VEHICLE SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. *KB
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
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.
Power Train complaints
484 reportsVEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LIMITED ALL WHEEL DRIVE...OFTEN, WHEN IDLING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD UNTIL EXTREME PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN REVERSE AND THE CAR LUN…
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VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LIMITED ALL WHEEL DRIVE...OFTEN, WHEN IDLING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD UNTIL EXTREME PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN REVERSE AND THE CAR LUNGES AS DESCRIBED, THE CAR WILL STALL AFTER LUNGING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE CAR WILL RUN, BUT IN A LIMITED CAPACITY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. STOPPING THE CAR, TURNING THE CAR OFF, AND THEN RESTARTING THE CAR, CLEARS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR WILL OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS AROUND OR ABOVE 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2006, THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 50 TIMES. *TT
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST MADE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED! THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM... 50,000 MILES, CHECK! AC COMPRESSOR GOES BAD.... 60,000 MILES, CHECK! AND NOW BEGINNING AT 79,000 MILES THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS TRASHED! $6000 TO FIX AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A NEW ONE! I DROVE IT KNOWING IT WOULD GO BAD ANOTHER 300…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST MADE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED! THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM... 50,000 MILES, CHECK! AC COMPRESSOR GOES BAD.... 60,000 MILES, CHECK! AND NOW BEGINNING AT 79,000 MILES THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS TRASHED! $6000 TO FIX AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A NEW ONE! I DROVE IT KNOWING IT WOULD GO BAD ANOTHER 3000+ MILES BECAUSE I WAS DESTINED TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY EITHER WAY. THE MECHANIC ACTUALLY SUGGESTED I TRADE IT IN WHEN IT BEGAN. WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN FAIR TO WHOMEVER BOUGHT IT? THESE ARE ALL COMMON EARLY MILEAGE PROBLEMS WITH THE FREESTYLES! THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THESE THREE AND THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE THAT FORTUNATELY I HAVE DODGED TO THIS POINT. WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO? JUST LET THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT FREESTYLES WITH CVT SUFFER. WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU STOPPED USING THE CVT TRANSMISSION ON THE TAURUS X? WHY? I THINK WE KNOW BASED ON THE NUMEROUS CVT FAILURES AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TT
UPON STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING IT IN EITHER REVERSE OR FORWARD, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND EITHER LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL. THIS WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON. ON STARTING THE CAR, I HAD TO PLACE MY FOOT WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL T…
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UPON STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING IT IN EITHER REVERSE OR FORWARD, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND EITHER LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL. THIS WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON. ON STARTING THE CAR, I HAD TO PLACE MY FOOT WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ENSURE THAT THE CAR DID NOT LUNGE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THEY COULD BE HURT IF THE CAR STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS STRUCK. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE PART. IT WAS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THIS PART. I AM URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE THROTTLE BODY. *KB
ON 9/12/11 MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES. DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND MY WRENCH AND EMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, AND THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS WHINING AS ANY TURNS WERE MADE. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT WH…
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ON 9/12/11 MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES. DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND MY WRENCH AND EMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, AND THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS WHINING AS ANY TURNS WERE MADE. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT WHILE NOT UNCOMMON, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED AT 160,000 MILES AS THE COST OF REPAIRS ARE GREATER THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. *KB
WHEN THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AND I PUT IT IN GEAR EITHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD THE CAR LUNGES. IT ALSO HAPPENS AT STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS. IF THE CAR IS STOPPED AND I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, IT LUNGES. IT WILL STOP IF I HIT THE BRAKE. *KB
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES AND SURGES. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR MY FREESTYLE WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY AND WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SURGE POWER. WHILE SITTING AND IN GEAR POWER SURGES AND LURCHES FORWARD FORCING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING FORWARD. WHILE CRUISING POWER WILL SURGE WITHOUT INPUT FROM TH…
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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES AND SURGES. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR MY FREESTYLE WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY AND WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SURGE POWER. WHILE SITTING AND IN GEAR POWER SURGES AND LURCHES FORWARD FORCING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING FORWARD. WHILE CRUISING POWER WILL SURGE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. *KB
WE HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE AND ARE EXPERIENCING A LUNGING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING IDLE. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ALERT AND APPLIED THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING IN TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. ONE OTHER THING, WE ONLY HAVE 65,00…
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WE HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE AND ARE EXPERIENCING A LUNGING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING IDLE. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ALERT AND APPLIED THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING IN TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. ONE OTHER THING, WE ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *KB
WHEN DRIVING, MY CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, I ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL AND LOSE POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN I ENGAGE THE GAS TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MY CAR WILL START TO GO AND THEN LOSE POWER. THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST WON'T MOVE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DOES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT TH…
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WHEN DRIVING, MY CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, I ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL AND LOSE POWER. SOMETIMES WHEN I ENGAGE THE GAS TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MY CAR WILL START TO GO AND THEN LOSE POWER. THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST WON'T MOVE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DOES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THIS IS STILL HAPPENING. THEY SAID UNLESS THEY CAN GET THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING IT, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP FURTHER. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND I'M SURE IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, SOMETIMES IT REVS UP BEFORE ACTUALLY MOVING. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, STARTING IN THE 20,000 MILES. BAD WINDOW MOTOR, BAD BRAKES, INTERMITTENT DASH BOARD CLEARANCE, AIR CONDITIONING MECHANISM LEAKING INTO CAR. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR, BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION ON THE DASH LIGHTS RESETTING. MY PAINT IS BUBBLING UP ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FORD OFFERED TO FIX THIS FOR $850. THE BUBBLING STARTED AT 39,000 MILES. I DID NOT PAY THEM TO FIX THIS, AS I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WHEN FORD HAD MY CAR LAST, THEY REPLACED A SWAY BAR AND DID NOT TIGHTEN THE NUT, I THEN HAD THE ABS LIGHT COME ON AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND TIGHTENED THE NUT. MY CAR CLUNKED SO BAD, I FEAR THAT THIS CAUSED ADDITIONAL SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. I'VE ALWAYS HAD NOISE IN THE FRONT END, ESPECIALLY ON A TIGHT TURN. THE GREASED THE FRONT END, BUT THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TODAY, MY CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MY WARRANTY IS UP AND I KNOW THAT ONE DAY WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE. I WAS TOLD BY A FORD SERVICE REP. THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE REPLACED, SO WHEN IT DOES FAIL, I'M OUT OF LUCK, THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR THIS. RECALL PLEASE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READINGS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READINGS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
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
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