NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
144 reportsClear category filter52,000 miles · Sep 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. LAST SUMMER, IT BEGAN LURCHING WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT BEGAN DOING IT SO BADLY, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I DROVE TO AUTOZONE AND…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. LAST SUMMER, IT BEGAN LURCHING WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT BEGAN DOING IT SO BADLY, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I DROVE TO AUTOZONE AND THE TWO ENGINE CODES WERE P0106 AND P0109. THEY ERASED THEM AND FOLLOWING THE FORD FREESTYLE FORUMS, I PURCHASED SOME THROTTLE-BODY CLEANER. ONCE HOME, I CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED THE ISSUE, ALTHOUGH IT STILL IS SURGING SOME. IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT FORD NEEDS TO HONOR THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL AND NOT EXPECT ME TO PAY $700 AT THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353500
79,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. AS THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH REPEATED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. AS THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH REPEATED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE REOCCURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
NHTSA ODI #10351443
74,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES WHEN IN REVERSE. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10350386
75,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST TWO SUMMERS. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN WE RUN THE A/C THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES SURGE FORWARD WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR COMING TO REST AT A STOPLIGHT/DRIVE-THRU. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS WITH HITTING OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US. IT HAS ALSO STALLED A…
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OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST TWO SUMMERS. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN WE RUN THE A/C THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES SURGE FORWARD WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR COMING TO REST AT A STOPLIGHT/DRIVE-THRU. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS WITH HITTING OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US. IT HAS ALSO STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES. IT SEEMS THAT WE MUST TURN THE CAR OFF TO REST AND THEN START IT BACK UP FOR THE ISSUE TO BE FIXED. WE ARE NOW VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE RUN THE A/C BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO AFFECT IT SOMEWHAT. WE RECENTLY TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH WOULD BE $500 FOR THE PART WITHOUT LABOR. WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW AND ARE PRAYING FOR SAFETY. WE WILL NO LONGER BUY A FORD AND WHEN CONTACTING FORD WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10350334
39,100 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE ENGINE ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE REVS UP ON ITS OWN AT LOW IDLING PARKING LOT SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY AND THE ENGINE STALLS. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYS LIT AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLUGGISHLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS A…
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THE ENGINE ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE REVS UP ON ITS OWN AT LOW IDLING PARKING LOT SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY AND THE ENGINE STALLS. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYS LIT AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLUGGISHLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS AND WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349799
86,000 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITION IS RUNNING. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS STUCK POSSIBLY THE THROTTLE. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO INDIO, CALIFORNIA AND RAN THE AIR CONDITIONER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349667
83,000 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
RANDOM SURGES OF ENGINE RPM, ESPECIALLY IN PARKING LOTS. CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO CONTROL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349664
49,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
SURGING FORWARD/LUNGING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348931
78,000 miles · Aug 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS HAD AN INCREASING NUMBER OF INCIDENCES WHERE THE CAR HAS JUST COME OUT OF PARK AND INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THROTTLE WILL SURGE EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. WHEN IT IS HOT OUT, IT IS NOW OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. YESTERDAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND THEN STALLED COMPLE…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS HAD AN INCREASING NUMBER OF INCIDENCES WHERE THE CAR HAS JUST COME OUT OF PARK AND INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THROTTLE WILL SURGE EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. WHEN IT IS HOT OUT, IT IS NOW OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. YESTERDAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE 'WRENCH' LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL ITS POWER. THEN I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I CHECKED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY PREVALENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THIS CAR. THE DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING SO OFTEN THAT THE NEEDED PARTS ARE ON BACK-ORDER. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, CONSTANTLY FEARING THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348605
54,425 miles · Aug 8, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2006 FORD FREESTYLE ACCELERATES - SURGES IN REVERSE. WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BEFORE I COULD STEP ON THE GAS, IT ACCELERATED AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. I NEARLY RAN INTO A FAMILY. NO CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT ON ITS OWN. I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NOTHING …
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE ACCELERATES - SURGES IN REVERSE. WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BEFORE I COULD STEP ON THE GAS, IT ACCELERATED AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. I NEARLY RAN INTO A FAMILY. NO CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT ON ITS OWN. I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348060
Official recalls
1Oct 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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