2005 Ford Explorer vs 2005 Ford Freestyle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Ford Explorer | 2005 Ford Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 497 | 1,459 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 54 | 43 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 32 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 19–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 44 | 587 |
| Power Train | 99 | 447 |
| Structure | 151 | 61 |
| Electrical System | 36 | 142 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 129 |
| Engine | 17 | 120 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 40 | 95 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 85 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 27 | 209 |
| Hesitation / surging | 19 | 393 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 116 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 16 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 15 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 41 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 18 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
2005 Ford Explorer
2005 Ford Freestyle
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Freestyle years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.