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

Power Train complaints

484 reports

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34,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011

Power Train

CAR LURCHES FORWARD IN IDLE. CATCHES ME BY SURPRISE WHEN I MOVE FROM PARKED POSITION TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY AND FORCEFULLY PUT ON THE BRAKES OR WILL HIT A PARK CAR OR MOVING VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN I HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER ON "HIGH" I KEEP THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN LOW TO MINIMIZE THE PROBLEM... *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411910

100,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011

Power Train

2006 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS UNPREDICTABLE AND RANDOM. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE AND DRIVE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411853

87,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011

Power Train

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VEHICLE WILL AFTER BEING PUT IN DRIVE FROM PARK WILL SURGE, IT WILL REV TO 4000 RPM AND THEN DIE. HAVE NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS SURGING NEARLY INTO A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *KB I HAVE THE CAR IN THE DEALER RIGHT NOW, SAYS THAT IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WHICH IS GOING TO COST US OVER 1000.00 TO FIX. BY READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO FORCE FORD INTO FIXING THIS ISSUE. THERE IS APPARANTLY A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF THROTTLE BODIES DUE TO THE ISSUE BEING SO WIDE SPREAD SO THAT HAS TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE OR GET INJURED IN ORDER TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10410570

90,183 miles · Jul 5, 2011

Power Train

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN (MY FOOT NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL) WHEN IN REVERSE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. RECENTLY IT HAS STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN IN BOTHE THE DRIVE AND REVERSE AND IT WILL LUNGE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 6 FEET. APPLYING THE BRAKE DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE …

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NHTSA ODI #10410516

110,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011

Power Train

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ONE DAY I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT LUNGED UNCONTROLLABLY. THEN WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, IT WOULD BARELY MOVE. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WENT ON, SO I WENT RIGHT TO A MECHANIC. TWO IN FACT BECAUSE THE FIRST COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NEITHER COULD THE SECOND. BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF COMPLETELY AND RESTARTED, IT RESET ITSELF AND IT WAS FINE. DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR A GOOD WHILE, THEN AGAIN. REPEAT THESE STEPS TO NOW, IT IS A FREQUENT OCCURANCE. SINGLE MOM WITH FIVE YEAR OLD TWINS AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS THROTTLE BODY THING I AM READING ABOUT. BUT CAN'T KEEP DRIVING MY KIDS IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD AS IT WILL JUST STOP MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE SEATBELT IN THE CENTER OF THE SECOND ROW LOCKED UP WHEN THE BACK WAS FOLDED DOWN AND I COULDN'T LIFT IT BACK UP. HAD TO CUT IT TO LIFT THE SEAT BACK. NOW, NO SEATBELT FOR MIDDLE RIDER. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10410514

40,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011

Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH HAS BEEN HAVING A SURGING PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN ACCRUING EVERYDAY NOW. IT HAPPENS MORE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE YOU NEED TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THAN IT STALLS. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERS SEEM TO HAVE A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS BUT NO REAL FIX. MOS…

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NHTSA ODI #10410464

80,000 miles · Jul 4, 2011

Power Train

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE WILL SURGE WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE AND PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES - NEED TO QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. HAVE NOT HAD VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR - AFRAID OF HOW MUCH I WILL NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET - AND WILL IT ACTUALLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM??? 82,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WAS CONSIDERING GIVING IT TO OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED HER DRIVING LICENSE, BUT DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE GIVING HER A VEHICLE SHE LITERALLY CANNOT CONTROL WITH THE NEWLY ACQUIRED DRIVING SKILLS UNDER HER BELT. AS A SEASONED DRIVER, I FEEL VERY UNEASY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410413

44,000 miles · Jul 3, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITH MY CHILDREN WHILE MY WIFE WENT TO PICK UP A FEW GROCERIES. WHEN WE LEFT I PUT THE CAR REVERSE AND SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN JERKED BACKWARDS AS MY FOOT WAS SOFTLY ON THE BREAK AND THEN AGAIN WHEN IT WAS OFF THE BREAK. THE CAR THEN STALLED AND THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE, MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN "DRIVE" WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKING HARD AND MY FOOT EITHER SOFTLY ON THE BREAK OR JUST OFF THE BREAK. THE CAR WILL JERK FORWARD. I'M NOT SURE THE COMPONENT THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING, BUT BELLOW IS AN EDUCATED GUESS.

NHTSA ODI #10411169

61,000 miles · Jul 1, 2011

Power Train

CAR SURGES WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL EITHER IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410280

65,288 miles · Jun 27, 2011

Power Train

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2006 FORD FREESTYLE SEL SUDDENLY LUNGING FORWARD AT IDLE SPEEDS IN EITHER REVERSE OR MOVING FORWARD. I ALMOST RAN OVER A CHILD, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY QUICK REFLEX WITH THE BRAKES. DON GASGARTH'S FORD DEALERSHIP IN PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA FORD WANTS $550 FOR THE NEW VERSION OF THE THROTTLE BODY NON HEATED WHICH THEY ARE 100% IN AGREEMENT HAS A FAULTY DESIGN AND IS MAKING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE ALREADY REPLACED HUNDREDS AT THE OWNERS' EXPENSE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED ANYTHING YET. THIS IS A VERY VERY VERY QUICK FIX (UNDER 30 MINUTES WORK) AND THEY ARE JUST DRAGGING THEIR FEET... SOMEONE WILL DIE AS A RESULT AND FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ASAP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408994

Official recalls

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

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