NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
144 reportsClear category filter103,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I WAS UNABLE TO PASS. COULD NOT BRING VEHICLE TO FULL POWER. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE DRIVEABILITY AND MADE THE REPAIR. THEN ON 5/15/2011, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER FREEWAY. AGAIN TAKEN TO FORD DELE…
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WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I WAS UNABLE TO PASS. COULD NOT BRING VEHICLE TO FULL POWER. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE DRIVEABILITY AND MADE THE REPAIR. THEN ON 5/15/2011, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER FREEWAY. AGAIN TAKEN TO FORD DELEARSHIP. THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, REPAIRS MADE. THIS PROBLEM AGAIN OCCURRED YESTERDAY, AGAIN WHEN ON FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COULD NOT RETURN VEHICLE TO FULL POWER. I FEEL THAT MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN DANGER DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE INABILITY OF THE FORD DELEARSHIP TO MAKE REPAIRS. WE HAVE READ THAT OTHERS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND ARE REPORTING ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY.
NHTSA ODI #10412568
73,000 miles · Jul 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SEL LUNGES WHEN IDLING, WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT, PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, ETC. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. THE CAR WILL, ON OCCASION, THEN IDLE ROUGH, THE "WRENCH" OR "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON. APPROXIMATELY TWICE IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS IT THEN LOOSES POWER AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. …
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OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SEL LUNGES WHEN IDLING, WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT, PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, ETC. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. THE CAR WILL, ON OCCASION, THEN IDLE ROUGH, THE "WRENCH" OR "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON. APPROXIMATELY TWICE IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS IT THEN LOOSES POWER AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES, TURNING OFF THE CAR WILL RE-SET THE SYSTEM AND IT SEEMS TO RUN BETTER. IT CONCERNS ME FOR MANY REASONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411636
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WAS ACCELERATING WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN. IT DOES NOT GAS WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT STALLED A FEW TIMES AND WHEN I HAVE THE CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATES WITHOUT ME EVEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. MY WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON IN MY DASH AS WELL. I TOOK IT TO PEPBOYS AND WAS INF…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WAS ACCELERATING WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN. IT DOES NOT GAS WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT STALLED A FEW TIMES AND WHEN I HAVE THE CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATES WITHOUT ME EVEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. MY WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON IN MY DASH AS WELL. I TOOK IT TO PEPBOYS AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY SENSOR WAS BAD AND I NEEDED SPARK PLUGS AND A VACUUM HOSE..AFTER SPENDING $700, NEEDLESS TO SAY THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATING STILL EXISTS AND THERE IS ALSO A HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. I TOOK IT BACK TO PEPBOYS AND THEY SAID IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO FORD TO GET IT FIXED. *TR UPDATED 03/23/12 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10410878
76,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
ON SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011 WE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO OUR DESTINATION WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ACTING UP AT A STOP. I WAS IDLING AT A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED RPMS TO 3 ' 4K. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO GET IT TO STOP. THE INDICATOR LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A WRENCH…
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ON SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011 WE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO OUR DESTINATION WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ACTING UP AT A STOP. I WAS IDLING AT A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED RPMS TO 3 ' 4K. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO GET IT TO STOP. THE INDICATOR LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A WRENCH AND AN ENGINE CAME ON DURING THIS TIME. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER TUNING IT OFF. THE TEMPERATURE ON THAT DAY WAS RIGHT AT 100 DEGREES AND I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND AT THE STOP WHEN THIS OCCURED. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10410485
44,000 miles · Jul 3, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other
I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITH MY CHILDREN WHILE MY WIFE WENT TO PICK UP A FEW GROCERIES. WHEN WE LEFT I PUT THE CAR REVERSE AND SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN JERKED BACKWARDS AS MY FOOT WAS SOFTLY ON THE BREAK AND THEN AGAIN WHEN IT WAS OFF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN…
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I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITH MY CHILDREN WHILE MY WIFE WENT TO PICK UP A FEW GROCERIES. WHEN WE LEFT I PUT THE CAR REVERSE AND SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN JERKED BACKWARDS AS MY FOOT WAS SOFTLY ON THE BREAK AND THEN AGAIN WHEN IT WAS OFF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN STALLED AND THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE, MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN "DRIVE" WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKING HARD AND MY FOOT EITHER SOFTLY ON THE BREAK OR JUST OFF THE BREAK. THE CAR WILL JERK FORWARD. I'M NOT SURE THE COMPONENT THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING, BUT BELLOW IS AN EDUCATED GUESS.
NHTSA ODI #10411169
123,300 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES WHEN FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN BACKING UP, AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON OR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT OR BOTH. ALSO CAR REVVED WHILE DRIVING AND COULD NOT GO OVER 40MPH WITHOUT THE ENGINE REVVING TO OVER 5,000 RPM. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10410269
100,000 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD MOMENTARILY SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD AN ACCIDENT LAST YEAR IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED WHEN IT WAS PLACED INTO GEAR. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED IN 2011. UPDATED 01/30/12
NHTSA ODI #10410252
50,000 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 FORD FREETSTYLE LIMITED REPETITIVE, UNEXPECTED VEHICLE "LUNGING FORWARD" WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. WILL LUNGE TOWARD WALLS, PEOPLE, DOESNT MATTER, HAVE NOTICED IT WHETHER ENGINE IS HOT OR NOT. AC MUST BE KEPT OFF WHEN IN PARKING LOTS FOR SURE, AS IT WILL LUNGE AT TWICE THE SPEED EVEN WHEN BRAKING, LIKE DRIVING SLOW WIT…
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2006 FORD FREETSTYLE LIMITED REPETITIVE, UNEXPECTED VEHICLE "LUNGING FORWARD" WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. WILL LUNGE TOWARD WALLS, PEOPLE, DOESNT MATTER, HAVE NOTICED IT WHETHER ENGINE IS HOT OR NOT. AC MUST BE KEPT OFF WHEN IN PARKING LOTS FOR SURE, AS IT WILL LUNGE AT TWICE THE SPEED EVEN WHEN BRAKING, LIKE DRIVING SLOW WITH FOOT ON BRAKE TO FIND PARKING SPACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10409404
56,000 miles · Jun 24, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
THE AUTOMOBILE SURGES WHEN INITIALING ENGAGING INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. EXTREME PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BREAK TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM SURGING 5 TO 10 FEET, EITHER BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS DEPENDING ON WHICH GEAR IS SELECTED. TOOK THE CAR TO DANVERS FORD IN DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE…
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THE AUTOMOBILE SURGES WHEN INITIALING ENGAGING INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. EXTREME PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BREAK TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM SURGING 5 TO 10 FEET, EITHER BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS DEPENDING ON WHICH GEAR IS SELECTED. TOOK THE CAR TO DANVERS FORD IN DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY SURGING PROBLEMS. NO ERROR CODES WERE DETECTED. HE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE RECOMMENDED THE "THROTTLE BODY" BE REPLACED. FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS REASONS, WE COMPLIED AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AT AN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE TO US OF ROUGHLY $650.
NHTSA ODI #10409632
55,000 miles · Jun 22, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE LUNGES AT IDLE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS WHEN A/C IS RUNNING. ALMOST RAN OVER ATTENDANT AT OIL CHANGE LOCATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 30 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER FREESTYLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT MANY OTHER FREESTYLE OWNERS DO, AS DOES THE FORD CORPORATION.
NHTSA ODI #10409428
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