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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 →
1,300Owner complaints

Model-year median: 893

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
12
20041,459
20051,300
2006893
2007
Compare all Freestyle years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
602Power Train
484Engine And Engine Cooling
144Engine
114Fuel System, Gasoline
85
All reported categories
Electrical System
84Unknown Or Other
74Fuel/propulsion System
53Service Brakes, Hydraulic
49Structure
28Electronic Stability Control (esc)
18Service Brakes
16Equipment
15Suspension
14Fuel System, Other
13Tires
11Air Bags
10Steering
9Visibility
9Exterior Lighting
7Latches/locks/linkages
7Seat Belts
6Seats
3Traction Control System
2Child Seat
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

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.

42 crash reports10 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

602 reports
Clear category filter
320 miles · Mar 12, 2007
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 TO 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES IT BEGAN SHAKING AND VIBRATING. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING, THE TIRES RUBBED THE INNER WALLS. THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON 2 OCCASIONS AFTER ADDING THE MAXIMUM AM…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 TO 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES IT BEGAN SHAKING AND VIBRATING. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING, THE TIRES RUBBED THE INNER WALLS. THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON 2 OCCASIONS AFTER ADDING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 320. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10184824

45 miles · Jun 9, 2006
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control

BOUGHT A 2006 FREESTYLE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO. NOTICED THE A/C NOT WORKING AND THE ACCELERATION NOT WORKING AND LOTS OF SMOKE. PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS AFTER THE DEAL WAS DONE WITH 45 MILES ON THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159389

Official recalls

1

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

1

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