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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.

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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.

42 crash reports10 fire reports10 injury reports

Equipment complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2012
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

CAR SURGES WHEN IDLING. SEEMS MORE IN HOT WEATHER BUT AM TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THEM FOR 6-7 YEARS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461192

58,000 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Equipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED THROUGHOUT THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED THROUGHOUT THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10447873

50,000 miles · Aug 3, 2011
EquipmentPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE. 2 YEARS AGO I HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT GOT TO BE DANGEROUS. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOW I AM AGAIN HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIR IS ON. I NOW HAVE A TEEN DRIVING AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR HER WELFARE. I ALREADY PAID 800+ …

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I HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE. 2 YEARS AGO I HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT GOT TO BE DANGEROUS. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOW I AM AGAIN HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIR IS ON. I NOW HAVE A TEEN DRIVING AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR HER WELFARE. I ALREADY PAID 800+ TO REPAIR SOMETHING FORD SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED AT THEIR COST. NOW I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT BEFORE FORD RECALLS THIS PART? *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416850

64,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Equipment

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT ACCELERATES ON IT'S ON. THE CAR KILLED , WHEN I STARTED IT BACK EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT WOULD GRADUALLY PICKUP SPEED IF I HELD THE PEDAL DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409011

101,800 miles · Jun 12, 2011
EquipmentPower Train

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOST POWER AND QUIT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. THE 1ST WAS IN 2009 AND WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACED. NOW ON 6-4-11 THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING, AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT NEEDED YET ANOTHER THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A …

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOST POWER AND QUIT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. THE 1ST WAS IN 2009 AND WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACED. NOW ON 6-4-11 THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING, AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT NEEDED YET ANOTHER THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR QUIT,WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406042

96,530 miles · May 18, 2011
Equipment

2006 FORD FREESTYLE. VEHICLE ACTS TO STALL AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD. BACKING OUT AND TURNING ON MY AC AND LUNGES FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THOUGHT IT WAS A GAS ISSUE AND USED CLEANER FOR TANK AND STILL HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RANDOMLY. WOULD SLOW AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN JUMP FORWARD. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. NO…

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE. VEHICLE ACTS TO STALL AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD. BACKING OUT AND TURNING ON MY AC AND LUNGES FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THOUGHT IT WAS A GAS ISSUE AND USED CLEANER FOR TANK AND STILL HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RANDOMLY. WOULD SLOW AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN JUMP FORWARD. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. NO MISHAPS. JUST CONCERNED WHAT WAS MAKING IT DO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401530

28,141 miles · May 16, 2011
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

I PURCHASED 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN APRIL 2007 WITH 16823 MILES. ON AUGUST 9, 2007 I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHEN PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED EEC TEST NO CODES DETECTED. JULY 23, 2008 TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO REPAIR THEY FOUND CODES P21068 AND P061B LOOKED UP THE CODES AND GAV…

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I PURCHASED 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN APRIL 2007 WITH 16823 MILES. ON AUGUST 9, 2007 I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHEN PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED EEC TEST NO CODES DETECTED. JULY 23, 2008 TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO REPAIR THEY FOUND CODES P21068 AND P061B LOOKED UP THE CODES AND GAVE ME INFORMATION FROM FORD ON RECALL FOR THESE CODES THE AUTO REPAIR SUGGESTED I GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH THE RECALL INFO. JULY 28, 2008 TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH SAME ISSUE OF LUNGING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK SHOWED CODE P061B AND P2106. THEY REPLACED VALVE AFTER KEEPING MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS I HAD TO PAY FOR PART OF THE COST. APRIL 21, 2009 II TOOK CAR BACK WITH AC PROBLEM PAID 611.00 FOR AC CONDENSER LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON AC THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL ME. JUNE 22, 2010 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ISSUE WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TROTTLE BODY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I CALLED FORD COMPLAINT DEPT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO FIX FOR MY PROBLEM. I CONTINUE TOP HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LUNGING UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED IVOQ. 06/30/11 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401045

99,000 miles · Feb 10, 2011
EquipmentPower Train

2006 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEMS. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 99K MILES, DAYS AFTER BUYING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS APPEARED. FIRST THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AND IDLING IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS GETTING IT REPAIRED. T…

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE CONTROL PROBLEMS. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 99K MILES, DAYS AFTER BUYING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS APPEARED. FIRST THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AND IDLING IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS GETTING IT REPAIRED. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY CONTROL TWICE BEFORE PROBLEM WAS ELIMINATED. SECOND THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED, WRENCH AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL DRIVE POWER, WOULD DO IT ABOUT EVERY 10 MILES EVENTUALLY BEFORE THE DEALER FINALLY AGREED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THEY REBUILT IT TWICE AND STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM, THEY TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FINALLY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP OVER A MONTH FOR THIS. I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE REPAIR COST KNOWING THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE FORD NOR THE NHTSA WILL DO A [XXX]THING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FORD AND THANK YOU NHTSA, LOOKS LIKE THE LITTLE GUY/TAXPAYER TAKES IT IN THE REAR AGAIN! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ODI #10381412

47,000 miles · Sep 2, 2010
EquipmentSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

SURGING FROM A WHILE BRAKE APPLIED OR WHEN LETTING OFF BRAKE BUT BEFORE APPLYING GAS. FRONT END NOISES WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT, LOUD CREAKING SOUND. BRAKES MAKE A CREAKING SOUND ALSO BUT SHOW NOW SIGNS OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. ALL ISSUES STARTED AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353591

24,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE RECURRED BEFORE STALLING YET THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE RECURRED BEFORE STALLING YET THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT THEN INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS CLEANED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT WAS RE-ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON ACTIVATED ON HIGH OR MEDIUM HIGH. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR HAD ALSO FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,001.

NHTSA ODI #10352311

Official recalls

1

06V383000 · 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

1

PE11018 · 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