RoadVitals

2005 Ford Freestyle Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
62
Latest Dec 9, 2025
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.
4%
of 1,459 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Freestyle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 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 body or structure

The 25 most recent of 62, in the owner's own words

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 9, 2025

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 ID
11704107
Incident
Dec 3, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Jan 21, 2025

PASSANGER DOOR LATCH- DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING, WILL NOT STAY CLOSED CHECKED SAID RECALL WAS REPAIRED IN 2006, LATCH IN NOT CLOSING

NHTSA ID
11637411
Incident
Jan 21, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Aug 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance however, the contact was informed that the motor mount torque strap needed to be replaced. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the motor mounts had been replaced four times. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11610391
Incident
Jul 23, 2024
Mileage
170,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 30, 2019

CAR DOORS WILL NOT RELATCH IN FREEZING TEMPS. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY BUT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE CAR DOOR WAS INITIALLY OPENED. IF I DRIVE TO WORK AND THE TEMP DROPS IT WILL BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I SEE THAT THIS MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THIS REASON BUT MY VIN WAS NOT. OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE DEALERSHIP APPLIED A LUBRICANT (AT MY EXPENSE) BUT THAT DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
11173037
Incident
Jan 24, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2019

DOOR LATCHES FREEZE OPEN IN COLD WEATHER AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 06V383000. THE DOORS HAVE FAILED TO LATCH WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AS WELL AS IN MOTION AT 50MPH. A SEARCH OF THE CARS VIN SHOWS NO OPEN RECALLS HOWEVER THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT CLEARLY FALLS UNDER THE RECALL. RECALL NOTICED WAS NEVER RECEIVED FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A ONE OWNER CAR PURCHASE AND REGISTERED IN OHIO SO IT IS UNCLEAR WHY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. FORD HAS ALSO STATED THAT THIS CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE ISSUE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11171653
Incident
Jan 20, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 23, 2018

ANYTIME THE WEATHER DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES, WHICH IT MOST OFTEN DOES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN MA, MY DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. IT COULD BE RIGHT WHEN I START THE CAR OR WHILE I'M DRIVING, IT'S VERY SPORADIC. I CAN OPEN THE DOORS, BUT THEY WILL NOT CLOSE AGAIN, WHICH IS CLEARLY VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE DRIVING AND THE DOOR LATCHES DON'T HOLD BECAUSE OF ICE. IT SEEMS ALMOST EVERY OTHER CAR THAT IS MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT FOR SOME REASON MINE HAS NOT! NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. THROW MY KUDS IN & JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST WHILE WE'RE OUT DRIVING?

NHTSA ID
11153278
Incident
Nov 11, 2018
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 24, 2017

DURING SAFETY INSPECTION, FRONT ENGINE SUBFRAME RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR WHERE STEERING GEAR IS ATTACHED. DICK MASHETER FORD IN COLUMBUS OHIO PROVIDED DIAGNOSIS WHEN PERFORMING OTHER REPAIRS. REPLACEMENT FRAME IS UNAVAILABLE FROM FORD DIRECTLY; THE ONLY ALTERNATIVES ARE GETTING A USED SUBFRAME OR HAVING A NEW PIECE OF STEEL WELDED IN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
11056316
Incident
Dec 10, 2017
Mileage
101,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 15, 2017

MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT SHUT IN COLD WEATHER. THE LOCKS STICK ON, AND THE DOOR BOUNCES BACK OPEN WHEN I TRY TO SHUT THE DOOR. I PAID TO HAVE THE DOOR LOCKS REPLACED, A FEW YEARS AGO. THE ISSUE STILL HAPPENED ON ALMOST EVERY COLD DAY. AROUND 15F TO 32F. THE FORD DEALER WHO REPLACEMENT THE LOCKS, GOT NEW LOCKS COVERED UNDER THE LOCK WARRANTY, BUT THIS ISSUE STILL HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH A DRIVER SIDE DOOR THAT DOES NOT CLOSE. I HAVE TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED WITH MY HAND UNTIL THE DOOR LOCKS DECIDE TO UNSTICK AND I CAN CLOSE THE DOOR. THE FORD DEALER CANNOT GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED OR FIXED EVEN AFTER 4 YEARS AND MANY MANY MANY TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALER WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11054851
Incident
Dec 14, 2017
Body & structure
Filed Oct 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND THE INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT TWO OR THREE YEARS BEFORE, RUST WAS DISCOVERED DURING ANOTHER STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED WELDING WORK TO THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. PRIME FORD SACO (857 PORTLAND RD, SACO, ME 04072 (207) 282-0300) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE RUST FAILURE. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *BF UPDATED 7/26/18*JB

NHTSA ID
11032843
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
52,000 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed Mar 31, 2017
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN WHILE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HEAD. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION TO THE FRONTAL LOBE OF HER HEAD AND SUSTAINED A CONTUSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 194,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10969678
Incident
Mar 27, 2017
Mileage
194,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 17, 2016

IN COLD WEATHER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH. THIS WAS ADDRESSED IN A RECALL (FORD RECALL NO. 06S45) SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WERE AN APPARENT "BANDAID" FIX IS USED BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH IN COLD WEATHER. I BELIEVE THE LATCH SYSTEM IS FLAWED. WHEN IT DOES LATCH I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IT WILL REMAIN LATCHED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10820665
Incident
Jan 17, 2016
Mileage
112,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED COROSSION ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10810445
Incident
Dec 13, 2015
Mileage
103,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2015

DOOR LATCH IS FROZEN CLOSED AND CANNOT GET DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO OPEN. DISMANTLED ENTIRE CAR TO FIX ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10777892
Incident
Sep 12, 2015
Mileage
239,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREE STYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ID
10680862
Incident
Feb 3, 2015
Mileage
163,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD FREEZE IN COLDER TEMPERTURES, PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOOR LATCH INDEPENDENTLY UNLATCHED AND THE DOOR WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10676671
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED, ALMOST EXPELLING MY CHILD HAD HE NOT HAD A SEAT BELT ON. THE DOORS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN FREEZING UP AND EITHER DON'T CLOSE OR POP OPEN WHILE DRIVING. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL THAT IS NOT VIN PERTINENT BUT IS ON THE FORD FREESTYLE FOR THESE FREEZING DOOR LATCHES. WHEN I CALL FORD THEY TELL ME THE VIN HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS...CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE *TR

NHTSA ID
10664231
Incident
Nov 4, 2014
Mileage
118,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 1, 2014

I AM VERY FRUSTRATED THAT I HAVE THE SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE 11/8/2006 RECALL BUT FORD AND NHTSA LIMITED THE VEHICLES TO ONLY CERTAIN STATES. DURING COLD WEATHER WATER IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE CAR DOOR AND FREEZE THE LATCHES. THE CAR DOOR LATCH THEN FREEZES MAKING IT UNSAFE AND UNDRIVEABLE AS THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THIS RECALL WAS DONE ON 10/5/2006 UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER PE11018 BUT BECAUSE MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED FORD WILL NOT FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10661425
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 8, 2014

2005 FORD FREESTYLE SEL FWD - 116K MILES, VERY GOOD CONDITION, 2ND OWNER. ON 11/1, I REQUESTED MECHANIC TO DO A FULL INSPECTION ON THE CAR, NO KNOW ISSUES, BUT JUST TO CHECK IT OVER BEFORE WINTER. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR, AND SAID CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ONLY THIS CRADLE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT RUST, IN FACT THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM IS STILL ON THE CAR (THAT IS MOST SHOCKING, THE EXHAUST OUT LASTED THIS SUBFRAME). AS I STATED THE CAR IS IN FANTASTIC SHAPE, AND RUNS GREAT. WE EITHER HAD TO FIX OR SCRAP THE CAR AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ESTIMATES FROM DEALERS TO REPLACE WERE AROUND $3000. WE ENDED UP USING A LOCAL BODY SHOP WE TRUST TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME WITH A USED / RUST FREE ONE FOR $1150. I RETAINED THE SUBFRAME AND CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH OVER 100K MILES ON IT, BUT GIVEN ITS GREAT CONDITION (IF YOU SAW PICTURES YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND) THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR A SUBFRAME, THAT HOLDS ALL THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING TO BE RUSTED/ROTTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653569
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
116,265 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE ABRUPTLY CLOSED WITH FORCE DUE TO THE SUPPORT STRUTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT BOTH STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10640824
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 14, 2014

PURCHASED USED-WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE DOORS WILL NOT SHUT-APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEM-EVEN WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610249
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 9, 2014
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL WELL ON THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND CONTAINED HOLES. AS A RESULT OF THE HOLES, FUMES SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO BECOME ILL. THE HOLES ALSO CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME WET WHEN IT RAINED AND COLLECT SALT WHEN IT SNOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID
10597197
Incident
Jun 12, 2013
Mileage
129,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 26, 2014

I WAS SENT THE RECALL FOR DOOR LATCHES FREEZING AND DOORS NOT CLOSING SECURELY AND/OR DOORS OPENING. I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE AT FORD DEALER. THE FOLLOWING WINTER WAS MILD AND DOORS WERE NOT WET IN BELOW FREEZING DAYS/NIGHTS ETC THE FOLLOWING YEARS DOORS STILL CONTINUED TO OPEN AND NOT LATCH SHUT WHEN WET AND BELOW FREEZING. FOLLOWING THIS DISCOVERY I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY SAID "WE DID THE RECALL WORK AND THAT'S ALL WE ARE DOING" I TOLD THEM IT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING --THEY SAID ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS JUNK AT EVERY LEVEL BUT DOORS NOT CLOSING IS THEIR PROBLEM - PLEASE MAKE THEM RE-RECALL THIS ISSUE!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10566179
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 27, 2014

CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. THIRD ROW DRIVER SIDE CUP HOLDERS STAY FULL OF WATER, I PULLED PLUG BELOW SPARE TIRE TO KEEP WATER FROM FILLING UP AND RUSTING THE TIRE. MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS CAR LEAKING. NOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DAMAGED, THE REVERSE LIGHTS STAY ON, AND THE TAILLIGHTS SOMETIMES HAVE WATER IN THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10561641
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLDER TEMPERATURES OR WHEN IT RAINS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. . ..UPDATED 03-12-14 *BF

NHTSA ID
10555871
Incident
Dec 12, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2013
Crash reported

MY FREESTYLE SURGES AND LUNGES FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. I HIT A CAR WHILE TRYING TO BACK UP AND PARK BECAUSE THE CAR SURGED AND ACCELERATED INTO REVERSE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2 YEARS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. I ALMOST HIT PEOPLE IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN SURGE AND ACCELERATION. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! ENGINE MOUNT WAS ALSO CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS IN MANY OF THE OTHER CASES IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535197
Incident
Jul 19, 2013
Mileage
117,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .