Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Freestyle owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. While starting the vehicle, the vehicle revved high. While driving at high speeds, the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that several times, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who cleaned and replaced the throttle body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Says transmission data error check engine and trac control all display and only allow me to drive 20-35 MPH some time I can turn the car off and back on and the codes will shut off but they come back on in the middle of the highway what usually takes me 30 minutes takes me an hour and a half to get to some times 2 hours I can't run my AC cuz that over does my alternator and heats my car I've only had it a year and it's been giving me problems 5 months after getting it I have kids and it gets rough going slow in the heat and hoping if I press to much on the gas please help I am broke and have nothing but this car left and I've spent $2000 for people to tell me nothing is wrong with it
The car stops randomly at times and sometimes will not even startup. Check engine light is on and I recently hit someone in front of me due to jerking or lerching while at a stop light. Very dangerous
I purchased the 2005 Ford Freestyle used. Issues: (1) shortly after purchasing the transmission light came on, then I took it to a transmission shop, who replaced the fluid, which seemed to fix the problem. (2) random surges of power, which almost resulted in a few accidents and was severely frightening (corrected before a recall) (3) this past winter problems with shutting the front doors, then with out warning ( with two children in the back sets ) the back passenger door few open when I turned the corner. The children screamed, I was thankful that a child was not severally injured and then, I had call someone to pick us up. I called Ford and was told I was the only complaint! Later at a children's recreation, I parked next to a woman with children driving the same model. …
My Ford Freestyle has begun to surge in acceleration when after I am stopped with my foot on the brake, and then I let it off first to go, it surges ahead or backward, depending on forward or reverse with no pressure at all on the accelerator. Repeat, I do not put my foot on the accelerator, and it suddenly surges forward or backward with no warning, though I can hear the engine and as well as feel it once it surges. This is intermittent, and seems to occur when the ac is on. The mileage is 123,000, and it has happened about 5 times now, but it is intermittent. We were once in many situations: stopped idling at a light when it was time to go, stopped in a drive thru lane when it was time to go, stopped in a parking lot briefly waiting for pedestrians, so basically stopped for at least a few moments---and once while reversing from a parking space. This is a major safety issue. …
Car was parked in rear of apartment complex.when I put it in reverse it lunged back without my foot on the gas, smashing the rear of the car into the apartment building wall. I did have a seat belt on but the impact caused severe neck trauma as my head was turned at the time of impact. I shut the car off. Approximately an hour later I started the car, put it in drive, and as I attempted to drive the car home, it would "lose power", the wrench light would come on, and the car would have no transmission power. I had to pull the car over, turn it off and restart it. This happened repeatedly. The local Ford dealership incorrectly diagnosed and charged me a repair for cleaning the sensor - and refused to refund me my diagnostic charges even though my car was not fixed. I did my own research to learn it was a throttle body issue. …
A few years ago our Freestyle started lunging when sitting idle, if you didn't keep you foot on the break at a stop light etc, it would lunge into the car infront of you. We spend a lot of money trying to get this fixed, but it never was 100% resolved. The transmission started acting up this past year, it would only move 10 MPH while the RPM was very high. If you shut it off, it would reset after awhile. Took it in and was told that it would take another transmission to fix, approx 5600 to 7500 dollars. After doing some research, it looks like 100's and 100's of people are having the same identical issues and Ford will do nothing about it. The last straw was driving at 60 MPH and the transmission just shuts down, almost causing an accident. This car isn't safe and Ford knows the issue, because they quit making the cvs transmission right away. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while stopped in a parking space with the brake pedal applied the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. After the repair the failure recurred two different times. The contact stated one of the times the vehicle lunged forward it crashed into a rail and steps leading to a shop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who decided to reprogram the computer. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: pe11018 (vehicle speed control) that May be related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the information would be reviewed by there general counsel division but did not offer any further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Was coming up to a stop light and the car started to accelerate. When I put on brakes, it accelerated more. To avoid hitting 3 cars in front of me, I went over a curb, up a hill and over and embankment. The car finally stopped in the middle of a side street. The impact of coming off the embankment blew 2 tires and totaled out the bottom of my car. The insurance company has totaled the car. As far as the speed of the car, I was doing 35 until the acceleration failed and when I put on the brakes, it went faster. I read on your website where Ford was having problems with lunging and this sounds like what happened with my car. Especially when I read from others that have posted there problems with this. I do believe that Ford needs to do a recall before someone gets hurt bad. I did go to the er to get checked out but besides seat belt burn, I was fine.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that while exiting a parking space in reverse at 5 MPH, the contact shifted between reverse and drive when vehicle surged forward and backward abnormally. The contact had to maintain pressure on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle from surging. The failure recurred frequently and was most prominent when the air conditioner was activated or the weather was hot. The failure later recurred and the contact crashed against a pool table in a residential garage. The bumper was scratched and the contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to determine the failure. The air conditioner compressor failed but was not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The current mileage was 95,000.
NHTSA investigations
Idle instability
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle…
Acceleration complaints in other Freestyle years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Ford Freestyle?
NHTSA has 587 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Ford Freestyle, 40% of the model year's 1,459 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Freestyle acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Ford Freestyle, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Freestyle acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.