RoadVitals

2005 Ford Freestar Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jun 20, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 886 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Freestar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2020

3 WEEKS AGO MY FAMILY AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI-TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY OUR VEHICLE JUST GAVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY I THEN STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE I THEN REPORTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAFETY VEHICLE COMPLAINT AND WAS CONTACTED BY A STAFFING TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SAID PLACE IN EL PASO TX CASE FORD MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETAINED FOR OVER 2WEEKS THE GENTLE MEN [XXX] A WORKER OF CASA FORD HAS BEEN VERY RUDE AND RELUCTANT TO ACTUALLY SERVICE MY VEHICLE HE SAID THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T FAIL AT SOME POINT IT FINALLY FAILED I ALSO JUST PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY I JUST BOUGHT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND [XXX] SAID THE BATTERY I HAD WAS NO GOOD WHICH IS NOT TRUE AND CHARGED ME 200 FOR A NEW BATTERY I FEEL THAT CASA FORD IS NOT TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE I'M DISABLED AND MY CHILDREN AS WELL THE SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG THAT IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION BUT SOMETHING IS BROKEN AND NOT SHOWING UP WHAT CAN OUR FAMILY LEGALLY DO WE HAVE NO VEHICLE 7000 DOWN THE DRAIN PL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11329840
Incident
May 26, 2020
Mileage
14,900 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jun 21, 2017

2005 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP AND UNRESOLVED VEHICLE PROBLEMS. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. *JS *JS

NHTSA ID
10720930
Incident
Apr 22, 2015
Fuel system
Filed Dec 1, 2015

I HAD JUST TURNED ONTO MEBANE STREET WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED DEAD. I STEERED IT OFF OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED AND THEN SPUTTERED AND DIED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE DRIVER TRIED TO START IT AND IT DID THE SAME THING FOR HIM. HE STATED IT WAS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL FILTER.

NHTSA ID
10807672
Incident
Nov 26, 2015
Mileage
132,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE FUELING UP THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING CLOGGING THE TANK. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 02/23/16 *LJ

NHTSA ID
10783612
Incident
Jan 14, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL EJECTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10712292
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 2, 2015

ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2014 I GOT INTO MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2005 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN TO RUN A SHORT ERRAND. AFTER STARTING MY FREESTAR I PUT IT IN REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I TRIED ALL THE FORWARD GEARS WITH THE SAME RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE ENGINE RPM'S WOULD GO UP BUT NO MOVEMENT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIME WITH THE SAME RESULTS EACH TIME. I HAD TO WAIT TILL THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS TO CONTACT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND DESCRIBE MY PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THAT ALL RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN DONE INCLUDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL. I THEN HAD MY FREESTAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO MY POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, AND THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY REMOVED THE MODULE AND DRIED IT AND THE CONNECTOR OUT THEN REINSTALLED IT AND SEALED IT. AFTER REINSTALLING THE MODULE THEY THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO ALL THE GEARS AND GET THE TRANSMISSION TO FULLY FUNCTION, BUT NOW THERE WAS A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE VEHICLE NOW WOULD NOT IDLE PROPERLY AND HAD A HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER FURTHER CHECKS THAT THERE WERE FUEL CODES COMING UP AND THAT THEY WERE RELATED TO THE PCM GETTING WET. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (WHICH FORD NO LONGER MANUFACTURES) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. TO FIX THE PROBLEM IT WOULD BE A COST OF $1000.00 FOR A RE-MANUFACTURED MODULE AND REPROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO THE $650.00 THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN INCURRED FOR THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE SO FAR. NOTE THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEMS OR ISSUES OR ENGINE CODES ON THIS VEHICLE TILL THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OTHER THAN A PROBLEM ONE NIGHT WITH THE POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING, WHICH CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10669650
Incident
Dec 24, 2014
Mileage
16,953 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2014

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF A COMPANY AND A VAN. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FREESTAR FOR MY FAMILY OF FIVE THAT HAS BEEN THE WORST DECISION OF MY LIFE. A MONTH AFTER I EXPERIENCED WHAT TOO MANY OTHER OWNER HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED. WATER IN THE PCM, THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH AND INJURY TO ME AND MY FAMILY. STALLING OUT WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. THIS KNOWN ISSUE HAS GONE ON TOO LONG WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE FROM FORD COMPANY. I AM NOT A BELIEVER IN SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FOR THERE TO BE CHANGE. ALSO DON'T APPRECIATE THE COST OF THIS JOB OVER $1000. I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT BE ON THE HIGHWAY AND CRASH. ALTHOUGH THEN WE MIGHT GET OUR MONEY BACK. THIS HAS ALSO LED TO OTHER ISSUES THAT HAS BECOME A CHAIN REACTION OF FAILURE. I WILL KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE TO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605368
Incident
Apr 15, 2014
Mileage
134,343 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2013

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITHOUT WARNING SUDDENLY HAD NO POWER, AT 40MPH, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED ONLY TO DIE AGAIN 3 MORE TIMES. I THOUGHT I WAS OUT OF GAS BUT THE GAGE SAID 1/8TH OF A TANK. PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD FRIENDS BRING GAS. STARTED UP FINE AND DROVE MAYBE A BLOCK WHEN IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND BUCKING. THE CHECK ENGINE IDIOT LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED OVER AGAIN. I RESET THE BATTERY CONNECTION AND LIGHT WENT OFF. I PULLED OFF TO DRIVE AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT DIED WHEN I CRANKED THE WHEEL TURNING EVERY CORNER. STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME IT WAS HARD TO TURN OVER, AND IT SPUTTERED AND THE TRANSAXLE IDIOT LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THE RADIO CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THE EVE PLAYER EJECTED. INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON BUT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. CHECKED THE TRANNY FLUID, IT LOOKED A LITTLE LOW IN THE DARK(MIDNIGHT) SO PUT IN HALF A QUART. LIGHT WENT OUT BUT THE VAN REFUSED TO GO FORWARD. I DROPPED IT MANUALLY INTO 1ST AND IT SLOWLY MOVED. PARKED IT AND TRIED OTHER GEARS, ALL UNRESPONSIVE BUT WHEN SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE JUMPED AND THE RPMS REVVED UP TO 3000!! AFRAID IT WOULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND RUN OVER MY FRIEND, I CUT OFF THE IGNITION WHILE IN NEUTRAL. I WAITED UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR NO TRAFFIC, THEN DROVE THE VAN HOME, KEEPING THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL ABOUT 25 FEET PER RESTART, EACH TIME THE VAN WOULD DIE WHEN SPEED EXCEEDED 15MPH OR 2000RPMS. TOOK AN HOUR TO GET THE 1.5 MILES HOME. THIS VAN HAD JUST GOTTEN A FULL SERVICE OIL CHANGE/LUBE/FILTER SERVICE AND I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT SEARS UPON PURCHASING IT JUST 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAD NO OTHER ISSUES AT ALL. UPON RESEARCHING, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT FORD PUBLISHED BUT REFUSES TO FIX/RECALL. THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VAN'S TORQUE CONVERTER, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND A MAJOR DEFECT THAT WILL GET SOMEONE KILLED OR SERIOUS INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504650
Incident
Mar 23, 2013
Mileage
157,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 1, 2013

FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM VENT CAUSES GASOLINE TO SPRAY OUT WHEN FILLING UP. ADDITIONALLY A HISSING SOUND IS HEARD WHEN OPENING THE GAS CAP, INDICATING THAT THE GAS TANK PRESSURE IS HIGH DURING NORMAL OPERATION. SEVERE FIRE HAZARD; LEAKED GASOLINE MAY CAUSE FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION. THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE LISTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE, SO IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE ISSUE IS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN HAPPENING BEFORE LISTED TIME AND MILEAGE; OBSERVED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER I RECEIVED VEHICLE FROM PREVIOUS OWNER.

NHTSA ID
10501681
Incident
Jan 31, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 2, 2012

I JUST RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S25 / NHTSA RECALL 12V-006 EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY VAN IT DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW EGR VALVE PUT ON, SO I DID. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES SO I HAD THEM REPLACE, THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT I MAY NEED A NEW FUEL FILTER, SO I HAD IT REPLACED AND ONCE AGAIN THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND I AM A SINGLE MOM TO TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. I AM WORRIED THAT WHILE I AM DRIVING I WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND WILL BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY VAN NEVER WANTS TO GO OVER 40 MPH AND ONCE IT DOES REACH THAT SPEED IT WILL NOT MAINTAIN AND SOMETIMES MAKES AN ODD NOISE. I PULLED ONTO THE BY-PASS THE OTHER DAY AND MY VAN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE RIGHT AWAY... THANK GOD THAT THE TRUCK BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO PASS ME ON THE SHOULDER. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OTHER TIMES WHEN MY VAN WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER SO THAT THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME COULD PASS. SO IN A NUT SHELL THE PROBLEMS ARE AS LISTED: 1.) VAN WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED 2.) WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL THERE IS OFTEN A PINGING / KNOCKING SOUND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND NOT BE OUT ANY MORE MONEY. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10453853
Incident
Feb 27, 2012
Mileage
127,305 mi
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Dec 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL, THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY CAM POSITION SENSOR AND A TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH SENSORS BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO EXPLAIN THE STALLING FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION INSPECTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,073.

NHTSA ID
10368492
Incident
Nov 24, 2010
Mileage
47,073 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 8, 2006

WHEN FUEL TANK IS AT OR BELOW 1/4 TANK AND VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE, VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL IT IS PLACED ON A LEVEL SURFACE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10156974
Incident
May 6, 2006
Mileage
5,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2005

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING EXCESSIVELY, AND THERE ARE EXCESSIVE FUEL LEAKS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONSUMER FOUND A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE THEN TO THE GROUND IN LARGE AMOUNTS. *TC

NHTSA ID
10103766
Incident
Dec 11, 2004
Mileage
5,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .