IllustrationVEHICLE SURGES WHILE PARKING OR MOVING AT LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHILE IN A TURN.
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
630–25K
15325–50K
37450–75K
29975–100K
241100–150K
57150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT JERKED INDEPENDENTLY FORWARD AND BACKWARD, DEPENDING ON THE GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT JERKED INDEPENDENTLY FORWARD AND BACKWARD, DEPENDING ON THE GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
THE PAINT ON THE ALUMINUM STARTED TO BUBBLE THREE YEARS AGO AND BEGAN FLAKING OFF LAST YEAR.
WHILE DRIVING THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY COME ON AND THE RPMS GO CRAZY AND THE CAR STRUGGLES TO SHIFT GEARS. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT WILL DRIVE FINE FOR A WHILE - SOMETIMES WEEKS - BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. AFTER IT HAPPENS A FEW TIMES, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL TURN ON BUT WILL GO BACK OFF AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE OR RESTARTI…
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WHILE DRIVING THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY COME ON AND THE RPMS GO CRAZY AND THE CAR STRUGGLES TO SHIFT GEARS. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT WILL DRIVE FINE FOR A WHILE - SOMETIMES WEEKS - BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. AFTER IT HAPPENS A FEW TIMES, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL TURN ON BUT WILL GO BACK OFF AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE OR RESTARTING IT A FEW TIMES. NOW, A FEW DAYS AGO IT STARTED JUMPING AND STRUGGLING TO MOVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, NO WRENCH LIGHT THIS TIME. TURNING THE CAR OFF & LETTING IT SIT FOR A COUPLE MINUTES HELPED & I GOT TO WORK. THEN ON MY WAY HOME, I MADE IT 5 OF THE 7 MILES BEFORE IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. THIS TIME SLUGGISH ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE DAYS, THE CAR DROVE SMOOTHLY FOR 3 MILES, STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND CAR JERKED AGAIN THEN LIMPED FORWARD. PULLED OVER & RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT DROVE SMOOTHLY FOR A LITTLE THEN VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AGAIN. ONCE IT GOT MOVING, IT WAS GOOD, UNTIL THE NEXT COMPLETE STOP. I MANAGED TO GET A BLOCK FROM HOME AND PARK THE CAR AND I'M WAITING TO TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP 2 BLOCKS AWAY. HOPEFULLY AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A DAY IT WILL MAKE IT THERE WITH NO PROBLEM...
TRANSMISSION NOISE
VECHICLE SURGES OR RAVE FORWARD WITH PRESSING GAS PEDAL ON SHIFTING FORWARD OR REVERSE,LOSES DRIVE POWER,WRENCH LIGHT ON!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY SURGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 05/30/17*LJ UPDATED 09/08/2017*JS
THIS CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS. I WOULDN'T BUY THIS CAR AGAIN. I HAVE INVESTED TOO MUCH MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THE AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. THE CAR HAS NO SPEED AFTER I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE LIGHTS ON DASH ARE OFF AND ON.
MAY 16, 2014, FRIDAY NIGHT, AROUND 7:30 PM, LOST CONSCIOUSNESSES WHILE DRIVING DURING VERY HUMID QUICK WEATHER CHANGE PERIOD. IMMEDIATELY PUT ON A/C AND RECIRC ON HIGH WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TO CLEAR WINDOWS. I THEN PICKED UP MY SON AND FRIEND, PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THEM HOME FROM PLACE AND WITHIN 500 FEET WAS INTO A TELEPHONE PO…
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MAY 16, 2014, FRIDAY NIGHT, AROUND 7:30 PM, LOST CONSCIOUSNESSES WHILE DRIVING DURING VERY HUMID QUICK WEATHER CHANGE PERIOD. IMMEDIATELY PUT ON A/C AND RECIRC ON HIGH WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TO CLEAR WINDOWS. I THEN PICKED UP MY SON AND FRIEND, PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THEM HOME FROM PLACE AND WITHIN 500 FEET WAS INTO A TELEPHONE POLE WHEN I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. MY SON TRIED TO SLAP ME IN THE FACE AS HE NOTICED I HAS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT. I DID NOT REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS UNTIL POLICE/FIRE BROKE WINDOW TO EXTRACT OCCUPANTS. POLICEMAN WAS HITTING ME IN THE FACE TO WAKE ME AND FINALLY DID, ONCE I DID COM TO, I DIDN'T REALLY CARE THAT HE WAS SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE IOR THAT I WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE. WITHIN MINUTES OF STANDING, I FELT MUCH BETTER BUT CHOSE TO TAKE AMBULANCE ON SCENE TO HOSPITAL WHERE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN ER. ACCIDENT OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN SECONDARY ROAD AT LESS THAN 30 MPH. I WENT TO MANY DOCTORS AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WITH EVEN MRIS, CAT SCANS, SLEEP TESTS, ETC...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,658.
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