Illustration2006 FORD FREESTYLE IS EXPERIENCING SPORADIC LUNGING (ENGINE RACING) WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR PARK TO DRIVE. HAS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST MONTH. 65500 MILES ON ODOMETER. *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
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
602 reportsTHE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING OR WARNING. THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THIS IS HAPPENING IN. ONE SITUATION THAT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IS SITTING IN A LINE SUCH AS A DRIVE THRU AND IDLING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. ANOTHER SCENARIO IS PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR LURCHES BA…
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THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING OR WARNING. THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THIS IS HAPPENING IN. ONE SITUATION THAT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IS SITTING IN A LINE SUCH AS A DRIVE THRU AND IDLING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. ANOTHER SCENARIO IS PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR LURCHES BACKWARDS. SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN BEHIND THE LINE OF A CROSSWALK AND THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND NARROWLY MISSED A PEDESTRIAN. I TEND TO PUT IT IN PARK WHEN AT A LIGHT OR IN A DRIVE THRU. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO FORD AND THEY DISCREDITED MY CLAIM SAYING IT WAS AN ISSUE I NEEDED TO REPAIR AND DID NOT CONSTITUTE A RECALL. HOW WHEN THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THEIR CARS. THIS IS NOT A SYSTEM THAT WORE OUT. IT NEVER WORKED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. MAYBE THE ISSUE IS IT IS A COST REPAIR IN THE THOUSANDS. *KB
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH I LOVE BUT, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I MOVE FORWARD OR BACK UP. IT HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE VISITED MANY MECHANICS WHO ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I FELT THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST C…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE WHICH I LOVE BUT, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I MOVE FORWARD OR BACK UP. IT HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE VISITED MANY MECHANICS WHO ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I FELT THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT MORE THAN ONCE. *KB
2006 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES OCCASSIONALLY WHEN SLOWLY PULLING INTO THE GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE OR WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE. MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS OCCURS. *KB
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE, WHICH I PURCHASED, USED,IN 2007. I HAVE HAD TWO THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. THE FIRST WAS IN JULY, 2008 @ 40,203 MILES AND THE SECOND IN AUGUST, 2010 @ 84,731 MILES. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROBLEM ARE: 'WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE, AS IF THE ACCE…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE, WHICH I PURCHASED, USED,IN 2007. I HAVE HAD TWO THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. THE FIRST WAS IN JULY, 2008 @ 40,203 MILES AND THE SECOND IN AUGUST, 2010 @ 84,731 MILES. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROBLEM ARE: 'WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE, AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. 'SOMETIMES WHEN THIS SURGING OCCURRED, THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER 'WHEN THE "NO POWER" OCCURRED, IT COULD BE CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THIS CONDITION OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN TRYING TO MOVE IN REVERSE. THE CONDITION HAS OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER BOTH TIMES *KB
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE ALMOST HIT A FEW CARS NOW WHILE IN PARKING LOTS. MY CAR HAS ALSO DONE THIS WHILE GOING FORWARD BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN REVERSE. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHILE IN REVERSE, WHERE I HAVE MY FOOT PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ALMOST DOESN'T WANT …
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WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE ALMOST HIT A FEW CARS NOW WHILE IN PARKING LOTS. MY CAR HAS ALSO DONE THIS WHILE GOING FORWARD BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN REVERSE. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHILE IN REVERSE, WHERE I HAVE MY FOOT PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ALMOST DOESN'T WANT TO STOP; IT JUST KEEPS TRYING TO MOVE. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THIS?
2006 FORD FREESTYLE WANTS LUNGES EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AND ALSO IN REVERSE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO FIND, AND FIX PROBLEM... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECCURED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECCURED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
AFTER DRIVING (2006 FORD FREESTYLE) APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE ON A HOT DAY, WE STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. WHILE AT THE WINDOW, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MY FOOT HITTING THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER GETT…
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AFTER DRIVING (2006 FORD FREESTYLE) APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE ON A HOT DAY, WE STOPPED AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. WHILE AT THE WINDOW, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MY FOOT HITTING THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER GETTING OUR FOOD THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AGAIN AS II RELEASED THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED AND LOST POWER. WE ROLLED FORWARD LUCKILY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE. DROVE THE CAR HOME AND WE HAVE NOT USED IT SINCE. SEEMS TO LIKELY BE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND IDLER BYPASS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND IDLER BYPASS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
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