NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,300 reports46,000 miles · Jun 10, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE AIR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS IN USE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER A POSSIBLE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
NHTSA ODI #10405856
39,000 miles · Jun 9, 2011
Unknown Or Other
MULTIPLE TIMES, IT SEEMS, WHEN WE HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, OUR VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. WE HAVE ALMOST HIT OTHERS IN PARKING LOTS, INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THIS. SOMETIMES, IT EVEN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALSO SHUT OFF WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON.
NHTSA ODI #10406456
82,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE IDLING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR STARTED "SURGING". RPM'S REVVED UP AND HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, SPORADICALLY, THEN STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. NOW DOING THE SAME THING IN REVERSE. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO BACK UP THE CAR "LURCHES" 6 OR 8 …
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WHILE IDLING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR STARTED "SURGING". RPM'S REVVED UP AND HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, SPORADICALLY, THEN STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. NOW DOING THE SAME THING IN REVERSE. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO BACK UP THE CAR "LURCHES" 6 OR 8 FEET BEFORE I CAN STOP IT AGAIN. YESTERDAY, . SOME REPORTS CITE TRANSMISSION, SOME CITE THROTTLE BODY". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405552
69,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE (FORD FREESTYLE) LUNGES FORWARD BOTH IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE, WHEN FOOT IS ON BRAKE, PARTICULARLY WHEN BACKING UP, BUT ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE ACCELERATES EVEN WHEN FOOT IS PUSHING DOWN ON BRAKE!!! RPM'S SHOOT UP AND VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE, W/O WARNING. LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER ACCEL…
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VEHICLE (FORD FREESTYLE) LUNGES FORWARD BOTH IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE, WHEN FOOT IS ON BRAKE, PARTICULARLY WHEN BACKING UP, BUT ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE ACCELERATES EVEN WHEN FOOT IS PUSHING DOWN ON BRAKE!!! RPM'S SHOOT UP AND VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE, W/O WARNING. LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER ACCELERATION WHEN IT DOES THIS. OCCURS APPROX. EVERY OTHER DAY (3-4 TIMES PER DAY ON THE DAYS IT DOES OCCUR)! NOTHING INITIATED THIS REACTION IN/FROM CAR. CONCERNED IT WILL CAUSE ME TO REAR END SOMEONE OR RUN INTO THEIR VEHICLE WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP IN A PARKING LOT, ETC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405536
72,600 miles · Jun 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
HOT HUMID WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TACHOMETER SHOWS AN INCREASE IN RPM FROM APPROXIMATELY 700 RPM TO APPROXIMATELY 1300 RPM. THE SURGE LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE OR TWO SECONDS AND STOPS. THE BRAKE STOPS…
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HOT HUMID WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TACHOMETER SHOWS AN INCREASE IN RPM FROM APPROXIMATELY 700 RPM TO APPROXIMATELY 1300 RPM. THE SURGE LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE OR TWO SECONDS AND STOPS. THE BRAKE STOPS THE FORWARD SURGE. THE SURGE ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE. SHUTTING OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER PREVENTS A REOCCURRENCE OF THE SURGE.
NHTSA ODI #10406377
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2011
Steering
2006 FORD FREESTYLE POWER STEERING IS TIGHT . HAD IT CHECK OUT AND FOUND OUT IT HAS A FROZEN U JOINTS ON STEERING SHAFT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER .WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE VEHICLE TILL PART IS AVAILABLE . WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TILL 6/15/2011 AND PROBABLY WILL NOT GET AT THAT DATE . I SEE THIS AS A VERY SERIOU…
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE POWER STEERING IS TIGHT . HAD IT CHECK OUT AND FOUND OUT IT HAS A FROZEN U JOINTS ON STEERING SHAFT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER .WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE VEHICLE TILL PART IS AVAILABLE . WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TILL 6/15/2011 AND PROBABLY WILL NOT GET AT THAT DATE . I SEE THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405482
73,100 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,100.
NHTSA ODI #10405317
124,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Power Train
I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN MARCH 2011. IN MAY IT STARTED LUNGING WHEN IT WAS FIRST PUT INTO GEAR WITH MY FOOT APPLIED ON THE BRAKE. IT GOT WORSE WHEN THE AIR HAD BEEN ON AND THE CAR IS IDLING. TO THE POINT IT STARTED STALLING AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SHOP ON MAY 31. STAYED THERE TIL FRI. JUNE 3.…
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I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IN MARCH 2011. IN MAY IT STARTED LUNGING WHEN IT WAS FIRST PUT INTO GEAR WITH MY FOOT APPLIED ON THE BRAKE. IT GOT WORSE WHEN THE AIR HAD BEEN ON AND THE CAR IS IDLING. TO THE POINT IT STARTED STALLING AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SHOP ON MAY 31. STAYED THERE TIL FRI. JUNE 3. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. DROVE IT BACK HOME OVER AN HOUR AWAY JUST FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. NOW I HAVE TO RETURN TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT ELSE THEY CAN FIND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405315
40,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Unknown Or Other
VEHICLE LUNGES/ACCELERATES WHEN IDLING OR JUST AFTER SHIFTING IN TO GEAR OR REVERSE. IT CAN CAUSE A BIG ENOUGH SURGE THAT I'VE ALMOST HIT A CAR OR OBJECT IN FRONT/BEHIND ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID THAT. IT OCCURS DAILY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405296
61,500 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN PRESSURE WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10405290
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
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