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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69,524 miles · Jul 22, 2011

Power Train

2006 FORD FREESTYLE WILL ACCELERATE, OR LUNGE FORWARD, WHEN BRAKE IS ENGAGED WHILE IN DRIVE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414686

98,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS HAD A LUNGING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES THAT IT HAS LUNGED IN REVERSE/DRIVE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR OR OBJECT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10414019

80,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN MOVING TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK. CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES COVERING DISTANCES OF 5-20 FEET DEPENDING UPON TERRAIN. MOVEMENT CAN BE ARRESTED WITH BRAKING, BUT IS VERY SUDDEN AND INTERMITTENT SO DIFFICULT TO EXPECT AND CONTROL. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413935

95,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Power Train

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PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND AS SOON AS THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED THE CAR JUMPED BACK AS IF I HAD QUICKLY PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THEN THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. SINCE JULY 12 I HAVE HAD A FEW OTHER INSTANCES BOTH WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I WAS WAITING IN A LINE WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO IDLE FORWARD THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD WITH A QUICK BURST OF ACCELERATION AND RESULTING IN ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #10414476

100,300 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR LURCHES (IN DRIVE OR REVERSE) WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE IS MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED WHILE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. ENGINE REVS FROM 1,000 RPM TO 2,500 RPM. ON OCCASION THE "FAIL-SAFE" WILL ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WILL SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP THE CAR FROM LURCHING. THE ONLY UNUSUAL LIGHT THAT COMES …

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NHTSA ODI #10413869

57,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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EARLY JULY 2010 CAR WOULD SURGE AFTER STARTED WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. JULY 17,2010 ABOUT 95 DEGREES AMBIENT. DRIVING 55 MPH CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND STALL. RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OCCASIONAL SURGES. I FOUND A FORD DEALER ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. REPLACED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY AGAIN. EARLY JUNE 2011 IT WAS SURGING AFTER STARTING WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. JUNE 11,2011. CAR STALLED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. BOUGHT A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND CLEARED THE CODE. JULY 5,2011 WHILE DRIVING TO BALTIMORE AT 65 MPH AND 100 DEGREE AMBIENT, CAR STALLED, RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I FOUND A PARKING LOT WITH SHADE AND LET IT IDLE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND IT RAN FINE TO BALTIMORE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT. NHTSA CANNOT IGNORE THIS FLAW. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413839

65,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE OVER THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS BEEN ACCELERATING AND STALLING FOR NO REASON. I HAVE HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY MANY TIMES WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND OR BACKING UP. ITS REALLY SCARY. LAST WEEK IT ACCELERATED SO FAST AND I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES SO HARD THAT IT QUIT, I STARTED IT, IT QUIT AND WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I JUST SPENT OVER $1600 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND GAVE OVER $34,000 DOLLARS FOR IT AND IT HAS HAD MANY ISSUES. I JUST PAID IT OFF IN DECEMBER AND NOW I'M STILL SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY TO KEEP IT GOING. I AM A TEACHER AND CAN NOT AFFORD THIS BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN AND HAVE CAR PAYMENTS ALL OVER AGAIN. PLEASE, ISN'T THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME? *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413690

75,600 miles · Jul 19, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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DROVE CAR ABOUT 10 MILES, NO PROBLEMS. SAT IN PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES IDLING, OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE ABOUT 90 DEGREES. PUT CAR IN REVERSE, ENGINE SURGED AND CAR DIED. TOOK THREE TRIES TO GET CAR TO START AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO BEGIN DRIVING, HOWEVER THE CAR DID NOT SEEM TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITH PEDAL PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. ON THE WAY HOME, ENGINE WOULD "HERKY/JERK" A LITTLE, BUT DID BEGIN TO ACCELERATE BETTER AND GET UP TO SPEED. TURNED OFF CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND STARTED A LITTLE LATER TO TAKE TO GARAGE TO GET CHECKED. CAR STARTED EASILY THIS TIME, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF. ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES ON WAY TO THE GARAGE. WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW WHAT, IF ANYTHING GARAGE TELLS ME. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO OTHER ISSUES DESCRIBED IN INTERNET SEARCH. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413660

84,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I DRIVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AND IT IS A HOT DAY WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE IT WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AND THEN THE MOTOR WILL DIE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ONE. TYPICALLY IF I TURN IT OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES IT WILL COME BACK ON LIGHT FREE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN TWO OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS NOT. THE FIRST I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSTICS WHERE I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO FORD THAT IT SEEMED TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE BUT THEY CLEARED OUT THE SENSOR TO GIVE IT A GOOD WASH IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THE ENGINE DYING TO ACCELERATION RATION HAS INCREASED AND A GOOD CAR WASH HAS NOT HELPED THE ISSUE. I AM BECOMING VERY CONCERNED BEFORE THE ACCELERATION WAS ONLY IN REVERSE NOW IT IS OCCURRING IN DRIVE AS WELL AND HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE PLANS TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR ANSWERS AS THEY WERE NOT ALL THAT HELPFUL THE FIRST TIME. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413657

55,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

HAVE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT. IT RECENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE I WAS IN DRIVEWAY. AND ENGINE HAS BEEN REVVING UP FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413630

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