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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.

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

602 reports
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101,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE INTAKE VALVE AS A REMEDY HOWEVER FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,306. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ODI #10469070

30,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE AND THROTTLE BODY KIT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE AND THROTTLE BODY KIT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE SAME REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. TWO YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A THIRD TIME. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468964

146,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468946

94,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468918

100,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CRASH. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER DID INFORM THE MECHANIC AT FORD AND INQUIRED ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, AS THE FAILURE HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHICH REQUIRED HIM TO HOLD THE BRAKES. UPDATED 08/28/12

NHTSA ODI #10468869

89,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR SPEEDS UP WITH OUT ANY WARNING WHEN IN REVERSE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND ONLY SCRAPED THE FRONT BUMPER ON THE GARAGE DOOR. TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS CANNOT FIND A REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468508

67,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUDDERED AND SHIFTED INTO LOWER GEAR. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN, THE CAR ACTED NORMALLY. THIS …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUDDERED AND SHIFTED INTO LOWER GEAR. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN, THE CAR ACTED NORMALLY. THIS SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OUT SEVERAL MORE TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO A FORD MECHANIC WHO SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WAS SENDING INCORRECT SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE FAMILY CAR. I FEEL LUCKY THAT OUR SUDDEN CHANGE IN SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468309

112,000 miles · Jul 28, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I540 NEAR RALEIGH, NC AND CAR "WRENCH" ICON CAME ON AND CAR DECELERATED QUICKLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND REQUIRED TOWING TO A SAFE PLACE. APPEARS THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CAR TO BE DISABLED TEMPORARILY. AFTER THE CAR COOLED THE THROTTLE WOR…

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WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I540 NEAR RALEIGH, NC AND CAR "WRENCH" ICON CAME ON AND CAR DECELERATED QUICKLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND REQUIRED TOWING TO A SAFE PLACE. APPEARS THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CAR TO BE DISABLED TEMPORARILY. AFTER THE CAR COOLED THE THROTTLE WORKED BUT WE ELECTED NOT TO DRIVE UNTIL A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD CHECK OUT THIS CONDITION / PROBLEM. WE TOWED THE VEHICLE ON A TRAILER TO LOCAL GARAGE NEAR OUR HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468115

120,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WORSENED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WORSENED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10467984

70,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WAS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10467981

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