2005 FORD FREESTYLE Suspension Problems

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.

WHILE DRIVING 80MPH (POSTED 80 SPEED LIMIT) THE CAR STARTED TO GLIDE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH LITTLE TURNING OF THE WHEEL. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE GOING 15-25MPH. THE FEELING IS A COASTING FEELING, LIKE YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF CORRECTING IT WITH THE STEERING. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ALREADY OF THE SAME FORD OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING THIS LOUD "HELICOPTER" NOISE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR SO I HAD THAT CHANGED, THOUGHT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND COOLING FAN, HAD THAT CHANGED. THE MECHANIC BELIEVES IT'S THE TORQUE CONVERTER WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THANKFULLY MY CAR HAS NOT LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING BUT HAS GONE INTO SAFE MODE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS TRYING TO BACKUP AND I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I REVVED THE ENGINE BUT INSTEAD OF REVVING UP THE RPM'S WENT DOWN...IT HAD HAPPENED AGAIN TWICE LAST WEEK. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND IT FEELS LIKE IT...

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...

I WAS TRAVELING ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR.. I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE CAUSE. THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE. THE ATTACHMENT BOLT AND BUSHING IS CONNECTED TO THE CONTROL ARM. THE ATTACHMENT BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE SUB-FRAME IS DETERIORATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VEER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION OF THE REAR SUB-FRAME, CAUSING IT TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,690.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF HIGHWAY AND WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. I TRIED DESPERATELY TO STRAIGHTEN UP AND TO CONTROL THE CAR BUT IT WAS USELESS. THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS AND THEN STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A BERM ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ONLY BY THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD WAS OUR VEHICLE NOT STRUCK BY A PASSING VEHICLE OR DID OUR VEHICLE ROLL. WE WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES JUST THANKFUL HEARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE TECHNICIAN QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN LOWER LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORT BRACKET. THE CONTROL ARM IS WHAT...

HEARD THUMPING IT WAS THE REAR U-JOINTS IN AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE BOTH U-JOINTS WERE SHOT> NOW THE FRONT U-JOINTS ARE BAD AND MAKE THE DRIFT DANGEROUSLY, BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR ONES WERE DONE LAST YEAR 12/10/2007. THE FRONT ONES WILL BE DONE 10/18/2008. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 2005 CAR. *TR