THE CAR IS SURGING AND LUNGING (SEE PENDING INVESTIGATION FROM MAY 2011). ALSO, WHEN RUNNING THE A/C IT STARTS TO GO OFF AND ON BY ITSELF, THEN THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHUT OFF AND ON, AND ALL GAGES GO TO ZERO, LIKE THE CAR IS LOSING POWER.
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 reportsTRYING TO PARK MY CAR IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAITED A MINUTE, TURNED OFF THE RADIO, A/C, ETC AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE. *TR
AUTO-UP/DOWN FUNCTION IS ERRATIC. BATTERY WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED. *KB
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I WENT TO PULL AWAY THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR AND DIED 3 TIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO PULL BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD NO POWER HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND COULD BARELY GET TO 30 MPH. I AM AN AUTOMO…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I WENT TO PULL AWAY THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR AND DIED 3 TIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO PULL BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD NO POWER HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND COULD BARELY GET TO 30 MPH. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECH TOOK THE CAR TO WORK AND PULLED THE CODES PO61B INTERNAL CONTROL TORQUE CALCULATION AND P2106 THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THE CODES I FOUND THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CODES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. I AM REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY BUT REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT FORD IS NOT TAKING CARE OF OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS A PROBLEM. KNOWING THAT THE THROTTLE BODIES WERE ON BACK ORDER NOT LONG AGO MEANS TO ME THEY ARE IN BIG DEMAND SO THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM. *TR
THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND LURCH, AND ENGINE SPEED ABRUPTLY SLOWED AFTER ABOUT (3) HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING (FROM VERMONT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE). A TROUBLE LIGHT (WRENCH ICON) APPEARED. ENGINE RPMS FLUCTUATED, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. PULLED OVER, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR. TROUBLE LIGHT WAS N…
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THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND LURCH, AND ENGINE SPEED ABRUPTLY SLOWED AFTER ABOUT (3) HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING (FROM VERMONT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE). A TROUBLE LIGHT (WRENCH ICON) APPEARED. ENGINE RPMS FLUCTUATED, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. PULLED OVER, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR. TROUBLE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND NORMAL FOR THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME. BROUGHT CAR TO PORTSMOUTH FORD, WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. SECOND INCIDENT, JANUARY 2011: HIGHWAY DRIVE BACK TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FROM CONNECTICUT. SAME PROBLEM. ABRUPT AND ALARMING DROP IN CAR SPEED. NO THROTTLE CONTROL. ERRATIC ENGINE RPM PERFORMANCE. ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO A SAFE AREA. WAITED 5 MINUTES. RE-STARTED THE ENGINE. TROUBLE LIGHT GONE, ENGINE PERFORMED FINE, AND NO ISSUE THE REST OF THE TRIP. BROUGHT THE CAR FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE TO VALVOLINE, THEN TO DOWLING FORD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THIRD INCIDENT, MARCH 2011: AFTER (2) HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING ABRUPT DROP IN ENGINE SPEED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ON INTERSTATE 84. LOST THROTTLE CONTROL. NEAR COLLISION WITH A TRACTOR-TRAILER IN BAD WEATHER WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. BROUGHT CAR TO BOB THOMAS FORD IN HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT FOR A TRANSMISSION PROGRAM UPDATE AND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. FOURTH INCIDENT, JUNE 24, 2011: AGAIN ON I-84 IN THE RAIN AFTER 2.5 HOURS OF HIGHWAY CRUISING. RADICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND VEHICLE SPEED. MY DAUGHTER BARELY AVOIDED A COLLISION ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER OFF THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH ERRATIC THROTTLE CONTROL. DAUGHTER CALLED ME IN A PANIC, CRYING. WAITED OFF THE HIGHWAY A FEW MINUTES, RE-STARTED, AND WAS FINE. CAR NO LONGER USED ON THE HIGHWAY, JUST LOCALLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. UPDATED PORTABLE 08/23/11 UPDATED 09/14/11*JB
WHILE PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE CAR SURGED BACKWARDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH CAME ON. DROVE CAR HOME APPROX. FIVE BLOCKS AND SHUT CAR OFF BECAUSE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND CAR RAN SMOOTH AND THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH WAS OFF. I SAT IN PARKING LOT FOR APPROX. FIVE MINUTES WHILE MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING WITH CAR RU…
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WHILE PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE CAR SURGED BACKWARDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH CAME ON. DROVE CAR HOME APPROX. FIVE BLOCKS AND SHUT CAR OFF BECAUSE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND CAR RAN SMOOTH AND THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH WAS OFF. I SAT IN PARKING LOT FOR APPROX. FIVE MINUTES WHILE MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING WITH CAR RUNNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST MONTH THAT THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS. BOTH WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THE CAR SURGES, THEN RUNS ROUGH, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH COMES ON, THEN WHEN YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE CAR RUNS SMOOTH AND THE CHECK ENGINE WRENCH SHUTS OFF.
EARLY JULY 2010 CAR WOULD SURGE AFTER STARTED WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. JULY 17,2010 ABOUT 95 DEGREES AMBIENT. DRIVING 55 MPH CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND STALL. RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OCCASIONAL SURGES. I FOUND A FORD DEALER ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD MASS AIR FLO…
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EARLY JULY 2010 CAR WOULD SURGE AFTER STARTED WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. JULY 17,2010 ABOUT 95 DEGREES AMBIENT. DRIVING 55 MPH CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND STALL. RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OCCASIONAL SURGES. I FOUND A FORD DEALER ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. REPLACED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY AGAIN. EARLY JUNE 2011 IT WAS SURGING AFTER STARTING WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. JUNE 11,2011. CAR STALLED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. BOUGHT A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND CLEARED THE CODE. JULY 5,2011 WHILE DRIVING TO BALTIMORE AT 65 MPH AND 100 DEGREE AMBIENT, CAR STALLED, RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I FOUND A PARKING LOT WITH SHADE AND LET IT IDLE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND IT RAN FINE TO BALTIMORE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT. NHTSA CANNOT IGNORE THIS FLAW. *KB
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE RPM STAYS AT 1500 ALLOWING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE AT SPEEDS OF 25 - 30 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPM WAS AT 1500 THEN DROPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ALMOST STALL. THE RPMS THEN JUMPED UP AGAIN TO AVOID THE ENGINE STALL CAU…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE RPM STAYS AT 1500 ALLOWING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE AT SPEEDS OF 25 - 30 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPM WAS AT 1500 THEN DROPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ALMOST STALL. THE RPMS THEN JUMPED UP AGAIN TO AVOID THE ENGINE STALL CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD. IN RESEARCHING POSSIBLE CAUSES ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT MANY FORD OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR). I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DESPITE THE NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THERE WAS NO RECALL OR NO ISSUE REPORTED RELATED TO THIS SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUE. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER, HAVE IT REPAIRED, AND IF FORD DECIDED TO PUT OUT A RECALL THAT I MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CONCERN WITH FORD'S APPROACH IS THAT IF EVERY OWNER PAYS FOR THIS REPAIR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE CONSUMER SAFETY BOARD BEING MADE AWARE OF THIS THAT THERE WILL BE NO RECALL. SOMEONE COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED WITH SUCH A SERIOUS VEHICLE DEFECT. *TR
2 MONTHS IN (CRUISE CONTROL CAUSES CAR TO SHUT DOWN) CONTINUES TO DO SO WHEN USED AT 35 MPH OR LESS. 3 MO. IN (CAR LOOSES POWER AND SURGES RANDOMLY MAINLY IN PARKING MODE. ALSO POWER LOST WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD BETWEEN 30 MPH AND 60 MPH 6 MONTHS IN ALL LIGHTS SURGE WHEN USED. A/C USAGE AGITATES ALL SYMPTOMS BUT DOES NOT HAVE TO…
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2 MONTHS IN (CRUISE CONTROL CAUSES CAR TO SHUT DOWN) CONTINUES TO DO SO WHEN USED AT 35 MPH OR LESS. 3 MO. IN (CAR LOOSES POWER AND SURGES RANDOMLY MAINLY IN PARKING MODE. ALSO POWER LOST WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD BETWEEN 30 MPH AND 60 MPH 6 MONTHS IN ALL LIGHTS SURGE WHEN USED. A/C USAGE AGITATES ALL SYMPTOMS BUT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN USE FOR OCCURRENCE. ONE OR ALL OCCURRENCES HAPPEN EVERYTIME DRIVEN, AIR FILTER CHANGED(NO HELP) CAR IS NOW HARDER TO START. PLANS FOR THROTTLE BODY CLEANING IN THE NEXT WEEK THOUGH. WILL UPDATE ON RESULTS. *TR
JUNE 2010 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD/BACKWARD WHILE IN GEAR AND FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE. THE CAR WOULD STALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 5-10 MINUTES TO RE-START. IT SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN THE A/C WAS RUNNING. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS TODAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DICK MASHETER FORD IN COLUMBUS, OH PER FORD…
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JUNE 2010 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD/BACKWARD WHILE IN GEAR AND FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE. THE CAR WOULD STALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 5-10 MINUTES TO RE-START. IT SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN THE A/C WAS RUNNING. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS TODAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DICK MASHETER FORD IN COLUMBUS, OH PER FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST (WITH A WAIVED FEE PER FORD) AND AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE AND A/C RUN FOR AWHILE THEY DID NOTICE A "LIGHT SERGE AT IDLE IN GEAR WITH A/C ON AND TURNING AT THE SAME TIME". I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE A/C NEEDS TO BE RAN. IT WILL LURCH A GOOD FOOT IF NOT MORE WHEN IT IS AT ITS WORST.
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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