← 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

Electrical System complaints

84 reports
Clear category filter
87,000 miles · May 17, 2011
Electrical System

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS BEEN GIVING A WARNING TITLED "AWD MALFUNCTION". NO MECHANIC CAN FIND A PROBLEM AND THE WARNING COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. EVIDENTLY IT IS A FLAW IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401231

71,000 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. OVER THE PAST 4-6 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR SURGING AND LURCHING FORWARD AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT STILL COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS IN THE CROSSWALK! THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE BACKING…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. OVER THE PAST 4-6 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR SURGING AND LURCHING FORWARD AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT STILL COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS IN THE CROSSWALK! THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STOPPING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE CAR WILL SURGE OR LURCH BACKWARDS AND IF YOU ARE NOT COVERING THE BRAKE WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FRONTIER FORD IN SAN JOSE, CA AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS A BAD THROTTLE BODY. FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM MAY VERY WELL LEAD TO A SERIOUS TRAGEDY IF THIS COMMON PROBLEM IS NOT RECALLED. PLEASE HELP US OWNERS OF THESE CARS REMAIN SAFE AND NOT KILL SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE! A RECALL IS BADLY NEEDED !!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364077

112,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE IDLING IN PARK WITH A/C ON, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD TO QUICKLY PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID RUNNING INTO PEOPLE/VEHICLE. EVEN WITH BRAKE PEDAL BEING APPLIED, VEHICLE TENDS TO LURCH IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS BEGAN OCCASIONALLY AT A…

Read full complaint

WHILE IDLING IN PARK WITH A/C ON, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD TO QUICKLY PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID RUNNING INTO PEOPLE/VEHICLE. EVEN WITH BRAKE PEDAL BEING APPLIED, VEHICLE TENDS TO LURCH IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS BEGAN OCCASIONALLY AT AROUND 70,000 MILES BUT NOW HAPPENS CONTINUALLY. FORD DEALER SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL AND IS CAUSED BY A PART THAT IS ON BACK ORDER FOR MONTHS. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360370

50,000 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGING WHEN BRAKE IS ON. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE AC IS RUNNING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO SUCH AS TIGHT PARKING SPACES, SCHOOL PARKING LOTS, DRIVE THRU FAST FOOD PLACES, ETC. THE CAR WILL ALSO HAVE A BIG SURGE AND THEN LOSE POWER. HAPPENED TO ME IN A BUS…

Read full complaint

2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGING WHEN BRAKE IS ON. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE AC IS RUNNING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO SUCH AS TIGHT PARKING SPACES, SCHOOL PARKING LOTS, DRIVE THRU FAST FOOD PLACES, ETC. THE CAR WILL ALSO HAVE A BIG SURGE AND THEN LOSE POWER. HAPPENED TO ME IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. AWESOME CAR BUT THE SAFETY IS BEING COMPROMISED AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356272

105,000 miles · Aug 3, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE TWO (2) 2006 FORD FREESTYLES. THE FIRST ONE HAS 85,000 MILES WHEN THE DASH CLUSTER AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDING REPLACING. THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND ACCELERATE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. FORD TOLD US THERE WERE NO KNOWN PROBLEMS. THE REPAIRS COST $1700. THE SECOND VEHICLE, SAME YEAR, HAS 105,000 MILES AND IS NOW STARTING…

Read full complaint

I HAVE TWO (2) 2006 FORD FREESTYLES. THE FIRST ONE HAS 85,000 MILES WHEN THE DASH CLUSTER AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDING REPLACING. THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND ACCELERATE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. FORD TOLD US THERE WERE NO KNOWN PROBLEMS. THE REPAIRS COST $1700. THE SECOND VEHICLE, SAME YEAR, HAS 105,000 MILES AND IS NOW STARTING TO SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE CAR ACCELERATES AND SURGES RANDOMLY. AGAIN, FORD TOLD ME THERE ARE NO KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE WILLING TO DO TO HELP. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE OF THE THROTTLE BODIES WENT BANKRUPT AND THEY ARE NOW SOURCING THE PART FROM SOME OTHER COMPANY. THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. IN THE MEAN TIME, MY VEHICLE SURGES AND ACCELERATES BEYOND MY CONTROL, CAUSING SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHILE PARKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347152

66,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED ZERO AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE GAUGE BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344282

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

SUNROOF/MOONROOF LEAK: POSSIBLY ALLOWS WATER INSIDE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT GETS WET. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER APPROXIMATELY 16 MOS. INTO WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WINDSHIELD LEAK AT FIRST AND THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY GLASS REPLACED ON TH…

Read full complaint

SUNROOF/MOONROOF LEAK: POSSIBLY ALLOWS WATER INSIDE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT GETS WET. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER APPROXIMATELY 16 MOS. INTO WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WINDSHIELD LEAK AT FIRST AND THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A GLASS COMPANY. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY GLASS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM, TO WHICH THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT. WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK. I ASKED IF THEY HAD PUT WATER ON THE CAR ROOF AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT TO WHICH I QUESTIONED HOW CAN YOU FIND A WATER LEAK WITHOUT WATER? I REFUSED TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY WATER. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO SAY THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED,THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE MOONROOF LEAK, AND THAT THEY HAD REROUTED THE DRAINS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVED THEM. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL MARCH 09 AT WHICH TIME I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IN DEARBORN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT EVALUATED AT A FORD DEALER AT MY EXPENSE.I DECLINED THIS.NOW ROUGHLY ONE YEAR LATER IT IS BACK AGAIN AND I HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT PROBABLY WILL LEAD TO MOLD, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY, AND THAT BECAUSE THE WATER STAYS ABOVE THE HEADLINER, THE WIRING FOR MY REAR BRAKELIGHTS AS WELL AS THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS COULD POSSIBLY BE COMPROMISED,IN ADDITION TO LEADING TO PREMATURE RUST THROUGH OR ROT WHERE THE WATER EVENTUALLY COMES OUT.ALSO I FEEL BETRAYED BY FORD BECAUSE I HAVE COPIES OF OTHER TSB'S WHICH PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE BUT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE I DID NOT COMPLAIN OF THOSE SYMPTOMS AT THE TIME OF SERVICE AND NOW THAT I'VE REALISED I HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS IT'S TOO LATE FOR THEM TO BE COVERED. I BELIEVE EVERY NEW VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD RECEIVE NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT EVERY PROBLEM CONCERNING THEIR VEHICLE AND THAT EVERY TIME A DEALER SERVICES A PRODUCT UNDER WARRANTY, THAT ALL TSB'S ARE CHECKED AND ACTED UPON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320645

36,250 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHILE AT A FULL STOP OR WHILE BRAKING/DECELERATING WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS RUNNING ON FULL FAN. WRENCH LIGHT WILL GO ON WHEN IT OCCURS AND CAR WILL RUN VERY SLUGGISH UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF. AT RESTART, (IF AIR IS OFF) WRENCH LIGHT IS OFF AND CAR RUNS OK. FORD SERVICE DEPT IN 200…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHILE AT A FULL STOP OR WHILE BRAKING/DECELERATING WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS RUNNING ON FULL FAN. WRENCH LIGHT WILL GO ON WHEN IT OCCURS AND CAR WILL RUN VERY SLUGGISH UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF. AT RESTART, (IF AIR IS OFF) WRENCH LIGHT IS OFF AND CAR RUNS OK. FORD SERVICE DEPT IN 2007 AND 2008 SAID IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM, CAN'T HELP. THIS IS THE THIRD SUMMER IT HAS OCCURRED AND IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO SERVICE DEPT FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THEY HADN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS ALTHOUGH I AM FINDING SEVERAL REPORTS OF EXACT SAME ISSUE ONLINE AND AT NHTSA. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE AND A "COMPUTER" PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274813

55,000 miles · Mar 20, 2009
Electrical SystemFire

AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, MY KIDS WANTED TO WATCH A DVD IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS CLEANING THE DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION (I DID NOT START THE ENGINE) FOR THE DVD TO WORK, PUT ON THE DVD AND START CLEANING THE DRIVEWAY. FEW MINUTES LATER I HAVE SEEN A BIG SMOKE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. I HAVE…

Read full complaint

AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, MY KIDS WANTED TO WATCH A DVD IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS CLEANING THE DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION (I DID NOT START THE ENGINE) FOR THE DVD TO WORK, PUT ON THE DVD AND START CLEANING THE DRIVEWAY. FEW MINUTES LATER I HAVE SEEN A BIG SMOKE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. I HAVE CHECKED THE MIRROR AND IT WAS IN FLAMES. I TOOK THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR, TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF IGNITION, REMOVE THE BACK COVER OF THE MIRROR AND PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH WAS COMING FROM A BUNDLE OF WIRES INSIDE THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262526

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2008
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD A FLAT TIRE ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE, AWD, LTD AND INSTALLED THE SPACE SAVER TIRE. WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE, ALL FAULT INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION PROCEEDED TO ERRATICALLY UP AND DOWN SHIFT. WENT DIRECTLY TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEREIN TOLD BY S…

Read full complaint

HAD A FLAT TIRE ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE, AWD, LTD AND INSTALLED THE SPACE SAVER TIRE. WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE, ALL FAULT INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION PROCEEDED TO ERRATICALLY UP AND DOWN SHIFT. WENT DIRECTLY TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEREIN TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL. TOLD SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SPACE SAVER TIRE. THERE WAS NO INFORMATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO THE VEHICLES ERADICATE BEHAVIOR. LATER, SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR WITH THE SPACE SAVER TIRE AND THE VEHICLES ABS SENSORS. I DISAGREED ON THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR SINCE I CONSIDER MY SPEEDOMETER A SAFETY DEVICE - AND SINCE THE SPACE SAVER TIRE IS SPEED LIMITED, THIS MADE THE VEHICLE BEHAVIOR QUESTIONABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241448

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