2007 Ford Freestyle Problems
- Complaints
- 893filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 69,150miles, 809 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2007 Ford Freestyle (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe unexpected surging or lurching at idle and low speed, frequently with the air conditioning running or while parking, and separate complaints of transmission noise and replacement. Complaints arrive across a wide mileage span, from under 40,000 miles to well past 150,000, and many describe the surging as intermittent and hard to reproduce at the dealer.
- Vehicle speed control
Engine surges or lunges at idle and low speed
- 574 complaints (64%)
- median 65,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (521 state mileage)
- 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $853 (median of 52 quotes)
- filed 2009–2025
Complaints describe the engine revving up without the accelerator being pressed, most often while parking, creeping in a drive-through line, or shifting between park, reverse and drive. Owners say the vehicle can move several feet and that firm brake pressure is needed to hold it, and some report the wrench light coming on and the engine dying after a surge. Several say a dealer or mechanic replaced the throttle body, and some report cleaning or reprogramming was tried first without lasting results. Reported from about 20,000 to 190,000 miles, with many complaints clustered near 50,000 to 90,000 miles and frequently tied to hot weather with the air conditioning on.
What to check: Road test with the air conditioning on, holding the brake at a stop and creeping in a parking lot, and see whether idle speed hangs or climbs. Ask whether the throttle body was ever cleaned, reprogrammed or replaced and keep the receipts.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 2007 for Freestyle is having lunging issues. I often notice it when it's very hot and the air conditioner is running and/or when I'm parking. I've also noticed the wrench lite appear a few times. Other times, my car looses power completely and shuts off. Other times, it feels like I am loosing power when I'm driving. Almost as if the car is down shifting to a lower gear.”
NHTSA complaint #10417072, filed 2011-08, 87,688 miles“The first time the problem occured was soon after I purchased my car. I took my foot off the brake when the car was in park, and the car lunged forward. Since that time, this has happened numerous times. The car has also lunged backwards when I put the car in reverse and took my foot off the brake. At times, this has caused the car to die. It seems to be worse when the air conditioning is on.”
NHTSA complaint #10425850, filed 2011-09, 48,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission noise and loss of drive (CVT)
- 246 complaints (28%)
- median 75,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (229 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $4,500 (median of 31 quotes)
- filed 2008–2025
Owners describe a loud whining, knocking or helicopter-like noise from the transmission while in park or neutral, followed by hesitation, failure to accelerate, or limp mode at highway speed with a wrench light. Several complaints say a dealer or transmission shop diagnosed internal wear and quoted a transmission replacement; others report the vehicle would not move at all. A few owners link the same symptoms to both the transmission and the throttle body. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 190,000 miles, often appearing first as noise at idle before driveability symptoms develop.
What to check: Listen for whine or knock from the transmission in park and neutral, and ask for service records showing CVT fluid changes. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this chain-type CVT is worth the cost.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I got into my car, turned the key in the ignition and it started sounding like a helicopter. This noise happens while the vehicle is in park, neutral and while reversing. I have spoken with a transmission shop and have been told it is a known problem with the internal components of the transmission. It will cost around $6000.00 to fix. There is still plenty of life left in my car. No body or interior or damage/issues. I still have 2 years left on my loan. If Ford knows about this issue it should have been repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #10676341, filed 2015-01, 158,000 miles“How many complaints have to be made before a recall is made. Does someone have to die. For over 2 years, I have asked my Ford dealership about recalls on my vehicle because I have the same problems as the other complainants. I had to replace my transmission after my warranty ran out but I complained about it well before it ran out. No one seemed to be able to figure out what was happening until after the warranty ran out. I made several complaints about the performance which may have not been recorded under my VIN. …”
NHTSA complaint #10445427, filed 2012-01, 60,000 miles - Engine
Stalling, hesitation and limp mode
- 238 complaints (27%)
- median 70,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (217 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 25 quotes)
- filed 2007–2025
Owners describe the engine cutting out at speed or after a surge, sometimes leaving no power steering or hazard lights, and other times refusing to accelerate above a low speed until the car is shut off and restarted. Complaints mention the check engine or wrench light appearing, and some report a mechanic pointing to the throttle body while others had the transmission diagnosed. Spread from about 50,000 to 160,000 miles, with several reports tied to idling in hot weather with the air conditioning on.
What to check: Ask whether any stored codes were read and what repairs followed, and test the car through a long idle with the air conditioning on to see if it stumbles or shuts off.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“2007 Ford Freestyle sel w/ approx 71k miles. Vehicle rpms surge at idle or very low speed while in drive (such as maneuvering into a parking spot). Vehicle stalls after putting in reverse, then forward gear, then reverse after idling for a while w/ AC on. After re-starting, does not get above 35 MPH (mechanic light comes on and . Until you turn the car off for a while -then restart. The operates more normally. …”
NHTSA complaint #10412199, filed 2011-07, 70,500 miles“2007 Freestyle sel awd w/50,000 miles surges at low speeds and stalls at high speeds. The wrench light comes on and the vehicle enters limp mode until vehicle is restarted. The dealership was unable to recover error codes when I took it in for diagnostics. …”
NHTSA complaint #10371964, filed 2010-12, 50,000 miles - Brakes
Premature rear brake pad and rotor wear
- 105 complaints (12%)
- median 56,750 mi at 3.9 yrs old (98 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 19 quotes)
- filed 2008–2020
Complaints describe rear brake pads wearing out far sooner than the fronts, in some cases reaching metal within about 15,000 miles of replacement, along with warped rotors and a frozen caliper. Owners report noise when braking and say the dealer either replaced pads under warranty or charged for pads and rotor resurfacing. One complaint describes a brake hose at the ABS unit rupturing while driving. Reported from roughly 16,000 to 35,000 miles for the repeat wear complaints, with the hose failure at higher mileage.
What to check: Have the rear pads and rotors measured rather than judged by the front, and inspect the brake hoses at the ABS unit for cracking or weeping.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Premature wear of rear brake pads on Ford Freestyle. First incident approx. May of 2008 with 18,700 miles. Second incident aug. 9, 2009 with 35,390 miles. Both times had to get new pads and rotors and not under warranty. First time they did replace for free even though they made it clear it was out of warranty. Second time replaced and charged me for parts only. After researching this I found it was an ongoing problem since the introduction of the Freestyle in 2005. …”
NHTSA complaint #10280203, filed 2009-08, 18,700 miles“Purchased 2007 Ford Freestyle in nov. 2007. Began to hear noises when braking in 2009. The first time we took the car to the dealer (fuller Ford chula vista) we were told they could not duplicate the problem. Nothing was done. At about 16,000 miles we took it in again for the same problem. We were told there were warped rotors, frozen caliper, and completely worn pads. During safety inspection at 27,000 miles it was noted that rear pads were completely worn and rotors needed resurfacing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10405813, filed 2011-06, 27,355 miles
Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than mileage, so ask for records on throttle body work and CVT fluid changes and budget for a transmission inspection. A thorough road test in hot weather with the air conditioning on, plus a look at the rear brakes and under the fuel tank, will surface most of what owners describe here.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 893 consumer complaints for the 2007 Ford Freestyle. 809 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,150 miles. Of all complaints, 27 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 9 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Vehicle speed control428 48%
- Transmission and drivetrain360 40%
- Engine93 10%
- Fuel system91 10%
- Engine cooling74 8.3%
- Other or unknown46 5.1%
- Electrical system39 4.4%
- Brakes36 4.0%
- Equipment12 1.3%
- Body and structure11 1.2%
Also reported: Suspension (10), Steering (9), Seat belts (8), Electronic stability control (5), Tires (5), Air bags (4), Seats (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Exterior lighting (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).
Example complaints
Vehicle speed control: “My 2007 Ford Freestyle cuts off repeatedly after almost every red light stop. I saw a lot of complaints about this matter with different Ford freestyles and no one seems to know the cause. Mainly anytime I apply the brakes the cut shuts off and puts myself and family in life- threatening situations. Also, the vehicle idles high while my feet on on the breaks.”
NHTSA complaint #10861975, filed 2016-04, 3 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “After starting the car in my driveway, I heard a loud 'helicopter sound' under the hood (to which I have come to find out was the transmission (CVT)). When I put the car into reverse, it violently raced forward, hitting the brick wall of my house. I have pushed it a few feet back and have not restarted the car for fear of this happening again.”
NHTSA complaint #10967636, filed 2017-03, 150,582 milesEngine: “As has been reported by others, the vehicle will accelerate unexpectedly at low speeds when in reverse and drive, while the brake is engaged or I'm just letting off the brakes. I have to mash the brakes hard and keep them engaged for several seconds until the acceleration slows to normal. The problem seems to happen more frequently when the A/C is on.”
NHTSA complaint #10460735, filed 2012-06, 44,000 milesFuel system: “Unable to start car immediately after filling gas tank. Also, upon stopping at light or turning a corner it feels like the gas is not going to the engine and I am unable to move forward. This forces me to pull over to the side of the road.. At the time I had the air conditioner on and now am told the compressor is bad. There is loud clicking (like the computer is 'thinking') coming from under the dash.”
NHTSA complaint #10783367, filed 2015-10, 105,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
21% of the 809 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 89,800 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 Ford Freestyle. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestyle · sedan (side air bags) FWD/AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 4 · 13.3% risk |
| Freestyle · sedan FWD/AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 4 · 13.3% risk |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2007 Ford Freestyle version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestyle AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | CVT | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Freestyle FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | CVT | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2007 Ford Freestyle in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 9 on record; the latest 9 are shown.
- 11000557May 24, 2024Transmission and drivetrain. Motorcraft® Continuously Variable Chain-Type Transmission Fluid (XT-7-QCFT in non-Canadian markets, CXT-7-LCF12 in Canada) is no longer manufactured and will only be available until inventory…
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016Engine cooling, Engine. The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB…
- 10051815Nov 29, 2012Engine. Ford: see document search button for owner letter. Momentary engine idle rpm surge may be intermittent and may occur, due to deposits buildup in throttle body, at low speeds, while parking or…
- 10023294Nov 28, 2007Brakes. Ford mercury service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Certain 2005 through 2007 fwd and awd ford five hundred, freestyle and mercury montego vehicles - rear brake wear. Also…
- 10021463Apr 27, 2007Brakes. Rear brake drag, noise, dust, and/or premature pad wear.
- 10022241Apr 1, 2007Engine cooling. Mil with dtc p0106 and/or p0109.
- 10021220Mar 23, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Transmission shifter binding / high effort bezel replacement.
- 10021049Feb 27, 2007Tires. Premature shoulder (toe) wear on inside edge of the front tires.
- 10021036Feb 26, 2007Electrical system. Fuel gauge erratic/inaccurate and/or mil on with dtc p0463, b1202, b2627, b2879, and/or p2068.
Other model years of the Ford Freestyle
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 893 | 69,150 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,300 | 75,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 1,459 | 77,721 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 12 | 108,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Freestyle model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Ford Freestyle?
Owners of this model year most often describe unexpected surging or lurching at idle and low speed, frequently with the air conditioning running or while parking, and separate complaints of transmission noise and replacement. The issues reported most often: Engine surges or lunges at idle and low speed; Transmission noise and loss of drive (CVT); Stalling, hesitation and limp mode.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007 Ford Freestyle have?
NHTSA recorded 893 consumer complaints for the 2007 Ford Freestyle as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2007 Ford Freestyle is reported most often?
Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 428 complaints (48% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 360.
Has the 2007 Ford Freestyle been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2007 Ford Freestyle get?
The EPA rates the 2007 Ford Freestyle (Freestyle FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2007 Ford Freestyle reported?
Among the 809 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,150 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 89,800 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.