Ford Freestyle Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,665 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file for the Ford Freestyle, across 5 model years (2002–2007). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (1,459). The most reported problem area overall is vehicle speed control.
Ford Freestyle years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Freestyle year: 2005, 2006. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 Freestyle: 1,459 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006 Freestyle: 1,300 complaints, 1 recall
- 2007 Freestyle: 893 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Freestyle problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 1,617 | 3 | 57 |
| Power Train problems | 1,297 | 4 | 24 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 347 | 3 | 5 |
| Engine problems | 330 | 4 | 9 |
| Electrical System problems | 266 | 4 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 223 | 3 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 150 | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 127 | 3 | 3 |
| Structure problems | 101 | 4 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 50 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 46 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 46 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 40 | 4 | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 39 | 3 | 2 |
| Suspension | 39 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 37 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 30 | 3 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 22 | 3 | 2 |
| Visibility | 22 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 3 | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Seats | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Freestyle problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2007: vehicle speed control (428) · power train (360) · engine (93) · engine and engine cooling (74)
- 2006: vehicle speed control (602) · power train (484) · engine and engine cooling (144) · engine (114) · fuel system, gasoline (85) · electrical system (84) · fuel/propulsion system (53)
- 2005: vehicle speed control (587) · power train (447) · electrical system (142) · engine and engine cooling (129) · engine (120) · fuel system, gasoline (95) · service brakes, hydraulic (85) · structure (61)
All Ford Freestyle model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Freestyle | 893 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 Freestyle | 1,300 | 1 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Freestyle | 1,459 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Freestyle | 12 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Freestyle | 1 | 0 | — | Latches/locks/linkages |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Freestyle years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2005 (1,459), 2006 (1,300) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Freestyle year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Freestyle?
Vehicle Speed Control, with 1,617 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Freestyle have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.