THE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT DID NOT ANY MORE AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON.
2006 Ford Freestyle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Freestyle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 893.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freestyle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1,187 reports with mileage · 113 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 602 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 484 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
10 reportsTHIS CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS. I WOULDN'T BUY THIS CAR AGAIN. I HAVE INVESTED TOO MUCH MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THE AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. THE CAR HAS NO SPEED AFTER I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE LIGHTS ON DASH ARE OFF AND ON.
AIR BAG LIGHT IS NOW BLINKING AND A KNOCKING SOUND AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF UNDER THE DASH. *TR
I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN NUMBER FOR THIS IS MY DAUGHTER N LAWS CAR. I WAS TAKING HER CAR TO MY HOME FROM HER HOME TO HAVE MY HUSBAND CHANGE THE OIL. YOU HAVE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO START THE CAR. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH TO START THE CAR AND THIS HARD KNOCK CAME FROM WHERE THE AIR BAG IS ON THE PASSENGE…
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I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN NUMBER FOR THIS IS MY DAUGHTER N LAWS CAR. I WAS TAKING HER CAR TO MY HOME FROM HER HOME TO HAVE MY HUSBAND CHANGE THE OIL. YOU HAVE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO START THE CAR. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH TO START THE CAR AND THIS HARD KNOCK CAME FROM WHERE THE AIR BAG IS ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SIDE. IT IS LOCATED ON THE SLANTING DASH BEFORE THE GLOVE BOX. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK ABOUT 7 TIMES. YOU COULD SEE THE DASH MOVE. I THOUGHT THE AIR BAG WAS GOING TO EXPLODE OUT OF THE DASH AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I ASK HER WHAT THAT WAS SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW BUT THAT IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME SHE STARTED HER CAR. I TOLD HER THAT IT WAS THE AIR BAG AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE OUT OF THE DASH AND TO NOT EVER LET ANY ONE SIT THERE WHILE SHE WAS STARTING HER CAR JUST IN CASE IT DID EXPLODE BECAUSE IT WOULD HURT WHOM EVER WAS THERE. IT WAS VERY SCARY. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE FUSES AND WIRE CONNECTIONS TO IT AND NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I NOTICED WAS THAT IT WAS OFF. I FAILED TO ASK IF IT DID THE SAME THING WHEN IT WAS ON BUT I WILL AND IF YOU WILL SEND ME A NUMBER TO REFERENCE TO I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT INFORMATION PLUS HER VIN NUMBER. *TR
AIRBAG SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. THE HARNESS IS LOCATED IN SUCH A POSITION THAT IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOISTURE AND AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT WAS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED. *TR
SUNROOF/MOONROOF LEAK: POSSIBLY ALLOWS WATER INSIDE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT GETS WET. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER APPROXIMATELY 16 MOS. INTO WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WINDSHIELD LEAK AT FIRST AND THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY GLASS REPLACED ON TH…
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SUNROOF/MOONROOF LEAK: POSSIBLY ALLOWS WATER INSIDE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT GETS WET. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER APPROXIMATELY 16 MOS. INTO WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WINDSHIELD LEAK AT FIRST AND THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY GLASS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM, TO WHICH THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK. I ASKED IF THEY HAD PUT WATER ON THE CAR ROOF AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT TO WHICH I QUESTIONED HOW CAN YOU FIND A WATER LEAK WITHOUT WATER? I REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY WATER. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO SAY THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED,THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE MOONROOF LEAK, AND THAT THEY HAD REROUTED THE DRAINS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVED THEM. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL MARCH 09 AT WHICH TIME I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IN DEARBORN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT EVALUATED AT A FORD DEALER AT MY EXPENSE.I DECLINED THIS.NOW ROUGHLY ONE YEAR LATER IT IS BACK AGAIN AND I HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT PROBABLY WILL LEAD TO MOLD, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY, AND THAT BECAUSE THE WATER STAYS ABOVE THE HEADLINER, THE WIRING FOR MY REAR BRAKELIGHTS AS WELL AS THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS COULD POSSIBLY BE COMPROMISED,IN ADDITION TO LEADING TO PREMATURE RUST THROUGH OR ROT WHERE THE WATER EVENTUALLY COMES OUT.ALSO I FEEL BETRAYED BY FORD BECAUSE I HAVE COPIES OF OTHER TSB'S WHICH PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE BUT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE I DID NOT COMPLAIN OF THOSE SYMPTOMS AT THE TIME OF SERVICE AND NOW THAT I'VE REALISED I HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS IT'S TOO LATE FOR THEM TO BE COVERED. I BELIEVE EVERY NEW VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD RECEIVE NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT EVERY PROBLEM CONCERNING THEIR VEHICLE AND THAT EVERY TIME A DEALER SERVICES A PRODUCT UNDER WARRANTY, THAT ALL TSB'S ARE CHECKED AND ACTED UPON. *TR
I HAVE THREE COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A 2006 FREESTYLE IN JUNE OF 2006. IN OCTOBER 2006 MY SON AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE RESULTING IN OVER $10,000 IN REPAIRS. THE CAR JUMPED OVER TWO RAVINES, BOTH TIMES SEVERELY IMPACTING THE GROUND. ALMOST THE ENTIRE FRONT …
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I HAVE THREE COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A 2006 FREESTYLE IN JUNE OF 2006. IN OCTOBER 2006 MY SON AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE RESULTING IN OVER $10,000 IN REPAIRS. THE CAR JUMPED OVER TWO RAVINES, BOTH TIMES SEVERELY IMPACTING THE GROUND. ALMOST THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE RADIATORS, GRILL, BUMPER,ETC. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED TWO TIMES MAKING THE LATEST THE THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SET OF TIRES I JUST HAD REPLACED WERE 60,000 MILE CONTINENTAL TOURING TIRES. THEY HAD UNEVEN, CHOPPY, WEAR AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS OLD. I AM ON THE SECOND SET OF BRAKES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR AND HAVE HAD THE REAR ROTORS REPLACED.. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MILES ON IT. THE PREMATURE, UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND THE BRAKE WEAR ARE EXCESSIVE COMPARED TO ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE ACCIDENT WE WERE INVOLVED DID NOT RESULT IN BODILY INJURY FOR EITHER ME OR MY 22 YEAR OLD SON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE/WINSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6,700. *AK
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED IT HAPPENED WHETHER THEREWAS A FRONT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER SAID THEY REPAIRED IT. THE C…
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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED IT HAPPENED WHETHER THEREWAS A FRONT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER SAID THEY REPAIRED IT. THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHT CAME ON 2/22/07. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 15000. *AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ON CONTINUOUSLY. *NM
Official recalls
106V383000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Oct 5, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in
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