IllustrationWHEN HOT OUTSIDE, VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AT IDLE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *TT
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 reportsOUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BEEN LUNGING UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING OR REVERSING! THE RPM'S GO REALLY HIGH WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS THIS PAST WEEK AND NOW ARE AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT. WE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND SEE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS! IT HAS BEEN IN THE 90'S - 100'S WEATHERWIS…
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OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BEEN LUNGING UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING OR REVERSING! THE RPM'S GO REALLY HIGH WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS THIS PAST WEEK AND NOW ARE AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT. WE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND SEE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS! IT HAS BEEN IN THE 90'S - 100'S WEATHERWISE AND WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE A/C DURING THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED. PLEASE HELP! WE HAVE A CHILD AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE OVER $1000 IT IS SAYING TO FIX THIS AND DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY IT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES! *TT
2006 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGING WHILE IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AFTER FOOT IS LIFTED OFF OF BRAKE, ALMOST CAUSING 2 SEPARATE ACCIDENTS. *TT
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SEL. LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND STOPPED ON A SIGNAL LIGHT, MY CAR RUN OUT OF POWER. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RE-START IT AND DROVE IT IN A PARKING AREA NEARBY UPON SEEING A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A WRENCH LIGHT ON MY DASH MONITOR. AS I WAS BACKING OFF FROM WHERE I PARK THE CAR,…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SEL. LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND STOPPED ON A SIGNAL LIGHT, MY CAR RUN OUT OF POWER. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RE-START IT AND DROVE IT IN A PARKING AREA NEARBY UPON SEEING A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A WRENCH LIGHT ON MY DASH MONITOR. AS I WAS BACKING OFF FROM WHERE I PARK THE CAR, THE CAR SURGE WITHOUT ME HITTING THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE LOST ITS POWER ALTOGETHER, HENCE I NEEDED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT THIS THING HAPPENED WHEN MY AC IS ON. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER FOR CHECKUP. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY COSTING $1,200. I NOTICED THIS ENGINE SURGE AND LOSS OF POWER ON MY VEHICLE BEFORE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT I DID NOT GIVE MUCH IMPORTANCE TO IT UNTIL THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" FLASHED INTO MY DASH MONITOR THE OTHER DAY. I AM NOW FILING THIS COMPLAINT UPON SEEING A LOT OF FORD FREESTYLE OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS I DO. I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY CONCERNS AND COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME. *TT
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WILL "LUNGE" INTO GEAR IN REALLY HOT WEATHER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I WENT TO AUTOZONE. THE TECH TOLD ME IT HAS TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. MY CAR HAS APPROX 85,000 MILES ON IT. *TT
THE CAR WAS LOSING/GAINING ACCELERATION, RMP'S WOULD INCREASE BUT THE SPEED WAS NOT THERE. THE ENGINE LIGHT, A WRENCH LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS APPEARED AND DISAPPEARED. THE CAR WAS SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR OR REVERSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER. THEY STATED THEY NEEDED TO CLEAN THE VALVE…
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THE CAR WAS LOSING/GAINING ACCELERATION, RMP'S WOULD INCREASE BUT THE SPEED WAS NOT THERE. THE ENGINE LIGHT, A WRENCH LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS APPEARED AND DISAPPEARED. THE CAR WAS SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR OR REVERSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER. THEY STATED THEY NEEDED TO CLEAN THE VALVES AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS SERVICE WAS $995.00. THEN FORD SERVICE STATED THAT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THE CAR NEEDED THE SERVICE. NOW THE NEXT SERVICE THEY WANT TO PERFORM IS WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1500 NOT KNOWING IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.
2006 FORD FREESTYLE WANTS LUNGES EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AND ALSO IN REVERSE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO FIND, AND FIX PROBLEM... *TR
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN TO EITHER STALL SOON AFTER IT WAS STARTED, OR WORSE STILL, LUNGE FORWARD A SHORT DISTANCE. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 90 DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. AN HOUR AFTER THIS A TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT LOOKED INTO THE NEXT DAY ON 6/13/2001. THE …
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN TO EITHER STALL SOON AFTER IT WAS STARTED, OR WORSE STILL, LUNGE FORWARD A SHORT DISTANCE. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 90 DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. AN HOUR AFTER THIS A TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT LOOKED INTO THE NEXT DAY ON 6/13/2001. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I TOOK IT TO ( GREENWAY FORD, ORLANDO, FL.) FORD RAN AN EEC SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER ADJUSTED. SINCE THE WAY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IT BEFORE IT WENT A FOOT, IT WOULD SEEM TO POSE A DANGER TO INDIVIDUALS NEARBY THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECCURED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECCURED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
AFTER DRIVING (2006 FORD FREESTYLE) APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE ON A HOT DAY, WE STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. WHILE AT THE WINDOW, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MY FOOT HITTING THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER GETT…
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AFTER DRIVING (2006 FORD FREESTYLE) APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE ON A HOT DAY, WE STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. WHILE AT THE WINDOW, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MY FOOT HITTING THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER GETTING OUR FOOD THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AGAIN AS II RELEASED THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED AND LOST POWER. WE ROLLED FORWARD LUCKILY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE. DROVE THE CAR HOME AND WE HAVE NOT USED IT SINCE. SEEMS TO LIKELY BE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *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