OUR STEERING IS LOCKING UP AND THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON AND SOMETIMES THE DOORS WONT LATCH THE STEERING IS VERY DANGEROUS IT LOCKS UP AND YOU CANT KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR
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.
Electrical System complaints
84 reportsCAR GIVES CODES FOR SAFEMODE AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION. *TR
I UNLOCKED MY CAR TO LOAD THE BACK. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE WHICH I PUT OUT WITH WATER. NOW MY RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK AND THE FUSE BLOWS WHEN WE TRIED TO REPLACE (2X). I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT IN SINCE IT IS THE WEEKEND, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT A RANDOM FIR…
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I UNLOCKED MY CAR TO LOAD THE BACK. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE WHICH I PUT OUT WITH WATER. NOW MY RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK AND THE FUSE BLOWS WHEN WE TRIED TO REPLACE (2X). I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT IN SINCE IT IS THE WEEKEND, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT A RANDOM FIRE THAT MAY HAVE BURNED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IF NOT NOTICED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE ENGINE BUT THE RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING FROM THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAD FAILED, AND CAUSED THE FUSE BOX AND RELAY TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE ENGINE BUT THE RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING FROM THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAD FAILED, AND CAUSED THE FUSE BOX AND RELAY TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A DEALER AND AN INDEPEND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS WELL AS AN ECU FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE, LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AND NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT, WALKED AROUND THE REAR OF THE CAR, AND SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT FIRST, BUT GRAY SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR. I GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND BY THE TIME I WAS READY TO USE…
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I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE, LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AND NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT, WALKED AROUND THE REAR OF THE CAR, AND SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT FIRST, BUT GRAY SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR. I GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND BY THE TIME I WAS READY TO USE IT A MINUTE LATER THE SMOKE HAD STOPPED. IT WAS RAINING SO MAYBE SOME WATER GOT IN AND SHORTED IT OUT. UPDATED 09/19/13*LJ UPDATED 12/26/2013 *JS
THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTE JUNK AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE! YES, I'VE HAD THE SAME THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE, AND AFTER I TOOK IT TO FORD FOR THE "WARRANTY" IT GOT WORSE! INSTEAD OF SURGING AT LOW SPEEDS, NOW THE ENTIRE VEHICLES PULSES...LIGHTS, ENGINE, INSTRUMENT PANEL, ETC. AT 60MPH THE ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY SPUTTER AN THE RP…
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THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTE JUNK AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE! YES, I'VE HAD THE SAME THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE, AND AFTER I TOOK IT TO FORD FOR THE "WARRANTY" IT GOT WORSE! INSTEAD OF SURGING AT LOW SPEEDS, NOW THE ENTIRE VEHICLES PULSES...LIGHTS, ENGINE, INSTRUMENT PANEL, ETC. AT 60MPH THE ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY SPUTTER AN THE RPM'S WILL SHOOT WAY UP - EVERY LIGHT GOES BRIGHT/DIM, THE ENGINE IDLE GOES UP AND DOWN, THE AIR CONDITIONING PULSES AND EVENTUALLY TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF - THEN SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES NUTS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER GOING FROM MY SPEED DOWN TO 0 AND BACK UP, WRENCH AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER LIGHTS FLASHING, CHARGING SYSTEM ERRORS - IT'S INSANE. I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE (!) AND OF COURSE AFTER I PICKED IT UP IT DID THE EXACT SAME STUFF GOING BACK HOME. NOW IT APPEARS I NEED TO REPLACE ALL 6 COILS AND THE COMPUTER FOR ABOUT $1500 - THIS THING IS ONLY WORTH $3500 AT THIS POINT AND I STILL OWE $9000 - IT'S A NIGHTMARE. ALSO HAVING THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES - DOESN'T WANT TO GO WHEN YOU FIRST PUT IT INTO GEAR AND KIND OF HOPS AT LOW SPEEDS - I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST. I HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS AND DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO GET ME TO WORK AND GET MY FAMILY WHERE WE NEED TO GO AN I'M SCARED EVERY TIME I GET IN THE THING...WITH SO MANY OF THESE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW FORD EXECS CAN LIVE WITH THEMSELVES AND NOT REPLACE THESE FAILING PARTS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY - I'M DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO UNLOAD THIS THING! *TR
I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2012 AND ON 12/12/2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE RPMS STARTED REVVING ON IT'S OWN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I WAS NOT INCREASING IT'S GAS. I MADE IT HOME AND STOPPED AT THE MAILBOX; AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ME HITTING THE GAS. THEN ON 12/13/2012 AS I WAS DR…
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I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2012 AND ON 12/12/2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE RPMS STARTED REVVING ON IT'S OWN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. I WAS NOT INCREASING IT'S GAS. I MADE IT HOME AND STOPPED AT THE MAILBOX; AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ME HITTING THE GAS. THEN ON 12/13/2012 AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IT DID THE SAME LURCHING COMING OUT OF PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALSO AT STOP LIGHTS AND SIGNS. IT ALSO DID THE SAME REVVING AND HALFWAY TO WORK IT DECIDED NOT TO GO OVER 40 MPH. *TR
I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF, RETURNED IN 30 MINUTES, STARTED RIGHT UP, PLACED TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE, HEARD AND FELT A LARGE BANG, WHINING NOISE FROM ENGINE, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP, REPLACED THE COMPUTER, RECODED, REFLASHED, NOTHING WO…
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I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF, RETURNED IN 30 MINUTES, STARTED RIGHT UP, PLACED TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE, HEARD AND FELT A LARGE BANG, WHINING NOISE FROM ENGINE, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP, REPLACED THE COMPUTER, RECODED, REFLASHED, NOTHING WORKED. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. NEW TRANSMISSION ESTIMATE IS $7000.00...FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A FLAWED DESIGN...I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT MY TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY GARAGE, OTHERS WERE NOT SO LUCKY. PLEASE DONT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE'S FAMILY IS KILLED BEFORE YOU FORCE A MUCH NEEDED RECALL ON SOME SERIOUSLY BAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. *TR
SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SURE WHERE TO START. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE YESTERDAY AND THEN TODAY CAR HAD THE WRENCH LIGHT ON AND LOST POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 75 MPH. TURNED THE CARD OFF AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON BUT AT LEAST I GOT PARTIAL POWER. THE CAR SHUDDERS AND WON'T SHIFT AND SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSH TH…
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SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SURE WHERE TO START. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE YESTERDAY AND THEN TODAY CAR HAD THE WRENCH LIGHT ON AND LOST POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 75 MPH. TURNED THE CARD OFF AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON BUT AT LEAST I GOT PARTIAL POWER. THE CAR SHUDDERS AND WON'T SHIFT AND SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN I AM STOPPED CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. CALLED SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT CERTIFIED TO WORK ON THAT TYPE OF TRANS BUT THEY WILL REPLACE IT FOR 7000.00!!!! I HAVE READ SO MANY POSTS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!! OR WORSE MY KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. DOESN'T ANYONE CARE ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING? *TR
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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