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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

Fuel System, Other complaints

13 reports
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79,500 miles · Aug 4, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherPower Train

TRYING TO PARK MY CAR IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAITED A MINUTE, TURNED OFF THE RADIO, A/C, ETC AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417091

63,000 miles · Jul 9, 2011
Fuel System, Other

2006 FORD FREESTYLE - TROUBLE BEGAN @ 60,000 MI. WHEN I NOTICED THE THROTTLE UNRESPONSIVE. THE UNRESPONSIVENESS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A "DEAD ZONE" IN THE TRAVEL OF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE PAST THE DEAD ZONE, THE CAR WILL LUNGE TO ACHIEVE THE NEWLY FOUND PEDAL POSITION. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR ENGAGES…

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE - TROUBLE BEGAN @ 60,000 MI. WHEN I NOTICED THE THROTTLE UNRESPONSIVE. THE UNRESPONSIVENESS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A "DEAD ZONE" IN THE TRAVEL OF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE PAST THE DEAD ZONE, THE CAR WILL LUNGE TO ACHIEVE THE NEWLY FOUND PEDAL POSITION. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR ENGAGES...NEVER DID THAT BEFORE. TWICE NOW, CAR WILL NOT MOVE AFTER START...ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON...TURN OFF, RESTART, TURN OFF, RESTART, AND THE CAR IS BACK TO NORMAL, WITH NO LIGHT. THROTTLE BODY WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM AT FORD DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10411610

70,000 miles · Jul 2, 2011
Fuel System, Other

WE OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND STARTING HAVING ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. AT FIRST, IT WAS A SUDDEN JOLT IN REVERSE ONLY, THEN IT WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR GOING INTO REVERSE AFTER COMING OUT OF PARKING AND THEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOWLY TURNING OR STOPPING FO…

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WE OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND STARTING HAVING ISSUES WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. AT FIRST, IT WAS A SUDDEN JOLT IN REVERSE ONLY, THEN IT WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR GOING INTO REVERSE AFTER COMING OUT OF PARKING AND THEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOWLY TURNING OR STOPPING FOR PEOPLE WALKING BY IN PARKING LOTS. WE NOTICE IT ACTS UP MUCH MORE DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON FULL BLAST AND THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY SUDDENLY DIE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURNING ON AT US. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY OF FOUR CHILDREN UNDER SIX NOR FOR PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WHO MIGHT BE HIT ACCIDENTALLY FROM THROTTLE BODY ISSUES. SOMETIMES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING! WE HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY OURSELVES TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP AND IT DID FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME. WE ARE NOW FACED WITH REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS A 700-1000 REPAIR! THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE OR RARE ISSUE FROM WHAT WE HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE WITH OTHER FREESTYLE OWNERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE FIXED ASAP BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410311

72,000 miles · May 28, 2011
Fuel System, Other

2006 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN YOU TAKE IT IN OR OUT OF PARK. THE RPM REV UP AND LUNGES FORWARD ANYWHERE FROM A FEW INCHES UP TO 2 FEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10403657

85,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Fuel System, Other

THE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE DURING VERY HOT CONDITIONS (IN THE 90S), WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING, HAS WHILE IDLING IN A LINE OF OTHER AUTOS, OR WHILE PARALLEL PARKING. HAS LURCHED FORWARD WITH AN ENGINE ACCELERATION WITHOUT A FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED IN ALL THREE OCCURRENCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401149

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

VEHICLE SURGES WITH NO APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE SURGE SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE BRAKE APPLIED, AND SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON ALTHOUGH NOT ALL SURGES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING ON. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO OCCUR IN SPR…

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VEHICLE SURGES WITH NO APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE SURGE SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE BRAKE APPLIED, AND SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON ALTHOUGH NOT ALL SURGES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING ON. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO OCCUR IN SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS WHEN THE AIR-CONDITIONING HAS BEEN IN USE. THIS SURGING PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF A HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND PLACED IN REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT APPLIED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE MOVE AND THE AIR-CONDITIONING WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME OF THE SURGE ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN USED EARLY THAT DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401132

72,500 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN LURCHING/SURGING OF MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355941

95,905 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Fuel System, Other

2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS LUNGING VERY AGGRESSIVELY. I WILL PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR SUDDENLY REVS AND LUNGES. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGES OUT OF CONTROL. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN I MAKE A STOP. THE CAR WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. TODAY IT FINALLY LU…

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS LUNGING VERY AGGRESSIVELY. I WILL PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR SUDDENLY REVS AND LUNGES. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGES OUT OF CONTROL. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN I MAKE A STOP. THE CAR WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. TODAY IT FINALLY LUNGED AND THEN DIED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. IF MY CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN WALKING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THIS IS A DEFECT ON FORD'S PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349025

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2010
Fuel System, Other

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. FOR MOST OF THE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS CAR IT ACTS UP WHEN IT IS HOT. IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (MAINLY PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS). IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS A PEDESTRIAN COULD BE HIT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS EVEN STALLED AFTER ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL…

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. FOR MOST OF THE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS CAR IT ACTS UP WHEN IT IS HOT. IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (MAINLY PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS). IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS A PEDESTRIAN COULD BE HIT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS EVEN STALLED AFTER ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 -3 YRS. AND THEY "COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM". WELL TODAY THE "WRENCH' LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD VERY LITTLE POWER AFTER AN ACCELERATING INCIDENT, SO I PULLED INTO THE DEALER LOT. TODAY THEY TOLD ME IT THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT COSTS $800 FOR THE REPAIR BUT WILL TAKE 3 WEEKS TO GET THE PART. SO I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE FOR 3 WEEKS. I FEEL THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALL ALONG, AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345347

85,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

2006 FORD FREESTYLE 85,000 MILES. CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE AND BACKWARD WHEN IN REVERSE AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. JUNE 2010 CAR LUNGED FORWARD IN A PARKING LOT AND ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY AND FOR $920 THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY IN ONE DAY. NEVER MENTIONED THEY WERE AWARE O…

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE 85,000 MILES. CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE AND BACKWARD WHEN IN REVERSE AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. JUNE 2010 CAR LUNGED FORWARD IN A PARKING LOT AND ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY AND FOR $920 THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY IN ONE DAY. NEVER MENTIONED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340706

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