← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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
Clear category filter
98,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012
EnginePower Train

CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. HAPPENS IN VERY HOT WEATHER, A/C ON, IN IDLE, NO CONTACT IS BEING MADE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR STALLS, WHEN RESTARTED ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHTS ARE ON AND CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. FEELS LIKE IT IS IN FIRST GEAR AND DOESN'T GO ABOVE 60MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464324

65,000 miles · Jul 3, 2012
EnginePower Train

ENGINE SURGES WHILE IN GEAR AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH UNEXPECTEDLY FORWARD OR BACKWARD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10464087

115,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

CVT TRANSMISSION BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TORCH CONVERTER ON THE CVT TRANS BUT REPLACING IT DOESNT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. ONCE IT GOES BAD YOU HAVE BITS AND PIECES OF METAL FLOATING AROUND ALL OVER EVERYWHERE ELSE AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES R…

Read full complaint

CVT TRANSMISSION BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TORCH CONVERTER ON THE CVT TRANS BUT REPLACING IT DOESNT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. ONCE IT GOES BAD YOU HAVE BITS AND PIECES OF METAL FLOATING AROUND ALL OVER EVERYWHERE ELSE AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES REGARDLESS. USELESS RECALL. ALSO, THE AC ONLY BLOWS COLD AT HIGH SPEEDS ....WHEN DRIVING SLOW IN TOWN IT BLOWS WARM AND I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS ....GOES DOWN WHEN I PULL UP OR WONT GO AT ALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10464009

83,000 miles · Jun 30, 2012
Power Train

VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR HAS LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON GEAR IT IS IN. THIS ONLY TAKES PLACE WHEN THE A/C IS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS INCONSISTENT BUT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THE LUNGE IS DRASTIC ENOUGH THAT IT IS A HAZARD AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN. DEALER H…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR HAS LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON GEAR IT IS IN. THIS ONLY TAKES PLACE WHEN THE A/C IS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS INCONSISTENT BUT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THE LUNGE IS DRASTIC ENOUGH THAT IT IS A HAZARD AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT BUT WAS ON THE LIST TO BEEN SEEN NEXT WEEK. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS TAKEN PLACE UP TO THIS POINT. TODAY WAS THE WORST PART OF THE ISSUE. WHILE TRAVELING 75 ON THE INTERSTATE, THE "WRENCH" ICON ON THE INFORMATION PANEL CAME ON. AT THIS POINT ALL ACCELERATION WAS DISABLED AND COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT GET ABOVE 60 IN ORDER TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK AND CREATED A SIGNIFICANTLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND OVER 242 FILED COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WILL BE DROPPING THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER ASAP. HOW MANY REPORTED INCIDENTS DOES IT TAKE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE? OR WILL IT TAKE A LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE NUMEROUS FILED COMPLAINTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463849

79,875 miles · Jun 29, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

AFTER PURCHASING (AS A USED CAR) FOR MY DAUGHTER, VEHICLE BEGAN RAPID ACCELERATION AND 'LURCHING' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY OCCURRING WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. I HAD THE FILTERS REPLACED (AIR AND GAS) AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED…

Read full complaint

AFTER PURCHASING (AS A USED CAR) FOR MY DAUGHTER, VEHICLE BEGAN RAPID ACCELERATION AND 'LURCHING' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY OCCURRING WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. I HAD THE FILTERS REPLACED (AIR AND GAS) AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE GONE AWAY. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP, DURING MY FIRST INSPECTION AFTER IT'S PURCHASE, WETHER THERE WAS A TSB IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE AND WOULD THEY PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. THEY ALLEGED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ANY DEFECT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. THEY DID HOWEVER REFUSE TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION UNTIL I ALLOWED THEM TO OVERHAUL THE REAR BRAKES W/NEW ROTORS FOR QUITE A KINGLY SUM! (SO MUCH FOR A PROMOTIONAL 'FREE INSPECTION'.) LAST NIGHT I HAD TO VENTURE OUT AND RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE FROM MY LITTLE GIRL AFTER THE CAR KEPT 'LURCHING' EVERYTIME SHE USED THE BRAKE. WHILE SHE WAS WAITING IN AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CAR 'LURCHED' AND STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AN ENGINE LIGHT AND A 'WRENCH' WAS NOW VISIBLE ON THE DASH, AND THE CAR HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELERATOR! DUE TO OUR FLAT TERRAIN I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR HOME ON AN IDLE AT A SPEED NO GREATER THAN 10 M.P.H. ONCE SAFELY HOME I TRIED A TRICK THAT USED TO WORK ON THE FLEET BUSSES I ONCE WORKED ON. THAT WAS RAPIDLY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON-OFF, ON-OFF REPEATEDLY ABOUT 10 (TEN) TIMES, THEN LEAVE SWITCH ON AND START IT. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE CLEARED THE 'WRENCH' AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS RESTORED. THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT CLEAR. I'VE PUT TIRES, STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS ETC. INTO THIS CAR TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE, YET I CAN'T ALLOW HER TO USE IT. 4 OF 5 CARS I OWN ARE FORDS, 2 BEING 2006 FREESTYLES, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE NOW? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463545

95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT, WENT TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT LUNGED BACKWARD AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TO START AGAIN I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND IT LUNGED FORWARD. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463461

88,000 miles · Jun 27, 2012
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

MY FORD FREESTYLE 2006 LUNGED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 4 FEET WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE, MY FOOT WAS FULLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN THE SAME MANNER, AND IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS USUALLY IN THE 90'S OR ABOVE, …

Read full complaint

MY FORD FREESTYLE 2006 LUNGED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 4 FEET WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE, MY FOOT WAS FULLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN THE SAME MANNER, AND IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS USUALLY IN THE 90'S OR ABOVE, I USUALLY HAVE THE AIR-CONDITIONING RUNNING, AND THE CAR WILL START TO LOOSE POWER WITH THE TACHOMETER VISIBLY DIPPING DOWN TO ZERO. THE CAR WILL THEN SUDDENLY RACE TO 2000 RPMS, AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE BACKWARD (OR FORWARD) WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN REVERSE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP MOVEMENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN DRIVE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP MOVEMENT, AND THE CAR ENGINE WILL DIE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463357

120,000 miles · Jun 27, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE GEARS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE GEARS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10463245

66,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 18 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC STAT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 18 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/15/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10463042

85,000 miles · Jun 21, 2012
EnginePower Train

SAME AS OTHERS. CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND/OR BACKWARD WHEN SLOWING TO PARK, OR JUST MOVING SLOW OR IDILING. ALMOST ENDED UP OVER A BERM AT SAM'S CLUB BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VERY SCARY! TAKING CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. VEHICLE SURGES WHEN IDLING OR GOING SLOW. ACCELERATES AT TIMES LIKE PARKING OR MOVING THROUGH PARKI…

Read full complaint

SAME AS OTHERS. CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND/OR BACKWARD WHEN SLOWING TO PARK, OR JUST MOVING SLOW OR IDILING. ALMOST ENDED UP OVER A BERM AT SAM'S CLUB BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VERY SCARY! TAKING CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. VEHICLE SURGES WHEN IDLING OR GOING SLOW. ACCELERATES AT TIMES LIKE PARKING OR MOVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS OR WHEN STOPPED AT STOPLIGHTS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462674

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