WAS DRIVING TO WORK CAR PICKED UP SPEED TO WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THEN THE CAR JUST WENT OFF. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
1,300 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED THE REVERSE POSITION THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS DESPITE THE BRAKES BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE WRENCH SAFETY MODE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE AIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED THE REVERSE POSITION THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS DESPITE THE BRAKES BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE WRENCH SAFETY MODE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
ON JULY 16,2010 MY FREESTYLE LUNGED FORWARD WITH MY SON AND HIS TWO CHILDREN AFTER A BALL GAME. THEY WERE IN A LINE OF CARS TRYING TO GET ON THE ROAD HOME. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES IT QUIT RUNNING AND DIED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED IN. SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED AIR FLOW SENSOR AND OTHER THINGS AND SAID IT WAS OK. ON AUGUST 10, 2010…
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ON JULY 16,2010 MY FREESTYLE LUNGED FORWARD WITH MY SON AND HIS TWO CHILDREN AFTER A BALL GAME. THEY WERE IN A LINE OF CARS TRYING TO GET ON THE ROAD HOME. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES IT QUIT RUNNING AND DIED. IT HAD TO BE TOWED IN. SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED AIR FLOW SENSOR AND OTHER THINGS AND SAID IT WAS OK. ON AUGUST 10, 2010 I WAS TRYING TO GET ON HIGHWAY AND MY CAR LUNGED AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY TRIED TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR. GOT NO RESPONSE, SO THEY REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL. THEN IN MAY OF 2011 MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING SLOW, MY CAR LUNGED AGAIN. YOU CAN TELL WHEN IT IS GOING TO ACT UP. WHEN YOU PUSH ON BRAKES YOU HAVE TO PRESS REALLY HARD TO GET IT STOPPED. TOOK IT BACK TO SERVICE AND THEY DROVE IT AND IT NEVER HAPPENED ON THEM. THEY SAID THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE UP WHEN DRIVING SLOW AND RUNNING AIR CONDITIONER. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO APPLY SO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES YOU RAISE UP OFF YOUR SEAT SOMETHING NOT RIGHT.THESE AUTOMOBILES ARE DANGEROUS. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME SINCE I LOST MY HUSBAND AND CANNOT AFFORD TO TRADE CARS. I AM STUCK WITH IT. *TR
I WAS IN MYRTLE BEACH SUMMER OF 2010 WHEN I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IT LUNGED BACK ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THEN WHEN I WENT FORWARD DID THE SAME STALLED. CHANGED FUEL FILTER AND EVERYTHING. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER DID IT AGAIN. I SEEMS TO DO IT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS WARM. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND NOT SU…
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I WAS IN MYRTLE BEACH SUMMER OF 2010 WHEN I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IT LUNGED BACK ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THEN WHEN I WENT FORWARD DID THE SAME STALLED. CHANGED FUEL FILTER AND EVERYTHING. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER DID IT AGAIN. I SEEMS TO DO IT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS WARM. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND NOT SURE WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR FORD TO RECALL. I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO DIE AND THEY HAVE TO BE SUED. *TR
SUMMARY: I WAS PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR, AS I ENTERED THE CAR AFTER FUELING, I WAS TALKING TO MY MOTHER FOR A MOMENT, AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER MIRROR. I GOT OUT AND RAN OVER, AND SAW FLAMES. I RIPPED THE BLACK COVER WITH THE MIRROR OFF, SAW THAT THERE WAS…
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SUMMARY: I WAS PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR, AS I ENTERED THE CAR AFTER FUELING, I WAS TALKING TO MY MOTHER FOR A MOMENT, AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER MIRROR. I GOT OUT AND RAN OVER, AND SAW FLAMES. I RIPPED THE BLACK COVER WITH THE MIRROR OFF, SAW THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. BURNING MYSELF, I PUT THE FIRE OUT IN TIME TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. WITH THE FIRE SAFELY OUT, I SAW THAT IT WAS FROM THE LED COURTESY LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND BURNED. I REMOVED THE PART, (AS WELL AS THE ONE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FOR SAFE MEASURE), AND TOOK THEM TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD REPORT IT AS A FAULTY PART. THE PART IS THE WAGNER PART 71077. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER SIDE (I COULD NOT READ THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SEE IF IT HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER, OR IF IT IS DIFFERENT FOR RIGHT AND LEFT.) THE WIRE ASSEMBLY, WAS BURNED NEAR THE BASE OF THE WIRES WHERE THEY ENTER THE ASSEMBLY. HAD I NOT BEEN THERE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD HAVE BURNT TO THE GROUND!!! MY HAND IS RECOVERING AT THIS TIME. *TR UPDATED 09/19/13*LJ THE CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE, A YEAR AGO. UPDATED 09/24/13
MY FORD STARTED JERKING BACKWARDS WHEN I PUT REVERSE OR LUNGING FORWARD WHEN I START DRIVING FORWARDS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE IN THE JEKYLL ISLAND WHEN WE WERE ON VACATION (ALL THREE DAYS) IN JULY 2011 AND ALSO WHEN RECENTLY LIKE THREE MONTHS AGO, OCT 2011. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT FROM A HOTEL PARKING LOT. I TH…
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MY FORD STARTED JERKING BACKWARDS WHEN I PUT REVERSE OR LUNGING FORWARD WHEN I START DRIVING FORWARDS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE IN THE JEKYLL ISLAND WHEN WE WERE ON VACATION (ALL THREE DAYS) IN JULY 2011 AND ALSO WHEN RECENTLY LIKE THREE MONTHS AGO, OCT 2011. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT FROM A HOTEL PARKING LOT. I THOUGHT I AM GOING TO IT THE OTHER CARS. ALSO, I CHANGED THE BRAKES TWICE, ONCE FROM THE DEALER AND ONCE FROM THE AUTO MECHANIC. MY MILEAGE SO FAR IS 50K AND THIS IS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. I CONSTANTLY FACE BRAKE PROBLEMS IN THIS VEHICLE. AND ALSO OTHER PROBLEMS.(LIKE FRONT AXLE) COULD SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, PLEASE!!! *TR
CPSC#I11C0348A. 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR HAD A FLAT TIRE. ALSO STATED ON THE WAY GOING HOME THE CHECK BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. ALSO THE CAR MADE A GRINGIND NOISE AND SHUT DOWN. *LN
VEHICLE SURGES WHEN IDLING OR GOING SLOW. ACCELERATES AT TIMES LIKE PARKING OR MOVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS OR WHEN STOPPED AT STOPLIGHTS. *KB
MY CAR BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS LUNGING FORWARD WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A SCHOOL ZONE CROSS-WALK WAITING FOR CHILDREN TO CROSS. IT LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED JUST INCHES FROM HITTING 4 CHILDREN. IT TERRIFIED ME!!!! IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY UNTIL I COULD GET IT IN THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED THE THRO…
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MY CAR BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS LUNGING FORWARD WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A SCHOOL ZONE CROSS-WALK WAITING FOR CHILDREN TO CROSS. IT LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED JUST INCHES FROM HITTING 4 CHILDREN. IT TERRIFIED ME!!!! IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY UNTIL I COULD GET IT IN THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED BY THE FORD MECHANICS BUT LUCKILY I GOT BY WITH JUST A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING. THE CAR NO LONGER LUNGES FORWARD. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS FEELING LIKE IT WOULDN'T GET PAST 2ND GEAR AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE THAT WOULD GET FASTER WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE THEN SLOWER WHEN I WOULD BRAKE. IT QUIT MAKING THE NOISE BY THE TIME I COULD TAKE IT TO GET IT LOOKED AT A FEW DAYS LATER. THE AIR CONDITIONER WON'T GET COLD UNLESS THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE HEATER DOES THE SAME THING. IT ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON EXTREME TEMPERATURE DAYS. THEN SPONTANEOUSLY, BOTH THESE PROBLEMS SEEMED TO FIX THEMSELVES. JUST THIS WEEK, MY CAR BACKFIRED 2 TIMES, THEN THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I STARTED IT, IT SMELLED HORRIBLE! I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY, THEN THE NEXT DAY, IT WOULDN'T START. TOOK IT TO MY FORD MECHANIC, AND HE SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK. HE NOW THINKS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTS THAT THESE HAVE BEEN HUGE PROBLEMS FOR MANY FORD FREESTYLE OWNERS. AND YET NO RECALL? COME ON FORD!! YOU HAVE LOST MANY LOYAL CUSTOMERS OVER THIS!! PLEASE HELP ALL OF US TO GET A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS CAR!! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, AND IF I GET STRANDED, I, LIKE MANY PEOPLE, HAVE NOBODY TO CALL AND NO WAY TO PAY IF I GET STRANDED. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. MANY OTHER PROBS BUT NO ROOM TO LIST. *TR
VEHICLE LUNGES RANDOMLY WHEN I AM BACKING UP AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN I AM GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE. I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING A POLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING THE THROTTLE BODY. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I SAW THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH …
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VEHICLE LUNGES RANDOMLY WHEN I AM BACKING UP AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN I AM GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE. I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING A POLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING THE THROTTLE BODY. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I SAW THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE. AS FOR A DATE WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT IS LIKE I STATED BEFORE IT IS RANDOM AND HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *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
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