2005 Ford Freestyle: complete transmission failure

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 Nov 18, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 194,000 miles · IL

While veichle is stationary, the engine revs between 500-1000 RPM. Transmission seemed to have stopped shifting and made the RPM go all over the place. While turning at a slow speed it seemed to make the issue worse. Was told it needs a new transmission.

Filed Feb 29, 2016 · Transmission · MO

My 2005 freestyle has had the check engine light come on numerous time taken to dealership many time spent 2000 dollars in replacement parts and problem mn still happens when stop at traffic lights go to take off check engin light omes on and speed reduces started happing after 78000 miles dealership says cost to replace transmission is 8000 still paying on car tht sits in driveway

Filed Jan 16, 2016 · Transmission · 205,800 miles · SC

I bought this SUV 9-11-15 with the intent to go to my va appointments due to my medical conditions. The owner stated it had a few problems with the transmission, but I did not know that much about automobiles to understand what he was talking about. When I got ready to drive the car it would not change gears, just going forward but could go in reverse. I had it towed to a ford dealership 35 miles away from my home to diagnosis the problem. They stated it needed a throttle body to correct the problem, but it did not, and I had to pay for the repair which they stated it would idle down the car before they could diagnosis the correct problem. Now they stating I have to replace the transmission in this vehicle for $6000. I do not have this much money to buy a transmission having to go back and forth to my appointments in sc and ga. Why this vehicle has no recalls on powertrain, throttle body, etc which the dealership state they do not know exist and is charging all this money for repairs which do not work. I need some kind of a resolution in this matter with this vehicle. I hate to junk the vehicle because it is in pristine condition and great for my traveling to the doctors.

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 Feb 27, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 30,000 miles · PR

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford freestyle. The contact stated that while proceeding after a complete stop, the vehicle abruptly accelerated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced. However, the failure was not corrected. The vehicle continued to abruptly accelerate. The vehicle was taken for a second diagnostic to an independent mechanic whom located a failure code at the throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · PA

Last weekend the transmission went out in our 2005 ford freestyle. The car had been driving fine with no indication that there was a problem. We were traveling at about 45 MPH when we suddenly heard a loud clunking noise. Immediately after the clunking noise we heard the sound of metal clanging around under the car and hitting the road...the front wheels began skidding and it felt as if the back of the car lifted of the road. At this point I felt as if I had no control over the vehicle. We were fortunate that no one was driving behind us, as it is very likely we would have been rear ended. I pulled the car to the side of the road and the oil light came on. I immediately turned the car off, got out and looked underneath and saw oil running out of the car onto the road. We then noticed the trail of mangled metal in the road. At this point I knew we were in big trouble. We had the car towed to a local garage and were told that the transmission went out. Garage called on monday only to tell us that a used transmission for this car is very hard to find and that they were unable to find one locally...and further explained that replacing with a new transmission would cost $6000-$7000, maybe more since this transmission had been completely destroyed and we couldn't turn it in for a core. Something in the transmission actually came apart causing the transmission to bind and literally tear itself apart. We bought this car used for $6,500 and have only owned it for 11 months. I am seeing that this is a pretty common problem with this car. Not only can I not afford this repair, there is no way I am going to spend that kind of money on a transmission that is likely to fail just as this one did. So I am without a car with 4 children trying to figure out how I'm going to afford another one. This is obviously a defect with this car and ford should have done something to fix this.

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

Filed Oct 16, 2013 · 131,000 miles · IL

I purchased a ford freestyle sel 2005, on november 2005, from the ford dealer, brand new car. I am the only driver. My transmission started to make a noise on last week. I took the car to 2 different mechanics and both told me that it needs a new transmission!!! It is a CVT transmission, very expensive and only has 130,000 miles. This is a common issue apparently, but there is not a recall or nothing!!!!

Filed Sep 15, 2013 · Transmission · 166,000 miles · VT

Transmission died out in traffic on interstate 89. Lost power and went into a low gear.