IllustrationAFTER DRIVING HOME, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND SPEEDS UP TO 50MPH, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. THE SMOKE LASTED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STOPPED ON ITS OWN. NOT SURE IF THIS INFORMATION IS PERTINENT OR NOT, BUT IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THE DVD PLAYER WAS PLAYING DURING THE TRIP. *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
Visibility complaints
9 reportsWHILE THE CAR WAS IN ARE GARAGE AND AFTER OPENING DOOR THE PUDDLE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKING. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALL AND CHECKED CAR AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY. PUDDLE LIGHT HAS BURN AREA AND WIRING TO IT WAS BURNT. FUSE DID NOT BLOW , LIGHT STOPPED BURNING AFTER WIRES BROCK . FORD DEALER SAY…
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WHILE THE CAR WAS IN ARE GARAGE AND AFTER OPENING DOOR THE PUDDLE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKING. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALL AND CHECKED CAR AFTER DISCONNECTING BATTERY. PUDDLE LIGHT HAS BURN AREA AND WIRING TO IT WAS BURNT. FUSE DID NOT BLOW , LIGHT STOPPED BURNING AFTER WIRES BROCK . FORD DEALER SAYS TO REPLAY LIGHT YOU HAVE TO REPLACE WHOLE MIRROR UNIT APROX COST $300. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT RAINED THE MOON ROOF LEAKED WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT RAINED THE MOON ROOF LEAKED WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 12/02/11
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 FREESTYLE (WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN NOV. 2009) IN LATE FEBRUARY ON A UPPER 30'S DEGREE DAY. I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WINDOW NEXT TO MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SHATTERED. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BLOWN OUT. LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORDS - MOSTLY ESCAPES - W…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 FREESTYLE (WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN NOV. 2009) IN LATE FEBRUARY ON A UPPER 30'S DEGREE DAY. I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WINDOW NEXT TO MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SHATTERED. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BLOWN OUT. LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORDS - MOSTLY ESCAPES - WITH EXPLODING WINDOW PROBLEMS. DIDN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM MY DEALER OR FORD. HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE SUNROOF INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE WELL. THE WATER LEAK HAS CAUSED RUST AND MOLD TO THE SPARE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED YET HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE . THE FAILURE AND CUR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE SUNROOF INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE WELL. THE WATER LEAK HAS CAUSED RUST AND MOLD TO THE SPARE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED YET HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
MOONROOF LEAKS AFTER HEAVY RAINS OR LONG PERIODS OF RAIN. SHOWS UP AS WATER DRIPPING FROM EITHER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD UPON BRAKING OR TURNING. ALSO SHOWS UP AS WET FLOOR IN CARGO AREA/SPARE TIRE AREA. WAS SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED BY REROUTING FRONT MOONROOF DRAINS ACCORDING TO FORD T.S.B. # 07-3-6 BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY…
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MOONROOF LEAKS AFTER HEAVY RAINS OR LONG PERIODS OF RAIN. SHOWS UP AS WATER DRIPPING FROM EITHER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD UPON BRAKING OR TURNING. ALSO SHOWS UP AS WET FLOOR IN CARGO AREA/SPARE TIRE AREA. WAS SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED BY REROUTING FRONT MOONROOF DRAINS ACCORDING TO FORD T.S.B. # 07-3-6 BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY (ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS POSTS ON FORD FORUMS) THE DRAINAGE TUBES DO NOT HAVE A POSITIVE DRAIN CONDITION WHEN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE REAR. THIS NEGATIVE DRAIN CONDITION CAUSES WATER TO BUILD UP AND THEN OVERFLOW ONTO THE CEILING HEADLINER, WHERE IT CAN GO FORWARD AND OVERSPILL NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, OR GO BACKWARDS AND ROLL DOWN THE REAR SHOULDER BELTS. IN EITHER CASE IT CAUSES WATER TO BE SOMEWHERE IT SHOULD NOT BE, LEADING TO POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTS,(THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED IN THE HEADLINER, WHICH I'M SURE HAS THE CURRENT FOR SOME OF THE SAFETY DEVICES), PREMATURE RUST THROUGH, (FROM TRAPPED WATER),AS WELL AS POSSIBLE HEALTH ISSUES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MOLD ( ASTHMA, ETC. ). ALTHOUGH PROPERTY DAMAGE BELOW IS CHECKED "NO", I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE THIS AT THE PRESENT TIME AND AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THE ANSWER WILL BE "YES" IN THE FUTURE. *TR
2006 FORD FREESTYLE, BOTH BACK SEAT WINDOWS ROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALLOWING A CHILD TO CLIMB OUT. WINDOWS SHOULD BE SET TO ONLY ROLL HALF WAY, WHEN WINDOWS ARE NOT THE LOCK POSITION. *NM
UPON LOWERING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO GET A PARKING LOT TICKET, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT THEN GO BACK UP. IT WAS NO LONGER WORKING. OTHER WINDOWS WERE STILL WORKING FINE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW COULD NOT BE CLOSED. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE AMTRAK STATION AS I WAS ABOUT TO CATCH A TRAIN. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE V…
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UPON LOWERING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO GET A PARKING LOT TICKET, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT THEN GO BACK UP. IT WAS NO LONGER WORKING. OTHER WINDOWS WERE STILL WORKING FINE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW COULD NOT BE CLOSED. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE AMTRAK STATION AS I WAS ABOUT TO CATCH A TRAIN. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD! UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAD BURNED OUT. IN ADDITION, SERVICE FOUND A CHAFED/EXPOSED WIRE IN THE DOOR NEXT TO THE JUNCTION BOX. THEY REPLACED THIS ALSO. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT CLAIMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SLOPED. THE DASHBOARD WAS REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD ON SUNNY DAYS AND AT NIGHT UNDER THE STREET LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S GLARING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE GL…
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DT: THE CONTACT CLAIMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SLOPED. THE DASHBOARD WAS REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD ON SUNNY DAYS AND AT NIGHT UNDER THE STREET LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S GLARING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE GLARE PROBLEM OR OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS AS A SOLUTION. UPDATED 11/24/2005 - THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND AGREED TO BUY THE CONSUMER A DASH MAT TO REDUCE THE GLARE AND REFLECTION. *NM
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