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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

Power Train complaints

484 reports
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79,957 miles · Nov 26, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE CBT TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL HAD EXCEEDED THE CURRENT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE CBT TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL HAD EXCEEDED THE CURRENT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 79,957. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. SO, THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE, WAS TO PULL OVER, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10553860

160,000 miles · Nov 22, 2013
Power Train

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR DID A SMALL SURGE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER. WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT RESTARTED WITH NO WRENCH OR ENGINE LIGHT AND SEEMED OK. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT MORE FREQUENT. THROTTLE BODY HAD BEEN CHANGED, NOW BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.…

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DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR DID A SMALL SURGE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER. WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT RESTARTED WITH NO WRENCH OR ENGINE LIGHT AND SEEMED OK. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT MORE FREQUENT. THROTTLE BODY HAD BEEN CHANGED, NOW BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553370

95,000 miles · Nov 6, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

EXPERIENCED A DROP IN THROTTLE RESPONSE GOING THROUGH A CURVE/INTERSECTION AND REDUCED POWER...PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...SWITCHED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED. *TR HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND FOUND A FORD RECALL TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAM THE CONTROLLER. DEALERSHIP…

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EXPERIENCED A DROP IN THROTTLE RESPONSE GOING THROUGH A CURVE/INTERSECTION AND REDUCED POWER...PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...SWITCHED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED. *TR HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND FOUND A FORD RECALL TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAM THE CONTROLLER. DEALERSHIP NOW TELLS ME THAT THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT A COST OF OVER $800

NHTSA ODI #10551153

112,000 miles · Oct 28, 2013
Power Train

MY CAR WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE IN PARK, WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE THE NOISE WOULD STOP. SOUNDED LIKE A AIRPLANE WHILE IDLING. WHEN I ASKED TO HAVE IT CHECKED WHILE HAVING OIL CHANGED, WAS TOLD IT WAS TRANSMISSION NOISE AND DUE TO CVT TRANSMISSION AND WILL NOT EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF TRANSMISSION UNTIL I FEEL IT SLIPPING GEARS. …

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MY CAR WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE IN PARK, WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE THE NOISE WOULD STOP. SOUNDED LIKE A AIRPLANE WHILE IDLING. WHEN I ASKED TO HAVE IT CHECKED WHILE HAVING OIL CHANGED, WAS TOLD IT WAS TRANSMISSION NOISE AND DUE TO CVT TRANSMISSION AND WILL NOT EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF TRANSMISSION UNTIL I FEEL IT SLIPPING GEARS. HAVE SEEN THAT FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WONDER WHY THEY HAVEN'T STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPAIRED THIS ISSUE. I AM A WIDOWED MOM AND DON'T HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LYING AROUND TO HAVE THIS FIXED. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP TRANSPORT MY SONS BOY SCOUT TROOP TO THEIR EVENTS AND AFRAID TO DO SO WITH CONCERN OF BRAKING DOWN THIS SCOUTS IN MY CAR. WISH THEY WOULD FIX THIS ISSUE SO CUSTOMERS WOULD NOT PUT OUT POCKET TO FIX, THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549843

116,000 miles · Oct 12, 2013
Power Train

THE CAR WA SIN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN WAS DOING A TEST DRIVE, THE CAR SHIFTED DOWN AND HAD ISSUES. THE FORD DEALER IS NOW STATING THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN AND IT NEED A NEW ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547704

75,000 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547207

116,000 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Power Train

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. AS I STARTED INQUIRING ABOUT REPAIRS, I FOUND THAT MOST PLACES, INCLUDING SOME FORD DEALERSHIPS, COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT DO THIS REPAIR. THIS WAS DUE TO EVERYTHING FROM HAVING TRIED TO REPA…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. AS I STARTED INQUIRING ABOUT REPAIRS, I FOUND THAT MOST PLACES, INCLUDING SOME FORD DEALERSHIPS, COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT DO THIS REPAIR. THIS WAS DUE TO EVERYTHING FROM HAVING TRIED TO REPAIR THESE AND THE REPAIRS NOT WORKING (EVEN WHEN DONE BY FORD'S GUIDELINES), PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FROM FORD, AND THE LIST GOES ON. IN DOING MORE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE FORD CVT TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF FORD ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE THROUGH TSB'S. HOWEVER, IN ALL OF FORD'S RECOGNITION OF THE ISSUE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL TO ACTUALLY FIX THE ISSUE. THIS HAS PUT ME IN THE POSITION OF COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS, FACING A STEEP REPAIR OF MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ISSUE THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT BUT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544555

133,000 miles · Sep 17, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A DEALER AND AN INDEPEND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS WELL AS AN ECU FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10543995

120,000 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

VEHICLE LUNGES AND HAS POOR GAS MILEAGE. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND GOING THRU BRAKES MORE THAN NORMAL DUE TO THIS ISSUE. FORD ISSUED A COMPLIMENTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE …

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VEHICLE LUNGES AND HAS POOR GAS MILEAGE. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND GOING THRU BRAKES MORE THAN NORMAL DUE TO THIS ISSUE. FORD ISSUED A COMPLIMENTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ANY REPAIR IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536716

48,000 miles · Aug 21, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,000 MILES APX. AFTER GOOGLING I FOUND THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. I ALSO AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH WHAT I THINK ITS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. I DID A SEARCH ON EDMUNDS.COM AND FOUND A 12 PAGE THREAD OF PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. THE CAR WITH REVVED UP AND LURCHED BACKWARDS AND ALSO FORWARDS WHICH IS V…

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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,000 MILES APX. AFTER GOOGLING I FOUND THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. I ALSO AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH WHAT I THINK ITS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. I DID A SEARCH ON EDMUNDS.COM AND FOUND A 12 PAGE THREAD OF PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. THE CAR WITH REVVED UP AND LURCHED BACKWARDS AND ALSO FORWARDS WHICH IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH GETTING THE CAR TO GO ABOVE A CERTAIN SPEED AS WELL. I WILL PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND EASE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND NOT EVEN TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL AND FLY BACKWARDS. I AM TERRIFIED THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I AM GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCES IT ONLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A YEAR OR TWO AND THEN THEY ARE BACK TO THE START AGAIN. IT SEEMS EVEN THIS WEBSITE HAS OVER 5 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS DON'T YOU THINK IT IS TIME TO DO SOMETHING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536579

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