanic to change out the transmission fluid with new fluid kit & he did find metal & brass shavings from tranny in oil pan. Mechanic says the transmission needs to be replaced with new one but I can't afford to pay $4,000.00 it will take to do it. I found out the CVT transmissions all sooner or later ,but mostly sooner ; fail because they are notorious for it . Bad design for that transmission & they still robbing the owners of these vehicles as I speak ! Man up & pay for your mistakes like those in society must when they have robbed others and got caught. I'd like to know why it's let go thus far & who then is accountable ??

Filed Jun 18, 2017 · Fuel system, Transmission · 131,000 miles · VA

When pulling out of parking lot onto highway, lost all acceleration and check engine and check transmission lights came on, was lucky the vehicles behind me were paying attention and I was able to coast to side of road. Turned car off and restarted, when shifting into gear there was a loud clunk in d and r, with still no response from the throttle. After having to have vehicle towed home so my family and I were off of the busy highway, I tried to disconnect the battery to try and reset the system, still no luck. We just had the throttle body replaced last year at a cost of 700.00, similar to same issues with throttle but nothing with transmission at that time. After reading through multiple reviews there are numerous complaints of this CVT transmission and there was also a recall on the throttle body needing to be cleaned. What is the problem of why a recall has not been issued, these vehicles are not only family vehicles but death traps! Something needs to be done before some family gets killed from a faulty mistake that ford co. Is well aware of!

Filed Jan 2, 2017 · Fuel system, Transmission · 129,030 miles · MI

Cvt fail, throttle body issue, started in september 2016. Car now has 135,030 miles. Happens continuously, when idle and moving down the road. I sent a letter to ford and they responded with a "sorry...we can't help you". Making helicopter noise. Loses power and goes into failsafe mode. I will attach both letters.

Filed Mar 23, 2016 · Transmission · MO

Bought my 2005 ford freestyle after 90000 mile transmission started acting up check transmission and engie lights came on after having it in the dealrship manytimes and spending thousands of dollar's fixing parts they come back back after third trip in ith same problem they tell me you have a CVT transmission and we would have to tear the transmission apart to repace the inter seals it would run 6000 more better if you get rid of it but problem is I still owe on it and they want to give 100.00 trade in.

Filed Jun 18, 2015 · Transmission · 104,000 miles · IN

Bought car and within two weeks it had a complete transmission failure. Car makes a horrnedous noise and will not drive forward. Prior to this happened the car would suddenly accelerate or surge. Took to transmission repair shop who quote me $4,250 to remove and replace the transmission. At that price I asked what a new transmission would cost and they informed there are no new transmissions available. They also informed me that ford had abandoned the freestyle and its CVT transmission. I check wiht junkyards and found the cheapest I could find a CVT transmission was around $3,000. Car has become a lawn ornament for the past two years. Ford refuses to do anything ohter than to say it is out ofwarrantly. Tere are class action suits brought over this.

Filed Dec 10, 2014 · Suspension, Transmission · 187,000 miles · TX

For about a month now my car has been making this loud "helicopter" noise. We thought it was the alternator so I had that changed, thought it was the water pump and cooling fan, had that changed. The mechanic believes it's the torque converter within the transmission. After doing research I see this is a very very common and dangerous problem with the CVT transmission. Thankfully my car has not lost power while driving but has gone into safe mode while attempting to drive. A few weeks ago I was trying to backup and I put the car in gear and it wouldn't move. I revved the engine but instead of revving up the RPM's went down...it had happened again twice last week. I turned off the car and let it sit for awhile and it started working again. I don't feel safe driving it and it feels like it could stop at any moment. I contacted ford today but they say it's nothing they can do being there is no recall and my car is no longer under warranty (I bought it used 4 years ago). I had the throttle body cleaned about a year ago because of the surging issues and had the motor mounts replaced a month ago. Too many issues with the 2005-2007 models. I find it funny they stopped making them, then started again under the name taurus x with a different type of transmission. Seems they know they messed up. I googled my issues and found a lawsuit plus many many many complaints of the same issue. Something needs to be done as these transmissions are no longer being made and you run the risk of having the same issue if you "fix it" or rebuild it. Not safe at all and ford needs to be held accountable! Now I either have to fix it or save for a new car. We have 4 kids and need something safe.

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 Aug 14, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 104,000 miles · MS

Car was financed and purchased used from authorized ford dealer in 2007 @ approx. 64k miles. Previous owner was registered as ford motor co., indiana. On 12 jun 2014, without warning, the continuously-variable transmission (CVT) first showed signs of a problem: failing to shift out of lower speed gear from a stop to higher gears during travel. Problem was remedied temporarily by shifting from d to r and back to d while stopped. The problem recurred sporadically, but within last week frequency of problem has increased while awaiting service appointment. This morning, 13-aug-2014, transmission slipped and failed to engage in any forward gear while stopped at intersection, resulting in a complete loss of forward propulsion. Problem remedied by shifting from d to r and back to d, with significant difficultly. Service technician states that CVT failures in this make and model are common and recommends replacement of transmission with rebuilt (as transmission is no longer manufactured by ford). Moreover, only ford can perform the repair/replacement. No warning lights were activated during any of these events. Cost of repair will exceed value of car. $5800 or more versus $3600 trade-in or instant-cash offer price $1500. Ac compressor failure and rebuild (including rear AC) in 2012 cost $875.

Filed Mar 29, 2014 · Transmission · 142,400 miles · MI

On monday, march 17th, 2014, after $3685 in repairs and maintenance, as well as some recall work, and a loan for $5321 for my 2005 ford freestyle limited awd (which was just purchased in october 2013 and has only been driven about a month total due to numerous issues), I encountered a problem with my transmission while pulling out of my driveway. As I finished pulling out of my driveway and shifted the vehicle into drive, all of the sudden the vehicle lost power, accompanied by a wrench light and a message on the dashboard saying "service transmission soon." there was a vehicle driving down the road behind me in the same lane; however, I was able to pull the vehicle back into the driveway in time before the vehicle approached my car. It is my understanding that ford is aware of the issue with their CVT transmissions and that incidents like this pose serious safety risks for the driver/passengers/others; however, they have failed to issue a recall for the transmission. According to the carfax on my vehicle, the transmission has already been replaced once, so this is absolutely ridiculous that it needs to be replaced again at a little over 142,000 miles. I was quoted about $6500 for a new transmission to be installed by the local ford dealership; however, I cannot afford this, so I either risk the chance of getting into an accident by continuing to drive the vehicle and having it lose power once again, or I do not drive it at all.

Filed Feb 6, 2014 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · OH

2005 freestyle CVT transmission failure, bought in summer 2013 as was never made aware of the issues with the transmissions. Sometimes it would work just fine and other times it seemed like it was straining to keep up the speed it was set at. In november started to head to work and the transmission and check engine light came on, took it to shop and spent 1200.00 to repair computer chip inside transmission hoping this would help but it did not. The car will only engage in the CVT transmission if warm but takes a long time to warm up and then only goes a short distance before more problems. Now being told 5000 plus to replace the transmissions cause nothing else fixes the problem. Have only taken the car for one night a month ago and it has been at the repair shop ever since so since november only had it a night due to this matter. Was advised the car is not safe to drive especially during the winter due to the possible complete failure at any time.

Filed Feb 1, 2014 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · MA

While my wife was driving home from work one night the wrench light came on the dash and the car started to make a loud whining noise from the engine area. She pulled into a shopping plaza and shut the car off and called me on the cell, we tried to start it up but the whining noise kept going and the car would move into any of its gears. It would shift into the gears selections but would not move at all, so I had it towed with a ramp truck threw my aaa membership. The transmission was not leaking and was full at the time of the breakdown and now its going to cost me around $5,000.00 to replace the transmission because ford motors co. Had a problem with there CVT transmissions in the models from 2005 to 2007 in the freestyles and 500 models.my car may have 170,000 miles on it but the body is in great condition because its never been in an accident and right now I can not afford the repair bill. I could purchase a nice used car for that amount of money. I will never buy a ford product again. Ford motors co. Knows about this problem but due to the time line they will never have a recall and the owners will be stuck with the costly repairs. Thank you