Illustration2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS SUDDEN SURGES GOING SLOW IN FORWARD AND REVERSE. THE CAR HAS STALLED TWICE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT HAS COME ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE CAN BE INJURED IF THESE SURGES WERE TO HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT. *TR
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
85 reports2006 FORD FREESTYLE, VEHICLE SURGES SUDDENLY BY, MAINLY AT LOW SPEED WHEN PARKING OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. DANGEROUS WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR TRYING TO PARK AS UNEXPECTED SURGE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT IF BRAKES IS NOT APPLIED IN TIME. UNDERSTAND NOW FROM RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FORD, CAUSED BY FAULTY TH…
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE, VEHICLE SURGES SUDDENLY BY, MAINLY AT LOW SPEED WHEN PARKING OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. DANGEROUS WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR TRYING TO PARK AS UNEXPECTED SURGE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT IF BRAKES IS NOT APPLIED IN TIME. UNDERSTAND NOW FROM RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FORD, CAUSED BY FAULTY THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY.. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AT INTERSECTIONS WITH HEAVY PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AS SUDDEN SURGE CAN MOVE VEHICLE INTO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
2006 FORD FREESTYLE FREQUENTLY LUNGES FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED OR AT LOW SPEEDS. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON DURING SEVERAL OCCURRENCES (DIAGNOSTICS CODES P061B AND 75574 WERE FOUND) AIR CLEANER BOX REPLACED; WITHIN ONE WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE LUNGING PROBLEMS AGAIN. SOMETIMES I CAN STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT AND WR…
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE FREQUENTLY LUNGES FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED OR AT LOW SPEEDS. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON DURING SEVERAL OCCURRENCES (DIAGNOSTICS CODES P061B AND 75574 WERE FOUND) AIR CLEANER BOX REPLACED; WITHIN ONE WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE LUNGING PROBLEMS AGAIN. SOMETIMES I CAN STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT AND WRENCH LIGHT GOES OUT. PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT AND SO FAR HAS NOT OCCURRED DURING SHOP VISITS BUT HAS OCCURRED WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING GARAGE. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENTS, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR
ENGINE SURGES/LURCHES AT IDLE. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AS VEHICLE AGES. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT YET. *TR
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IT OCCURS WHENEVER THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND YOU ARE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 3 MONTHS. FORD SAYS IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! I'VE READ THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON MOS…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IT OCCURS WHENEVER THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND YOU ARE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 3 MONTHS. FORD SAYS IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! I'VE READ THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON MOST FORD FREESTYLES AND FIVE HUNDREDS WITH THE 3.0L ENGINE. *TR
ENGINE STALLS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAPPENED WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES IN 2008, DEALER FIXED SOMETHING AFTER TWO TOW-INS, 2 YEARS LATER SAME THING. DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NO SERVICE BULLETINS. I SUGGEST THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE FOR MY WIFE AND DISABLED SON, MAY NEED TO GET A MORE RELIABLE CAR. THEY …
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ENGINE STALLS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAPPENED WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES IN 2008, DEALER FIXED SOMETHING AFTER TWO TOW-INS, 2 YEARS LATER SAME THING. DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NO SERVICE BULLETINS. I SUGGEST THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE FOR MY WIFE AND DISABLED SON, MAY NEED TO GET A MORE RELIABLE CAR. THEY AGREE WITH ME! THEY SUGGEST THROTTLE BODY COULD BE BAD BUT IT IS REAL EXPENSIVE AND MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ANYWAY. I DO 10 MINUTES OF INTERNET RESEARCH AND FIND THAT FORD HAS A KNOWN THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SYMPTOMS WE HAVE HAD NOW FOR 3+ YEARS AND A MAJOR SUPPLIER PROBLEM (AND LONG LOANER CAR EXPENSES WHILE FINDING PART!). FIRST, WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM? SECOND, IS IT ETHICAL TO TELL AN OWNER TO JUST KEEP DRIVING THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BREAK DOWN, AS THEY TOLD ME TO DO. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM! (SUDDEN DECELERATION WITH NO POWER TO ENGINE, BRAKES AND POWER STEERING AS IT DID ON I-45 LAST THURSDAY LEAVING MY WIFE AND DISABLED SON STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY). THIRD, IS FORD GOING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT? *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE THAT LUNGES WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. ITS WORSE WHEN THE AIR COND. IS ON. I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE QUIT DRIVING THE CAR TILL I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE IN TO A DEALER. FROM WHAT I'VE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FREESTYLES. *TR
VEHICLE SURGED RAPIDLY WHILE IN DRIVE WITH NO INPUT FROM GAS PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE YET FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. (THROTTLE BODY) SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
WHILE TRYING TO PARK VEHICLE OR WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED & ENGINE RUNNING. ACCELERATED WHEN THROTTLE WAS NOT DEPRESSED. DEALER RE PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
2005 FORD FREESTYLE CAR ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IN PARKING LOT GOT CAR TO GO AFTER DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT . AN INVESTIGATION WILL REVEAL THIS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH NO CORRECTIVE ACTION FROM FORD. *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