Illustration2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS SURGING AT LOW SPEEDS. *TT
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
74 reportsI HAD TO GET MY THROTTLE REPLACED IN MY CAR DUE TO INVOLUNTARY LUNGING OF THE CAR. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND MY CAR STILL LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A CAR OR A PERSON. THIS IS NOT AN OPTIONAL FIX AS IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. I …
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I HAD TO GET MY THROTTLE REPLACED IN MY CAR DUE TO INVOLUNTARY LUNGING OF THE CAR. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND MY CAR STILL LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A CAR OR A PERSON. THIS IS NOT AN OPTIONAL FIX AS IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AND HOPE THAT A RE-CALL IS ISSUED. I SPENT NEARLY 1,000 DOLLARS TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A DEFECT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AS IT IS ONLY FAIR TO CONSUMERS. *TT
VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD UNPREDICTABLY WHILE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, IT LUNGES FORWARD.
THIS VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGES FORWARD WHEN AT A STOP AND WHEN IDLING. EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR CAN STILL LUNGE FORWARD FIVE TO TEN FEET. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS INJURED. I…
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THIS VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGES FORWARD WHEN AT A STOP AND WHEN IDLING. EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR CAN STILL LUNGE FORWARD FIVE TO TEN FEET. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS INJURED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE YET. IT IS PUBLIC RECORD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUED IMMEDIATELY.
THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AT LOW SPEED AND ALSO WHILE BACKING UP WITHOUT DRIVER ASSISTING. THIS SUDDEN ACCELARATION IS UNPREDICTABLE. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A DAY AGO AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH IT. EVERY TIME I AM BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING AREA IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK TO …
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THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AT LOW SPEED AND ALSO WHILE BACKING UP WITHOUT DRIVER ASSISTING. THIS SUDDEN ACCELARATION IS UNPREDICTABLE. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A DAY AGO AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH IT. EVERY TIME I AM BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING AREA IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT HITS SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THE CAR ON DRIVE AFTER BACKING UP. IT WILL LURCH FORWARD ON ITS OWN.
WAS A VERY HOT DAY (100+ DEGREES) SITTING IN TRAFFIC WITH AC ON. CAR SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN AN HOUR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN MAY, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. (2006 FORD FREESTYLE). *TR
THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES ACCELERATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A STOPPED POSITION. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION.
AT LOW SPEED 0-5 MPH +/- VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN MOVING FORWARD, BUT MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, AS IN BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE SURGE IS VERY EVIDENT -- THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP. THIS WILL OCCUR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDALS ARE DEPRESS…
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AT LOW SPEED 0-5 MPH +/- VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN MOVING FORWARD, BUT MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, AS IN BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE SURGE IS VERY EVIDENT -- THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP. THIS WILL OCCUR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDALS ARE DEPRESSED. THERE IS NO EVIDENT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SURGE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONER USE, WEATHER CONDITIONS, ETC. HOWEVER, THERE DOES SEEM TO A BE A CORRELATION WITH THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND, POSSIBLY, ENGINE TEMP. MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE SURGE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OCCURS 1) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE; 2) AT LOW SPEED OR IDLE; AND 3) AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS.
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACCELERATING ALL BY ITSELF AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY STEP ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME, I HAD 4 CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE ON A VERY HOT DAY AND IT HAPPENED AS I WAS WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO…
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THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACCELERATING ALL BY ITSELF AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY STEP ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME, I HAD 4 CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE ON A VERY HOT DAY AND IT HAPPENED AS I WAS WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE BODY OR TRANSMISSION, WHICH HE INDICATED COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM - SOME HAVE EVEN HAD ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CAR SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IDLING (E.G. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION). THE EFFECT APPEARS TO BE EXAGGERATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. THE THROTTLE BODY/TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE LIGHT HAS COME ON DURING A FEW OF THE INCIDENTS. THE THROTTLE BODY C…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CAR SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IDLING (E.G. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION). THE EFFECT APPEARS TO BE EXAGGERATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. THE THROTTLE BODY/TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE LIGHT HAS COME ON DURING A FEW OF THE INCIDENTS. THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.
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