Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to learn more!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
ford motor company indicated that we bought some bad fuel.
ford motor company's solution was to add some fuel additive. this has been done 2 times at a ford family dealership with no improvement.
it is sad to know that we spent $32,000 for a vehicle that has a non-operational fuel gauge.
it is a very disconcerting feeling not knowing when we are going to run out of fuel.
w feel that ford should be held responsible in an expedient manner, but apparently they have no idea what to do about the situation and aren't going to do anything about it. don't think i will ever buy another freestyle and will encourage others not to buy one, especially from don alexander ford in murfreesboro, tennessee. neither ford nor the dealership will do anything about this; i actually don't think they know what to do and aren't interesting in rectifying the problem. the fuel gauge isn't the only problem we've had with this vehicle which is actually the second one we've had because the first vehicle had a major problem.
Just a comment on MPG. Took a short trip from central Indiana to Louisville, KY. About a 125 mile trip with about 100 miles of it on a very FLAT I-65 with a posted limit of 70 MPH. I ran a little over that on the way down and averaged 24.8. The RPMs were a little over 2100 on the way down. I slowed down on the way back home to 65 MPH. RPMs were a little over 1700. But I was able to average 28.2 MPG. Highest I ever saw in my AWD Limited. Seems to tell me that the more you can keep the RPMs under 2000 the better your gas mileage will be. Of course you can't do much about that in stop and go driving or on hills. Probably a good explanation of why gas miles goes to crap in those situations.
Exactly. Too many lead footed users at the stoplights = terrible mileage. Plus the CVT makes people feel that they have to stomp on the gas to get going, when they really don't
Doesn't mean that I always followed this rule, to no ill effect. I bought a 3-year-old 91 Tempo off a program lot that had a fuel pump whine from the day I took it off the dealer's lot, and had the same whine 9 years later when I took it to the auto recyclers'.
What CVT tranny problem? Mines perfectly fine and is one of my favorite features of the car. Keep in mind that the only people who post in a "problems" forum are those having problems. It not a representative sampling of those who have purchased a Freestyle.
Since one or two of the posted CVT issues reportedly occurred when the transmission got confused on a slippery road with a lot of control input, it almost sounds like "kernel panic" in a PC. That could be related to the new digital CANBUS network, which handles communications, instead of old dedicated wires. Too much latency? Poor noise immunity if not properly installed? Don't know.
The Freestyle is one of the first high volume uses for CANBUS, as I understand it. CANBUS will spread to other models. The future is digital. This means the new six-speed Ford/GM transmission and others may have similar issues - not just the CVT. In their favor, if the CVT is helping Ford tune the CANBUS, such issues will diminish over time. The problem can't be too widespread, IMHO. There would be a recall.
My only other comment is that if you wait too long, you won't be buying a Freestyle as we know it. There are a number of functional and safety features that may not make it into the next Freestyle "version". :shades:
I have noted though that the current paint on the wheel moldings is very soft and can be scratched very easily.
On a related note, a friend at work leased a Freestyle not long ago. He says he will have to buy it at end of lease - putting too many miles on it - having fun driving it. :shades:
After a few more miles, the low fuel will probably come on. Does anyone thing I should contact the dealer or is this normal. If anyone can post their figures from the trip computer when their low fuel light comes on that would be great. I am curious as to what the Gallons used says when that comes on.
The fuel strap recall doesn't become an issue until over 100,000 miles (based on the life cycle testing) ....no need to rush out there and get it done.
Regarding the fuel tank straps, make sure you get the recall notice - not all Freebies are affected. I hope you find a better dealer for service if you are affected. :shades:
BTW 4 solid weeks of snow covered and icy roads so far in Spokane and it's still not Winter yet!
I suspect your electronics (but I have no good reason for this opinion).
Good Luck,
webbcam
I also have two minor concerns that I would like to point out to my dealer.
1.The oil life indicator looks like it's calibrated to go the distance to 3000 miles.I notice it dropping 1% at the rate of 30miles or 50km of the distance travelled.This didn't bother me for my first two oil changes at 1000mi.and the next at another 1500mi.to flush out any wear-in particles.Now I'd like go for 5000mi.OCI with Motorcraft 5w-20 and wonder if this can be re-calibrated.
2. Our LTD AWD was built around mid-April and I'm wondering if we have the latest software loaded in the PCM.No problems encountered with the CVT so is it a case of if it ain't broke don't try to fix it? We are getting a cumulative 18.4 mpg on the U.S.gal since day 1 without resetting the computer with about 85% city/15% hwy and 3000mi. on the odo.as my wife is the principal driver.Obviously it could be much better with more hwy driving and also our winter gas blend is not much help.
Merry Xmas to all.
today my commute had 7 inches of unplowed snow for several miles heading into Minneapolis--absolutely the best 4WD I have ever had--no slipping, avoided many other vehicle spinouts, enough ground clearance--better than my Jeep--so this needs to be checked out--good luck!
(I have AWD SE model with 18,000 miles)
At this point our Freebie is 9.5 months old and has about 17K miles on it. No significant* problems, no repairs. We did get the recall notice, but there is no hurry given the nature of the problem. As people (including me) have noted in this forum, the gas mileage is excellent as long as you don't have to stop too much. It is pretty bad once you start stopping and starting. It is a car that could really take advantage of a hybrid powerplant.
Anyway, we really like it.
*The 6th position of the CD player skips a little. The driver's seat seat belt tensioner isn't taking up the slack as vigorously as I would like. We have split 3rd row, and there is a black metal support underneath the seats that doesn't always stay in place when you fold the seat down (easy to put back). The little black plastic ring that makes sure you don't lose the gas cap isn't seated correctly anymore, although it looks like I could fix it if I remembered when I wasn't standing at a gas station.
***************************************
Popularity of crossovers leaves SUVs in dust
By James R. Healey and Jayne O'Donnell, USA TODAY
Buyers are shifting rapidly from traditional SUVs to more comfortable and more fuel-efficient crossover models.
The Ford Freestyle is the crossover vehicle most traded in for by truck-based Explorer owners.
The transition had been inching along for several years but has turned into a stampede.
Crossovers, adaptations of car or minivan underpinnings, outsold traditional, truck-based SUVs the past three months and should do so routinely and permanently beginning next year, according to data and projections from Ford Motor (F).
definitely a great car for our climate!
Two questions, though:
1. The radio stays on when I turn the car off. I have to push the knob to turn the radio off. Is this normal, and is there a way to adjust it to turn off with the car?
2. I can't find the third power point. I see the one in the console, and the one in the utility box, but the manual says left side trim for the location of the third, and I'm having no luck finding it at all. Probably right under my nose.
Thank you!
Andy
I can't help you with the power point, I don't have a Freestyle. But Ford vehicles allow the radio to stay on until you open a door or after a timer suts it down. Try it. Shut off the motor and open any door. The radio should turn off. Enjoy your Freebie.
The third power point is on the left side in the rear cargo area.
Since I live in northern Maine, I never would have bought a car that did not have correctly-sized snowtires easily available had I known about the problem. My local garage - NOT the dealership, unfortunately - has found what they think will be a good replacement, though. Here's hoping!
Steve, Host
Some traction control only works at low speeds. It assumes that you just need help with an occasional patch of ice at a street corner.
Some traction control is all speed. It can be as simple as differential braking, or as complex as braking combined with engine advance /rpm change.
Traction control has no effect on braking. In all cases, it uses the same wheel sensors/electronics as your ABS braking. The previous post about the ABS and traction control lights coming on at the same time is not surprising. My two cents. :shades:
http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piefrd04aux.html
http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/tour.aspx
I had this installed, along with an XM Satellite radio (the Terk XM Commander, installed up where the sunglasses can be stored).
I had the joystick knob of the Drive+Play installed to the left of the volume knob, and the display hangs behind the rear-view mirror, off the plastic part that holds the dimming electronics.
I had all this installed at CarToys, BTW. Total cost (with installation) will run about $800.
But here's a series that shows all the pertinet areas after the install. Note: we did the install to avoid any cutting or drilling of holes. You could make it a bit cleaner with just a hole or two.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/barnstormer64/xmipodinstall.jpg