Overview & Reviews

The Freestyle is an all-new crossover wagon from Ford. Built on a Volvo platform, it incorporates the Swedish brand's safety and all-wheel-drive technology, while offering six- to seven-passenger seating capacity.

• Truly roomy seating for six passengers, plenty of cargo space, balanced ride and handling characteristics, lengthy list of safety features.

• So-so acceleration, some low-grade interior materials, no stability control or navigation system.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 371.00

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  Extremely Disappointed with Ford - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Lisa - August 28 - 7:08 pm

  own a 2005 limited awd..duratek engine is great, but CVT trans is junk. I first noticed the car started lunging around 80k miles. Progressively got worse. Then the transmission went. MANY transmission specialists told me its about a $6k job, and they didnt even want to touch it. Even the Ford dealership told me the car wasnt worth the fix. You cant even find a salvaged/rebuilt CVT because they are ALL junk, and if you do, no one will guarantee anything. And after reading everyone elses posts with the exact same problems, its an absolute abomination that Ford would not do a recall. Ford is well aware of these issues, even launched an investigation, but never made the recall! I still owe about 1k on the beast, and i will probably get a few more months out of it so im gonna drive it into the ground. Ive always been a Ford girl, and was especially proud that they didnt take a bailout. But Ford is still using this transmission, and their full knowledge of these issues and refusing to stand by their product has really put me off. Basically, we are getting screwed, and they dont care. I am extremely disappointed with Ford. I am no longer a Ford girl.

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  What a waste of 10 Grand - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By 4freese - December 6 - 7:43 pm

  We bought out Freestyle used and was assured that it was a great automobile with no known issues. After a year of owning it the car died and it has to have the CVT transmission fixed. I replaced the mechatronic unit and it still is not fixed. Dealer said that the best thing to do is light a match and drop it on the floorboard. A new trans is $6000 and a throttle body is $500. Mechatronic unit was $800. What a money pit. If it had a better transmission it would be a great car but it cannot move without this working.

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  Another bad tranny. - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By susanh48 - November 29 - 11:04 pm

  Ive had my 2005 freestyle 2 years. Its miles 112,000. When stopped it would lunge forward. Had mechanic look at it but he couldnt get it to lunge. Then the rear traction light came on. Tried to take it to mechanic & was fine. A few more days go by and then the check transmission light comes on. Again go to mechanic and it runs fine. This time I had it looked at & was told it had 5 transmission codes, none of which he could fix. Drove it for weekend made an appt to take to tranny shop, told it needed a new tranny $4500 plus labor of $1500 and backordered 90 days. I am like others and stuck making payments while it sits. This will be my last Ford.

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  CVT stands for Crappy Vehicle Transmission - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By gcolemanjr - October 14 - 1:35 pm

  Please beware when buying a 2005-07 used Freestyle...learn from our mistake. Bought the vehicle used with 38,000 miles on it. Maintained the vehicle very well and then suddenly out of nowhere, weird noise from the engine during idle in Park or Neutral. two weeks later super loud noise from engine compartment, similar to a chain being dragged across a hollow wooden chest. two weeks after that tranny completely gone. $5900-$7000 to fix or install new one. Still owe just under $7k on the car. Mileage is only 116k. unacceptable and were walking away from it. vehicle is sitting in the garage next to sons electric power wheels Ford truck that ironically still runs after 3 years...

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  No More Fords For Me - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Shirley Howard - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Freestyle when they first hit the showroom, I had been watching them when they first started showing them on their website. I really did like this SUV, It just rolled over to 100,000 miles a week ago. I was planning on driving this for a long time. Then the transmission started messing up and would not change out of low, the tech was going crazy. The dealership informed us it needed a new transmission at the tune of $5910 out the door. Thats about what the thing is worth. I have bought my last Ford and Ive had several. I would not advise anyone to buy a Ford because they are nothing but junk and they wont stand behind them. Now I know why they only made them for 3 years.

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  2005 Ford Freestyle SEL - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Greg - June 1 - 3:30 am

  Replaced brakes after 34,000 miles, and had the intermittent cluster display circuit board replaced at a whopping $980.00 Ive always bought Ford vehicles in the past, but this is the last time I buy anything from Ford. I dont know how Ford managed to stay away from the bailout, because their vehicles are total garbage, except for their line of Trucks.

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  CVT trouble - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By CVT troubles - November 10 - 12:56 pm

  Just when you think you have bought a reliable family vehicle. I noticed a ticking noise coming from under the hood after a long business trip. When I got back, I decided to have it looked at. I was not even thinking that it could be transmission trouble. Who thinks that at 71,000 miles that you would have transmission trouble? And when I looked to see what the manufacturers warranty was, only 3 years or 36,000 miles???!!! Oh my goodness! You think Ford didnt know that would be a problem? The transmission specialist told me a brand new tranny would cost about $7,000!! I almost choked! What a shame. Please read this and take something from it!

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  Holy Freestyle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Rolli - July 31 - 8:03 pm

  Bought our 05 Freestyle used with 27K. Ran good for 2 weeks, then one of the sensors went bad. $210 later because the car was out of warranty. Its been a year and 27K w/o issues until now the transmission literally blew up while driving. No noise, no check lights, just BAM! Its going to be at least $3K-$6K to fix. From what Ive been reading, this is not the first time. I could never figure out how there were so little miles on a 3 year old car. Well, i figure now it must have been in the shop most of those years.

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  Bad Brakes and CVT Transmission - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By tfry - June 24 - 12:17 am

  Problems with transmission fromday one, replaced rear brakes twice (check recall) and now need front brakes, transmission repair at 34,000 miles and at 77,000 need a new transmission $6,500. Acceleration problems from day one and they could never duplicate problem. Vehicle would stop abruptly while driving on highway or accelearate. Terrible on snow slides cant get in my drive with two inches of snow, two sets of tires already! Rear doors have never closed right. Gas tank bracket is on a recall, airconditioning has terrible smell they cant get rid of. most of these problems since new purchase! This vehicle is a lemon DO NOT BUY IT!!!

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  Dont walk away from this car...RUN! - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By HateMyFord - May 15 - 10:49 pm

  Replaced brakes prematurely twice, tires before the first year of ownership was up, driver seat heater is broken, stereo goes out, car is now at dealership saying the CVT will need to be replaced. Buyers beware w/this car! Not worth it. Car is worth less than we currently owe. We are up-side-down with this car and it is no longer driveable. Ford has known about this problem but hasnt recalled or acknowledge it. It is not only a pain financially, it is also a safety issue for drivers and their families.