NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
484 reportsClear category filter59,500 miles · Jan 7, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500.
NHTSA ODI #10491674
101,000 miles · Jan 2, 2013
EnginePower Train
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP COMPLAINT FROM EARLIER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION A MONTH AFTER BUYING MY FREESTYLE. ALMOST $4000! I HAVE VIDEOS OF THE CARS RPMS SURGING AS I AM DRIVING IT. NOT A SAFE CAR - HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE A FORD RECALL IS MADE? PLEASE TELL ME SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE TO GET HURT OR DIE FIRST! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490792
52,000 miles · Dec 23, 2012
EnginePower Train
THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SURGE WHEN STOPPED OR AT LOW SPEEDS AND BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST WANTS TO GO FROM AN EVEN IDLE TO FLOORED SOMETIMES, JUST MOMENTARILY. COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE GETTING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION...DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY PARTICULAR CONDITIONS. LATELY…
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THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SURGE WHEN STOPPED OR AT LOW SPEEDS AND BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST WANTS TO GO FROM AN EVEN IDLE TO FLOORED SOMETIMES, JUST MOMENTARILY. COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE GETTING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION...DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY PARTICULAR CONDITIONS. LATELY HAS STARTED TO SHUDDER AT MID SPEEDS (15-40 MPH) AND SURGE AHEAD AS IF YOU WERE MOVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH YOUR FOOT IS STOCK STILL. GETTING TO BE A LITTLE UNEASY HAVING MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489566
60,000 miles · Dec 10, 2012
Power TrainService BrakesVehicle Speed Control
THROTTLE BODY FAILED TWICE. HAD REPAIRED BECAUSE VEHICLE LUNGED AND ALMOST HIT A LADY AT KROGER GROCERY STORE. FOOT WAS FIRM ON BRAKE. VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION . I'M A FORD MOTOR COMPANY EMPLOYEE AND I'VE HEARD THIS PROBLEM FROM FRIENDS AT WORK .ALSO ENGINE RACES SOMETIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10487812
89,000 miles · Dec 6, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH UPHILL, THE ENGINE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH UPHILL, THE ENGINE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA ODI #10487596
114,000 miles · Dec 2, 2012
Power Train
THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 60 MILES@80 MPH THE WRENCH LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CARE WOULD SHUT DOWN. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SPEWING OUT THE VENT TUBE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND 2 MONTHS LATTER IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP ON THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS A LOT O…
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THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 60 MILES@80 MPH THE WRENCH LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CARE WOULD SHUT DOWN. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SPEWING OUT THE VENT TUBE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND 2 MONTHS LATTER IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP ON THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486698
120,000 miles · Nov 30, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
CAN BE DRIVING ANY SPEED OR STOPPED AND LOSE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, PROBLEM FIXED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, FREQUENTLY WHILE MERGING TO AN E WAY, OR HILLY AREAS, FORD MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT CAR AND CANT TELL US WHAT IS WRONG, PEOPLE WHO ENGINEERED CAR HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND CAN…
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CAN BE DRIVING ANY SPEED OR STOPPED AND LOSE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, PROBLEM FIXED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, FREQUENTLY WHILE MERGING TO AN E WAY, OR HILLY AREAS, FORD MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT CAR AND CANT TELL US WHAT IS WRONG, PEOPLE WHO ENGINEERED CAR HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND CANT GIVE AN ANSWER. DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH CAR WE OWE MORE THAN IT IS WORTH NOW AND CANT TRADE IN WITH RECURRING PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486540
40,000 miles · Nov 28, 2012
EnginePower Train
IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 OUR FREESTYLE BEGAN TO SURGE AS FAR AS TWO FEET WHILE DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AND ALSO WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, SURGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN IN REVERSE, REVVING LOUDLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLING. CONCERNED, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT THE PRO…
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IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 OUR FREESTYLE BEGAN TO SURGE AS FAR AS TWO FEET WHILE DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AND ALSO WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, SURGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN IN REVERSE, REVVING LOUDLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLING. CONCERNED, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNCOMMON (NOT TRUE) AND DID NOT MENTION ANY SERVICE BULLETINS BEFORE REPROGRAMMING OUR FREESTYLES PCM AND REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486400
55,600 miles · Nov 28, 2012
Power Train
ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 AM, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION OF ANOTHER MAJOR HIGHWAY, OUR FORD FREESTYLE QUICKLY LOST ACCELERATION. THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT REACT TO THE DRIVER, WHEN DEPRESSED THE ONLY REACTION FROM THE CAR WAS REVVING OF THE ENGINE (…
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ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 AM, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION OF ANOTHER MAJOR HIGHWAY, OUR FORD FREESTYLE QUICKLY LOST ACCELERATION. THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT REACT TO THE DRIVER, WHEN DEPRESSED THE ONLY REACTION FROM THE CAR WAS REVVING OF THE ENGINE (RPM'S). THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY 'GLIDED' TO THE SHOULDER OF THE BUSY INTERSECTION. OUR FREESTYLE HAD EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FORD WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR OUR FREESTYLE DUE TO NO LONGER MANUFACTURING THE TRANSMISSION - IT WAS ON BACK ORDER AND UNABLE TO BE PURCHASED BY US TO REPAIR THE CAR. IT WAS SOLD FOR SCRAP AT 55,600 MILES AND 27 DAYS PAST THE 6 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486399
65,000 miles · Nov 25, 2012
Power Train
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT. WAS MAJOR DEAL AT THE TIME BUT NOW HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD WE HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS OR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE HAS PUT POOR TASTE REGARDI…
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HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT. WAS MAJOR DEAL AT THE TIME BUT NOW HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD WE HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS OR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE HAS PUT POOR TASTE REGARDING FUTURE OWNERSHIP OF FORD VEHICLE, UNLESS PROBLEM IS ONLY WITH C.V.T. TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10485983
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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