← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

1,300 reports
75,352 miles · Sep 14, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES AND SURGES. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR MY FREESTYLE WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY AND WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SURGE POWER. WHILE SITTING AND IN GEAR POWER SURGES AND LURCHES FORWARD FORCING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING FORWARD. WHILE CRUISING POWER WILL SURGE WITHOUT INPUT FROM TH…

Read full complaint

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES AND SURGES. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR MY FREESTYLE WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY AND WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SURGE POWER. WHILE SITTING AND IN GEAR POWER SURGES AND LURCHES FORWARD FORCING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING FORWARD. WHILE CRUISING POWER WILL SURGE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425402

60,000 miles · Sep 14, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WE HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE AND ARE EXPERIENCING A LUNGING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING IDLE. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ALERT AND APPLIED THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING IN TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. ONE OTHER THING, WE ONLY HAVE 65,00…

Read full complaint

WE HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE AND ARE EXPERIENCING A LUNGING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING IDLE. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ALERT AND APPLIED THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING IN TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. ONE OTHER THING, WE ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425351

38,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Power TrainSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING, MY CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, I ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL AND LOSE POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN I ENGAGE THE GAS TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MY CAR WILL START TO GO AND THEN LOSE POWER. THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST WON'T MOVE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DOES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT TH…

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING, MY CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, I ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL AND LOSE POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN I ENGAGE THE GAS TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MY CAR WILL START TO GO AND THEN LOSE POWER. THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST WON'T MOVE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DOES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THIS IS STILL HAPPENING. THEY SAID UNLESS THEY CAN GET THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING IT, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP FURTHER. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND I'M SURE IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, SOMETIMES IT REVS UP BEFORE ACTUALLY MOVING. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, STARTING IN THE 20,000 MILES. BAD WINDOW MOTOR, BAD BRAKES, INTERMITTENT DASH BOARD CLEARANCE, AIR CONDITIONING MECHANISM LEAKING INTO CAR. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR, BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION ON THE DASH LIGHTS RESETTING. MY PAINT IS BUBBLING UP ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FORD OFFERED TO FIX THIS FOR $850. THE BUBBLING STARTED AT 39,000 MILES. I DID NOT PAY THEM TO FIX THIS, AS I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WHEN FORD HAD MY CAR LAST, THEY REPLACED A SWAY BAR AND DID NOT TIGHTEN THE NUT, I THEN HAD THE ABS LIGHT COME ON AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND TIGHTENED THE NUT. MY CAR CLUNKED SO BAD, I FEAR THAT THIS CAUSED ADDITIONAL SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. I'VE ALWAYS HAD NOISE IN THE FRONT END, ESPECIALLY ON A TIGHT TURN. THE GREASED THE FRONT END, BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TODAY, MY CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MY WARRANTY IS UP AND I KNOW THAT ONE DAY WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE. I WAS TOLD BY A FORD SERVICE REP. THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE REPLACED, SO WHEN IT DOES FAIL, I'M OUT OF LUCK, THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR THIS. RECALL PLEASE

NHTSA ODI #10426028

65,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE A STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425267

51,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READINGS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READINGS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425195

60,770 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Unknown Or Other

I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND A SMALL WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. TWO DAYS LATER, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. LATER THAT DAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE PARKING I…

Read full complaint

I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND A SMALL WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. TWO DAYS LATER, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. LATER THAT DAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LURCHED WHILE IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL DAYS OF EXTREMELY HOT, HUMID WEATHER DURING WHICH I HAD BEEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR QUITE FREQUENTLY. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON DURING ALL INCIDENTS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCUR AGAIN AS I HAVE NOT USED THE AIR CONDITIONER SINCE THE LAST INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10426020

128,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I'VE SEEN IN MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ALREADY POSTED WITHIN YOUR SITE. WHEN YOU PUT THE FORD FREESTYLE IN REVERSE IT WILL LUNGE VERY QUICKLY AND WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES IT WILL STALL OUT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ITS IN GEAR AND WORRIES ME SINCE THIS IS THE CAR MY 17 YEAR OLD DRIVES WHILE A…

Read full complaint

I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I'VE SEEN IN MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ALREADY POSTED WITHIN YOUR SITE. WHEN YOU PUT THE FORD FREESTYLE IN REVERSE IT WILL LUNGE VERY QUICKLY AND WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES IT WILL STALL OUT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ITS IN GEAR AND WORRIES ME SINCE THIS IS THE CAR MY 17 YEAR OLD DRIVES WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL STATES AWAY. I JUST HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WHICH WAS A WASTED $380.00 AS THE CAR STILL LUNGES. CAR IS SITTING IN THE YARD NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FORD IS DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, TORQUE CONVERTER OR ELECTRICAL HARNESS? WHAT'S THE FIX. SEEMS THAT SOMEONE SHOULD KNOW AND FORD NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425123

63,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND SPORADICALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES AND THE OCCURRENCES …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND SPORADICALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES AND THE OCCURRENCES WERE NORMAL FOR THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC BUT ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD PRODUCE GREATER RPMS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425105

70,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I AM IDLE OR JUST DRIVING AROUND LOCAL, THE CAR IS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS AROUND THIS ISSUE, BUT TOOK IT IN THIS MORNING BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, BU…

Read full complaint

WHEN I AM IDLE OR JUST DRIVING AROUND LOCAL, THE CAR IS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS AROUND THIS ISSUE, BUT TOOK IT IN THIS MORNING BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIRS THAT OTHERS HAVE DETAILED, AND THEY SAY THAT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424738

85,000 miles · Sep 11, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE SURGES WHILE IN REVERSE AND WHILE IN DRIVE AT STOP LIGHTS OR WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. HAVE CAME CLOSE TO SURGING OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST SURGED OUT INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER CAR IN A PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424667

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