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

What owners actually said

1,300 reports

98,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE SURGES AT IDLE SPEED , AND WHEN TAKING CORNERS. IT IS ALSO WORSE WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN NOT EXPECTED. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, BUT IT HAS CONTINUED.FORD SO CALLED CLEANING OF THROTTLE BODY DID NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679691

103,767 miles · Dec 27, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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VEHICLE SPEED DECELERATED AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP (ON VACATION TRIP) HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AS THEY SAID NEEDED NEW THROTTLE BODY----AT APPROX. 103,767 MI. APPROX 107,178 MILES SPEED DECELERATED ON TRIP AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON.WHEN TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WRENCH LIGHT GOES OFF AND DESIRED SPEED CAN BE RESUMED. TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND SAID THEY COULD PUT IN NEW "BRAIN" OR NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION AND THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION AND SUGGESTED TAKING TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AGREED TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES BY THESE MECHANICS AND VERIFIED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING OKAY AND OKAY TO DRIVE. LEFT THE MECHANIC PLACE OF BUSINESS AND WAS SITTING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND RAMMED THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. LOOKING FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS ANYWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668505

97,000 miles · Dec 9, 2014

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SERVICE VEHICLE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10663176

76,000 miles · Dec 8, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…

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NHTSA ODI #10662765

131,000 miles · Dec 2, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10661641

75,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659030

110,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014

Power Train

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OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE (APPROX 110,000 MILES) BEGAN MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OUR LOCAL MECHANIC ISOLATED THE NOISE TO THE TRANSMISSION BUT FEARED THE JOB WOULD BE TOO BIG FOR HIM TO TACKLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A HIGHLY-RATED LOCAL SHOP SPECIALIZING IN TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED *IF* THEY COULD FIND THE PARTS, SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT FORD HAD STOPPED USING THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. THEIR QUOTE WAS APPROX. $5000, BUT SINCE THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE BOOK VALUE IS, WE ELECTED NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE WORK AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. I'VE SINCE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON-LINE AND HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, BUT NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL (OR EVEN A TSB)! IN FACT, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT UNDERWAY IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE I LIVE IN MA, I DON'T QUALIFY FOR THEIR CLASS. HOW CAN THIS ISSUE, WHICH IMPACTS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS, NOT BE ADDRESSED BY A TOTAL RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655079

1,386,659 miles · Nov 7, 2014

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY CAR WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN I WENT TO GO, MOTOR WAS RUNNING BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653542

33,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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I WOULD BE SITTING IN LINE AT SCHOOL TO PICK UP GRAND DAUGHTER WITH AIR ON, LET OFF BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CAR WOULD SURGE THIS CONTINUED, BUT FORTUNATELY I WASN'T PICKING HER UP AS OFTEN. I COULD NOT TURN AIR ON. MY FREESTYLE NOW ONLY HAS 58,947MILES(APPROX.). SOMETIME IN 2012 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD OFFERING TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY. I HAD IT CLEANED THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK AND SMELLED LIKE GAS. THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT DIES ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE ON BUSY ROADS. I HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED, THEY SAY IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS MESSING UP THE COMPUTER. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DISTRIBUTOR TO NO AVAIL. I AM TRYING TO GET FUNDS TOGETHER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE THAT FORD ONLY SOLD FREESTYLES FOR A FEW YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652569

156,000 miles · Nov 1, 2014

Engine

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECREASE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK SYSTEM DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR FORCED IDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

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NHTSA ODI #10651794

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