IllustrationTRANSMISSON WHINE, , FORD CLAIMS IT MUST BE REPLACED AT MY COST 5 TO 6 GRAND.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freestyle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
630–25K
15325–50K
37450–75K
29975–100K
241100–150K
57150K+
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING. HAPPENS IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. WRENCH INDICATOR AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS LIGHT ON DASH. VEHICLE SLOWS AND CAN BARELY ACCELERATE CAUSING NEAR-ACCIDENT. RESETTING CODE P0701 ALLOWS NORMAL OPERATION TILL CYCLE REPEATS IN SHORT AND RANDOM TIME OF DRIVING. E…
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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING. HAPPENS IN BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. WRENCH INDICATOR AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS LIGHT ON DASH. VEHICLE SLOWS AND CAN BARELY ACCELERATE CAUSING NEAR-ACCIDENT. RESETTING CODE P0701 ALLOWS NORMAL OPERATION TILL CYCLE REPEATS IN SHORT AND RANDOM TIME OF DRIVING. ENGINE SHUT DOWN/RESTART CLEARS WRENCH LIGHT TILL CYCLE REPEATS. TOOK CAR TO 2 FORD DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. ALL ADVISED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE REBUILT OR REPAIRED AND THAT REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS ARE GENERALLY NOT AVAILABLE. ALL ADVISED NOT REPAIRING THE CAR BECAUSE EVEN IF A NEW TRANSMISSION WERE AVAILABLE, COST IS $4500-$5500 FOR THE UNIT PLUS OVER $1000 LABOR TO REMOVE/REPLACE TRANSMISSION. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS CAR AND IT'S SIMILAR MODELS (FORD 500) OF ALL YEARS (2005-2007).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, OR OVER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO EXCEED 30 MPH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 36000 MILES, CAR NOW HAS 99750 MILES AN TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN AGAIN. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NEW TRANSMISSION IS $6000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE LOUDER THE NOISE SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT REVERSE, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE LOUDER THE NOISE SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT REVERSE, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/29/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE OPERATED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE OPERATED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
THROTTLE BODY IN CAR CHECK ENGINE AND WRENCH LIGHTS COME ON , THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE EVEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR I HAVE TO LET CAR WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 45 MIN THEN CUT CAR OFF N ON A COUPLE TIMES THE RPM NOT MOVING SPEEDOMETER NOT MOVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,700.
TAKATA INFLATORS SURGING, TRANSMISSION BAD
Official recalls
106V383000 · 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
1PE11018 · 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