FaultScore

Ford Freestyle electrical problems

269 of the 5,155 complaints filed about the Ford Freestyle are about the electrical system — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.

269

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

8

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

Median failure at 113,000 miles

2005 Freestyle 144 53.5%

Median failure at 84,500 miles

2006 Freestyle 85 31.6%

Median failure at 103,000 miles

2007 Freestyle 39 14.5%

Median failure at 67,794 miles

What owners said

2006 Ford Freestyle Lebanon, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I recently got my transmission replaced for my 2006 Ford Freestyle in December 2025. Yet, I am having transmission issues on my car now. Bates Ford was the dealership who replaced my transmission, but I feel as if where they got my replaced transmission from was not honest about the product it sold to me. Please help!

NHTSA complaint #11743751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle Conneaut Lake, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

When temperature get below freezing car doors will not latch shut and come back open. Car doors work fine when temp are higher. There is a recall already for this NHTSA# 06v383000 Ford# 06545. I have a Ford Case# XXX My car was not included in recall and either should be or needs to be further investigated. I don't want my kids falling out while I go down the highway and I can't wait 45 min for the car to warm up. This had done this all last winter and is doing it again and Ford refuses to do anything. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11704107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle Huntington, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Car struggles to change gears. ABS, ENGINE, and THROTTLE warning lights on. Rough idle, car does not accelerate when shifted into drive.

NHTSA complaint #11505221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 215,000 miles Mauldin, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WAS DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A WRENCH SHOWED UP IN FAR LEFT HAND CORNER .MY VEHICLE QUIT ACCELERATING GOES TO LIMP MODE WHILE I WAS STILL IN MOTION ON W BUTLER RD IN MAULDIN SC 29662 DOING 40 MILES AN HOUR. IT SCARED ME.I AM 70 YRS YOUNG AND HAVE BEEN LICENSED TO DRIVE FOR 52 YRS. THIS SITUATION WAS BY FAR ONE OF THE WORST I HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN. WHAT IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION IF ANYTHING TO SAVE LIVES.

NHTSA complaint #11280973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 14,650 miles Milo, ME

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. OVER TIME, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME TOTALLY INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, OR OTHER GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARNEY FORD (LOCATED AT 237 MOOSEHEAD TRAIL, NEWPORT, ME 04953, (888) 460-7356) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR DAYS TO WEEKS AT A TIME. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIELECTRIC GREASE WAS ADDED TO THE WIRE CONNECTORS AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BETWEEN 60-68 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1200 MILES IN 2007 AND AGAIN BY 2012.

NHTSA complaint #11253137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 250,000 miles Tacoma, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASH CLUSTER DIED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. FOUND PROBLEM TO BE SHODDY SOLDER WORK ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSING MULTIPLE FAILURES IN THE DASH CLUSTER AND FUEL SYSTEM. HAPPENED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11230688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 160,000 miles Wasilla, AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. I AM STILL ABLE TO ACCELERATE, STEER AND STOP; HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS, HEATER AND RADIO SHUT OFF AND ALL OF MY GAUGES QUIT WORKING. MY DASHBOARD SAYS "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" BUT THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER (WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AT TIMES), BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON DIFFERENT ROAD TYPES AND VARYING SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #11228563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 138,000 miles Park Ridge, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WITH NO WORKING GAUGES, BUT CAR DRIVES. WITHING PAST YEAR, HAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED 2 TIMES, ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE, INJECTOR COILS & SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED/REPLACED, BATTERY REPLACED, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY & GASKET, . HAD DIAGNOSED AT 2 FORD DEALERS IN DIFFERENT STATES AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO STAY ON. BOTH DEALERS WERE ADAMENT IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH CLEARLY IT IS NOT SINCE THE ERROR LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL OR RCM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO TEST FOR EITHER. DEALER WANTS ME TO FOOT THE (HOURLY / UNION) LABOR RATE WHILE THEY TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. CURRENTLY CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH LOCAL MECHANIC WHO IS GOING OVER THE CAR TO FIGURE IT OUT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DETERMINED YET.

NHTSA complaint #11222441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 164,100 miles Hale, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLES SAYS AWD MALFUNCTION AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR WON'T SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE POWER LOCKS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED SHORTLY BEFORE THE AWD MALFUNCTION, MAKING IT WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO SHUT. THE POWER LOCK WAS UNLOCKED/LOCKED A COUPLE TIMES FIXING THE ISSUE FOR NOW.

NHTSA complaint #11171879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Freestyle Lake Placid, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11145265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 153,000 miles Bozeman, MT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY MOM'S 2006 FORD FREESTYLE, SURGES FORWARD WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER OR DEFROSTER. THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIMES IT HAS DONE THIS ALMOST REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HHER.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BEET AND MY DECEASED FATHER HAVE OWN IT.(2010?) HER INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES BONKERS NOW, AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START AND THE PANIC ALARM GOES OFF WHEN WE GET OUT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11141290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle SAN Antonio, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM HAVING THE ISSUES THAT THE INVESTIGATION WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE BODY. THEY HAVE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM CALLED 12N03 AND IT DIDN'T LAST LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET THE CAR THAT I PURCHASED (THIS YEAR) FIXED. I HAVE 66K MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE USING THE 10 YEARS OR 150000 MILES TO MEAN THAT SINCE MY CAR IS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS I DON'T QUALIFY TO GET MY CAR FIXED TO WORKING ORDER. WHEN I USE THE KEY TO START THE CAR, IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE. THE RPMS LURCH LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE AND IT DOESN'T AND THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON. I GOT THIS CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T FIXING IT AND THE FORD DEALERSHIPS AREN'T FIXING IT. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER WHETHER THE PREVIOUS OWNER GOT THE MESSAGE TO GET IT FIXED OR NOT OR WHETHER THEY TOOK THE CAR TO GET FIXED. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE AND IF IT DOES "RESET" (BECAUSE TURNING IT OFF AND WAITING A WHILE USED TO KIND OF RESET IT TO WHERE IT WOULD WORK) THERE IS A CHANCE IT WILL TURN OFF ON ME/NO LONGER ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #11121695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Freestyle at 126,000 miles Saugus, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I LEFT WORK AT 8:10 P.M. STARTING DRIVING HOME AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN RADIO A.C. ALL GAUGES WINDOWS POWER LOCKS LIGHTS . I WAS PANICKED I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE CAR THE AFTERNOON BEFORE FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL FIX BECAUSE THIS SAME THING HAPPENED ALREADY I WAS TOLD THE RECALL FIX WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT. NOW FORD WANTS TO CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER FAILING TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH . THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH I AM A MOM AND A GRAND MOTHER AND ALWAYS HAVE A CHILD IN MY CAR THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A GREAT CONCERN TO FORD .

NHTSA complaint #11112543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Freestyle at 206,000 miles Kerman, CA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR ACCELERATING WHEN AC IN ON AND AFTER AC HAS BEEN OF AFTER THAT 1 DAY USE. AC NOT WORKING PROPERTY. SENSOR ISSUES. ELECTRICAL ISSUES, EXAMPLE WINDOW NO LONGER ROLLS DOWN. TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. KNOW IT'S TURNING OFF ALL IN A SUDDEN AND HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR BRAKES TO KICK IN. HAD THAT CHECK BUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS GOOD, BRAKES AND ETC.... HAVE ALREADY PUT AROUND $5,000 AND STILL NOT GETTING IT TO WORK SAFELY. ALSO STEARING WHEEL GETS STUCK AS IF YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHEELS ON THE CAR AND THEN TURNS OF AFTER SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #11112239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 171,753 miles Redding, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR SURGES AND THE RPMS MOVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. IT TRIES TO THROW ME INTO TRAFFIC WHEN AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. IT TRIES TO THROW ME AT PEOPLE WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH PARKING LOTS. I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT STOPS SO THAT MY FAMILY OR OTHER FAMILY'S DON'T DIE BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION THAT FORD HAD WITH THE CAR WHEN THEY SOLD IT. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE MALFUNCTION AND THEY SAY I'M YEARS PAST THE WARENTY AND 20000 MILES PAST THE WARENTY MILAGE. SO BECAUSE MY CAR IS 20000 OVER I GUESS IT'S OKAY FOR MY CAR TO KILL ME AND MY CHILDREN OR OTHER PEOPLE?

NHTSA complaint #11100751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 161,000 miles Galena, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SURGE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CALLED COUGHLIN FORD OF JOHNSTOWN AT (740) 967-2086 (670 W COSHOCTON ST, JOHNSTOWN, OH 43031) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL THAT HAD BEEN CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

NHTSA complaint #11093903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 106,000 miles Boise, ID

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE 2017, WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL IN OUR FREESTYLE. THE LIGHTING WOULD DIM AND BRIGHTEN ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND THERE WAS ALMOST A PULSE IN THE REV OF THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD TO HAVE OUR ALTERNATOR REPLACED. IN JULY 2017, WE WERE DRIVING TO MEET WITH FRIENDS FOR BREAKFAST AND THE FREESTYLE STOPPED RUNNING A COUPLE CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM A MAJOR INTERSECTION. WE, AGAIN, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THIS TIME THE BATTERY HAD A DEAD CELL AND NEEDED REPLACED AS WELL. WE NOTICED NOTHING TO ALERT US TO THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE THIS TIME, NO PULSING OR CHANGE IN THE LIGHTING. WE HAVE NOT USED THE FREESTYLE MUCH OVER THE WINTER BECAUSE WE NOTICED THE PULSING AND LIGHT ISSUES AGAIN AND WHEN WE TOOK IT INTO OUR MECHANIC, THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND VEHICLE AND DID NOT NEED TO USE IT MUCH. WE STARTED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TRY AND PREVENT ANY ISSUES, BUT COULD NOT GET IT TO START AT ALL THIS WEEK AND WHEN WE TIRED TO JUMP START IT, WE COULD ONLY GET IT TO RUN WHEN IT WAS HOOKED TO OUR SECOND VEHICLE. THE FREESTYLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP TODAY AND WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING THE THIRD ALTERNATOR INSTALLED AND A SECOND BATTERY. THE MECHANIC IS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE FURTHER, DUE TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE HAVE BEEN IN FOR THESE ISSUES. WE HOPE TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11081137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford Freestyle at 93,015 miles Riverside, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEMS STARTED AFTER THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE CHANGED BACK IN NOVEMBER 2017. FIRST, THE BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WENT ON RIGHT AFTER THE FORD DEALER CHANGED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT WAS FINE DESPITE THE WARNING LIGHT. SINCE THEN SEVERAL ALTERNATORS WERE CHANGED BY THE DEALER BUT THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS. TODAY WHILE DRIVING (STREETS AND HIGHWAY) THE DASHBOARD (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) WENT OFF AND ON AND ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO AND BACK ON AFTER A WHILE DURING DRIVING. THERE WAS A KICK TO THE ENGINE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED. MY BACKLIGHTS WENT CRAZY (INCLUDING REVERSE LIGHTS) WHILE DRIVING FORWARD ON STREETS/HIGHWAY. TURNING LIGHTS WERE ALSO AFFECTED. OTHER DRIVERS ALERTED ME TODAY. THIS IS A DANGER TO US AND OTHERS. I FEAR THE ENGINE COULD EVENTUALLY GET AFFECTED TOO. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ONLINE WITH IDENTICAL ISSUES AND FORD DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WILLING OR ABLE TO SOLVE THIS.

NHTSA complaint #11074667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 175,000 miles Coral Springs, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO IN MY FORD FREESTYLE 2005, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GLITCHED AND STOPPED WORKING MID DRIVE. ALL THE ODOMETERS, FUEL AND LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD TURNED OFF AND WONT COME BACK ON. NO WAY TO TELL WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING ON. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A REPORTED PROBLEM TO FORD BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. VERY UNSAFE. WILL BE TAKING IT IN TO DEALERSHIP TO ASSES IT.

NHTSA complaint #11054762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Freestyle at 11,000 miles Crookston, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE HEATING FAN WOULD ALTER IN SPEEDS DESPITE THE HEAT TEMPERATURE BEING ADJUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FLUCTUATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS FORD INC (1975 HIGHWAY 2, EAST CROOKSTON, MN 56716; 218-281-1338) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO SEPARATE TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *BF UPDATED 8/24/18

NHTSA complaint #11053554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Freestyle problems