Illustration2006 FORD FREESTYLE CAME TO SUDDEN STOP ON A FREEWAY DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. *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
Power Train complaints
484 reportsI DRIVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 38 DAYS NOT. THEIR HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR DUE TO THE FACT IT IS STALLING IN MID DRIVE. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS VERY SCARED FOR ME AND MORE SO MY CHILDREN. IT HAS ALSO JERKED FORWARD, AND WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT JERKS TO WAY YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL OF T…
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I DRIVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 38 DAYS NOT. THEIR HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR DUE TO THE FACT IT IS STALLING IN MID DRIVE. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS VERY SCARED FOR ME AND MORE SO MY CHILDREN. IT HAS ALSO JERKED FORWARD, AND WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT JERKS TO WAY YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND IT SURGES FORWARD FROM IDLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED TWO TSBS (TSB 05-25-12 AND 06-21-1) BUT DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY PART WHICH FORD DOES NOT HAVE IN STOCK. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERE…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND IT SURGES FORWARD FROM IDLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED TWO TSBS (TSB 05-25-12 AND 06-21-1) BUT DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY PART WHICH FORD DOES NOT HAVE IN STOCK. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL BY FORD AS IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS. *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
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WITH APPROX. 69000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO SURGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND MAY NOT BE IN UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. THIS VEHICLE I…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WITH APPROX. 69000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO SURGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND MAY NOT BE IN UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. THIS VEHICLE IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I FEAR HAVING AN ACCIDENT DO TO THE SUDDEN SURGING. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. *TR
2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS BAD. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ON LINE I SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS OF THE 2005 AND 2006 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS AIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN WAITING TO GO AND MOVE THE CARE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AND COULD HIT ANOTHER CAR OR YET A PE…
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS BAD. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ON LINE I SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS OF THE 2005 AND 2006 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS AIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN WAITING TO GO AND MOVE THE CARE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AND COULD HIT ANOTHER CAR OR YET A PERSON. *TR
THE ENGINE OF MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SUDDENLY REVS UP TO 1500 TO 2000 RPM FROM IDLE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY. THIS HAPPENS ANY TIME, BUT MORE OFTEN WITH THE AC ON. I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT HITTING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. *TR
2006 FORD FREESTYLE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY DURING TRAFFIC. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART TO RESET. HAPPENS RANDOMLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. FORD SAYS IT IS A THROTTLE BODY UNIT FAILURE, BUT CAN DO NOTHING SINCE THE PART IS BACK ORDERED FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAS BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR. TWO TSB'S OVER THE COU…
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2006 FORD FREESTYLE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY DURING TRAFFIC. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART TO RESET. HAPPENS RANDOMLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. FORD SAYS IT IS A THROTTLE BODY UNIT FAILURE, BUT CAN DO NOTHING SINCE THE PART IS BACK ORDERED FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAS BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR. TWO TSB'S OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, BUT NO RECALL ON A PART THEY CANNOT EVEN KEEP IN STOCK FOR OVER TWO YEARS DUE TO THE CONSTANT FAILURE. NOW MY WIFE AND FAMILY ARE IN DANGER EVERY TIME THEY DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE PART IS AVAILABLE WHICH IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND NEVER A FIRM DATE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE FAILURE CEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THEY ASSUMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND QUICKLY STALLED. THE EMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH CONFIRMED THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/09 UPDATED 09/16/09.*JB
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN ADDITION TO COMPLAINT #10277570. AFTER WRITING MY INITIAL COMPLAINT AS EXPLAINED I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD QUIT USING THE INITIAL MANUFACTURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT THAT FAILED. THEY JUST RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH A REPLACEMENT PART THAT REQUIRES MODIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS IN ADDITION TO COMPLAINT #10277570. AFTER WRITING MY INITIAL COMPLAINT AS EXPLAINED I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD QUIT USING THE INITIAL MANUFACTURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT THAT FAILED. THEY JUST RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH A REPLACEMENT PART THAT REQUIRES MODIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF THIS PART. EVEN OUR SERVICE REPS FEELS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. ESPECIALLY IF THEY CANNOT KEEP THE PARTS ON THE SHELF. *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