IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
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
Seat Belts complaints
6 reportsMY DAUGHTER HAD A WRECK, SHE REAR-ENDED A TRUCK WHO RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SEATBELT DID LOCK UP. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHT STATING THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION BUT THEY JUST SAY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE …
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MY DAUGHTER HAD A WRECK, SHE REAR-ENDED A TRUCK WHO RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SEATBELT DID LOCK UP. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHT STATING THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION BUT THEY JUST SAY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. I TOLD THEM THAT UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE WILL KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM UNTIL THEY HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE PART AND NEEDS INVESTIGATION. *TR
WHEN MY WIFE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION, SHE COULD NOT RELEASE HER SEATBELT. THIS WAS THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM THAT HAD FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY WORK HER WAY OUT FROM UNDER THE SEATBELT BY GETTING SOME EXTRA SLACK IN THE BELT. WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THE MECHANISM TO RELEASE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL…
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WHEN MY WIFE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION, SHE COULD NOT RELEASE HER SEATBELT. THIS WAS THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM THAT HAD FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY WORK HER WAY OUT FROM UNDER THE SEATBELT BY GETTING SOME EXTRA SLACK IN THE BELT. WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THE MECHANISM TO RELEASE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WITHOUT THINKING, I PUT THE SEATBELT ON. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT! I HONKED THE HORN UNTIL THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT ALL THE NOISE WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE BELT RELEASED. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. WE ORDERED A NEW LATCHING MECHANISM ($ 195.00 /W/ LABOR) MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ITEM. THIS WAS THE LATCH MECHANISM END THAT THE BELT CLICKS INTO. VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES. IT WAS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY DEFECT! *TR
IN APRIL 2007, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED. HAD SEATBELT BUCKLE REPLACED. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOT CHARGE. ON JUNE 8, 2010 THE CHECK THROTTLE BODY LIGHT AND WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE IN. THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR MOUNT WERE BOTH REPL…
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IN APRIL 2007, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED. HAD SEATBELT BUCKLE REPLACED. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOT CHARGE. ON JUNE 8, 2010 THE CHECK THROTTLE BODY LIGHT AND WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE IN. THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR MOUNT WERE BOTH REPLACED. COST OF REPAIR WAS $1023.24 THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF REPAIR WAS 55,234. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE UNEXPECTEDLY AT TIMES IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. AT OTHER TIMES, VEHICLE WOULD HESITATES / HAD LITTLE OR NO PICK-UP WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK VEHICLE IN ON JUNE 22, 2010. AN ENGINE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. REPAIRS TOTALED $642.61 THE MILEAGE AT TIME OF REPAIRS WAS 55,613. WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS NECESSARY. REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE JULY 1, 2010. COST WAS $200.65. MILEAGE WAS 55,695. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND LEARNED THAT OTHERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WANTED TO BE ON RECORD WITH PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. FORD MANUFACTURED CARS WITH ISSUES. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND COMPENSATE FOR THE REPAIRS THAT PEOPLE HAD TO PAY FOR. THE REPAIRS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE DONE ON THIS CAR ARE RIDICULOUS. BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT ISSUE AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, I WOULD SAY WE HAVE HAD SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WE MOST CERTAINLY REGRET BUYING IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE PLASTIC CASING OVER THE TOP OF THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE PLASTIC CASING OVER THE TOP OF THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
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
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