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 · Nov 15, 2009

EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ROTORS AND PADS AND THEY WAS REPAIRED BY FORD AT 40K BUT NOW THIS IS THE THIRD SET WITH ONLY 91K SINCE THEN AND IT TIME FOR FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT LOOK LIKE THIS IS A ON GOING THING WITH THE FREESTYLE AND 500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292207

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2009

EquipmentPower Train

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THIS COMPLAINT IS IN ADDITION TO COMPLAINT #10277570. AFTER WRITING MY INITIAL COMPLAINT AS EXPLAINED I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD QUIT USING THE INITIAL MANUFACTURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT THAT FAILED. THEY JUST RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH A REPLACEMENT PART THAT REQUIRES MODIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF THIS PART. EVEN OUR SERVICE REPS FEELS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. ESPECIALLY IF THEY CANNOT KEEP THE PARTS ON THE SHELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279154

37,000 miles · Aug 10, 2008

EquipmentSeat Belts

2006 FORD FREESTYLE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT ON THE MIDDLE SEAT LOCKS WHEN THE SEAT IS LAID DOWN OR IT LOCKS WHEN NOT IN USE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT IS CURRENTLY NOT USABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237602

30,000 miles · Mar 13, 2008

Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUE AFTER ISSUE. IT STARTED WITH MY BRAKES FAILING LIKE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT I HAVE READ. IT NOW SURROUNDS MY 6 CD PLAYER THAT EITHER MELTS OR WON'T PLAY. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ON 03-12-08 THE ELECTRICAL PANEL ONLY LIGHTS UP PARTIALLY, AND AFTER SHAKING THE FRONT DASH BOARD A FEW TIME ALL LIGHTS POPPED ON. I HAVE TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGERS AND THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE FOR PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221025

45 miles · Jun 9, 2006

EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

BOUGHT A 2006 FREESTYLE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO. NOTICED THE A/C NOT WORKING AND THE ACCELERATION NOT WORKING AND LOTS OF SMOKE. PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS AFTER THE DEAL WAS DONE WITH 45 MILES ON THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159389

Official recalls

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

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