NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,300 reports115,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train
CVT TRANSMISSION BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TORCH CONVERTER ON THE CVT TRANS BUT REPLACING IT DOESNT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. ONCE IT GOES BAD YOU HAVE BITS AND PIECES OF METAL FLOATING AROUND ALL OVER EVERYWHERE ELSE AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES R…
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CVT TRANSMISSION BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TORCH CONVERTER ON THE CVT TRANS BUT REPLACING IT DOESNT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. ONCE IT GOES BAD YOU HAVE BITS AND PIECES OF METAL FLOATING AROUND ALL OVER EVERYWHERE ELSE AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES REGARDLESS. USELESS RECALL. ALSO, THE AC ONLY BLOWS COLD AT HIGH SPEEDS ....WHEN DRIVING SLOW IN TOWN IT BLOWS WARM AND I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS ....GOES DOWN WHEN I PULL UP OR WONT GO AT ALL. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10464009
81,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE NAVIGATING AND ENTERING A CAR WASH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I NEARLY STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED HARD BRAKES AND VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE THEN STALLED OUT. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND I TURNED IT BACK ON. UPON PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STO…
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WHILE NAVIGATING AND ENTERING A CAR WASH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I NEARLY STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED HARD BRAKES AND VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE THEN STALLED OUT. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND I TURNED IT BACK ON. UPON PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10463949
82,000 miles · Jul 1, 2012
Unknown Or Other
CAR LUNGES WHEN IN IDLE. EITHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. JUST SITTING STILL IT WANTS TO MOVE AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE IT WILL MOVE THE CAR WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. VERY UNSAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463866
49,500 miles · Jul 1, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion System
AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT ON OR ABOUT 6/28/12 (ODI NUMBER 10463545) IN REGARD TO ANOTHER 2006 FORD FREESTYLE I OWN AND OPERATE, I NOW HAVE TO REPORT THE IDENTICAL DEFECT WITH MY OTHER 2006 FREESTYLE. AFTER PARKING MY FIRST FREESTYLE UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE, THIS FREESTYLE (NOW BEING REPORTED) HAS BECOME THE MAJOR TRANSPOR…
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AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT ON OR ABOUT 6/28/12 (ODI NUMBER 10463545) IN REGARD TO ANOTHER 2006 FORD FREESTYLE I OWN AND OPERATE, I NOW HAVE TO REPORT THE IDENTICAL DEFECT WITH MY OTHER 2006 FREESTYLE. AFTER PARKING MY FIRST FREESTYLE UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE, THIS FREESTYLE (NOW BEING REPORTED) HAS BECOME THE MAJOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE OF THE HOUSEHOLD. NOW THIS VEHICLE HAS BEGUN SURGING IN RPMS AND 'LUNGING' WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DEFECT OCCURRING BUT BOTH VEHICLES WERE AT MAXIMUM OPERATING TEMPERATURES, HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A LENGTH OF TIME WHEREAS A HIGHER 'COLD ENGINE' IDLE WOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE OCCURRENCES. SINCE I HAVEN'T AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FIRST VEHICLE I REPORTED ON 6/28/12 (A RECENT PURCHASE), I HAVE ORDERED AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY W/TPS (NON-HEATED WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD SUPERCESSION) AND WILL ATTEMPT TO REPLACE IT MYSELF AS A COST SAVINGS MEASURE. SINCE FILING MY ISSUE I'VE FOUND VIA THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAVE PAID UPWARD OF $1,200.00 TO HAVE THIS WORK PERFORMED. AFTER ORDERING MY PARTS I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PARTICULAR THROTTLE BODY WAS INSTALLED ON 2005-2007 FORD FREESTYLES AS WELL AS THEIR FORD FIVE HUNDRED (OF WHICH I ALSO OWN A 2007 MODEL YEAR OF WITH APPROX 20K MILES). IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT BAD LUCK ALWAYS COMES IN THREE'S? I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT!! AS OF EARLIER THIS MORNING (7/01/12), WITH A COOL TEMPERATURE OF 75 DEGREES F., THIS DEFECT DID NOT RE-OCCUR, BUT MY OTHER VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO 'ACT UP' AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT EVENTUALLY WOULDN'T GO AWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463864
83,000 miles · Jun 30, 2012
Power Train
VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR HAS LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON GEAR IT IS IN. THIS ONLY TAKES PLACE WHEN THE A/C IS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS INCONSISTENT BUT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THE LUNGE IS DRASTIC ENOUGH THAT IT IS A HAZARD AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN. DEALER H…
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VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR HAS LUNGED FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON GEAR IT IS IN. THIS ONLY TAKES PLACE WHEN THE A/C IS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS INCONSISTENT BUT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THE LUNGE IS DRASTIC ENOUGH THAT IT IS A HAZARD AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT BUT WAS ON THE LIST TO BEEN SEEN NEXT WEEK. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS TAKEN PLACE UP TO THIS POINT. TODAY WAS THE WORST PART OF THE ISSUE. WHILE TRAVELING 75 ON THE INTERSTATE, THE "WRENCH" ICON ON THE INFORMATION PANEL CAME ON. AT THIS POINT ALL ACCELERATION WAS DISABLED AND COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT GET ABOVE 60 IN ORDER TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK AND CREATED A SIGNIFICANTLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND OVER 242 FILED COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WILL BE DROPPING THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER ASAP. HOW MANY REPORTED INCIDENTS DOES IT TAKE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE? OR WILL IT TAKE A LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE NUMEROUS FILED COMPLAINTS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463849
80,000 miles · Jun 29, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE BRAKES WERE PARTIALLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITH ENGINE RPMS AT 500. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ABRUPTLY IN ORDER TO GET…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE BRAKES WERE PARTIALLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITH ENGINE RPMS AT 500. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ABRUPTLY IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL BUT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10463582
79,875 miles · Jun 29, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
AFTER PURCHASING (AS A USED CAR) FOR MY DAUGHTER, VEHICLE BEGAN RAPID ACCELERATION AND 'LURCHING' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY OCCURRING WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. I HAD THE FILTERS REPLACED (AIR AND GAS) AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED…
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AFTER PURCHASING (AS A USED CAR) FOR MY DAUGHTER, VEHICLE BEGAN RAPID ACCELERATION AND 'LURCHING' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY OCCURRING WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. I HAD THE FILTERS REPLACED (AIR AND GAS) AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE GONE AWAY. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP, DURING MY FIRST INSPECTION AFTER IT'S PURCHASE, WETHER THERE WAS A TSB IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE AND WOULD THEY PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. THEY ALLEGED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ANY DEFECT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. THEY DID HOWEVER REFUSE TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION UNTIL I ALLOWED THEM TO OVERHAUL THE REAR BRAKES W/NEW ROTORS FOR QUITE A KINGLY SUM! (SO MUCH FOR A PROMOTIONAL 'FREE INSPECTION'.) LAST NIGHT I HAD TO VENTURE OUT AND RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE FROM MY LITTLE GIRL AFTER THE CAR KEPT 'LURCHING' EVERYTIME SHE USED THE BRAKE. WHILE SHE WAS WAITING IN AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CAR 'LURCHED' AND STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AN ENGINE LIGHT AND A 'WRENCH' WAS NOW VISIBLE ON THE DASH, AND THE CAR HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELERATOR! DUE TO OUR FLAT TERRAIN I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR HOME ON AN IDLE AT A SPEED NO GREATER THAN 10 M.P.H. ONCE SAFELY HOME I TRIED A TRICK THAT USED TO WORK ON THE FLEET BUSSES I ONCE WORKED ON. THAT WAS RAPIDLY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON-OFF, ON-OFF REPEATEDLY ABOUT 10 (TEN) TIMES, THEN LEAVE SWITCH ON AND START IT. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE CLEARED THE 'WRENCH' AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS RESTORED. THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT CLEAR. I'VE PUT TIRES, STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS ETC. INTO THIS CAR TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE, YET I CAN'T ALLOW HER TO USE IT. 4 OF 5 CARS I OWN ARE FORDS, 2 BEING 2006 FREESTYLES, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE NOW? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463545
21,900 miles · Jun 29, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I71/I75 MY REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. MY BRAKE PADS WERE CUTTING INTO MY ROTORS. AFTER CHECKING THE BRAKES WHEN I GOT BACK HOME I FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE FROZEN ON BOTH SIDES (REAR LEFT REAR RIGHT). THE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW REMEMBER THE CAR HAS ONLY 2…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I71/I75 MY REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. MY BRAKE PADS WERE CUTTING INTO MY ROTORS. AFTER CHECKING THE BRAKES WHEN I GOT BACK HOME I FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE FROZEN ON BOTH SIDES (REAR LEFT REAR RIGHT). THE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW REMEMBER THE CAR HAS ONLY 21,900 MILES ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463535
95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT, WENT TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT LUNGED BACKWARD AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TO START AGAIN I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND IT LUNGED FORWARD. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463461
88,000 miles · Jun 27, 2012
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
MY FORD FREESTYLE 2006 LUNGED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 4 FEET WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE, MY FOOT WAS FULLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN THE SAME MANNER, AND IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS USUALLY IN THE 90'S OR ABOVE, …
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MY FORD FREESTYLE 2006 LUNGED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 4 FEET WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE, MY FOOT WAS FULLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN THE SAME MANNER, AND IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS USUALLY IN THE 90'S OR ABOVE, I USUALLY HAVE THE AIR-CONDITIONING RUNNING, AND THE CAR WILL START TO LOOSE POWER WITH THE TACHOMETER VISIBLY DIPPING DOWN TO ZERO. THE CAR WILL THEN SUDDENLY RACE TO 2000 RPMS, AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE BACKWARD (OR FORWARD) WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN REVERSE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP MOVEMENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN DRIVE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP MOVEMENT, AND THE CAR ENGINE WILL DIE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463357
Official recalls
1Oct 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