NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,300 reports124,000 miles · Apr 4, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE LOUDER THE NOISE SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT REVERSE, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE LOUDER THE NOISE SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT REVERSE, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/29/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10853356
52,342 miles · Mar 21, 2016
EngineUnknown Or Other
ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PKWY. NO ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON IT HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AFTER LEAVING A TOLL BOOTH AND KICKED OFF. I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD A CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT FIRING AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. UPON THE DEALERSHIP PULLING THE ENGINE THEY VERIFIED THE ENGINE WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY ME AND TH…
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ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PKWY. NO ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON IT HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AFTER LEAVING A TOLL BOOTH AND KICKED OFF. I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD A CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT FIRING AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. UPON THE DEALERSHIP PULLING THE ENGINE THEY VERIFIED THE ENGINE WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY ME AND THE CAUSE OF THE CYLINDER BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BLOWING APART. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED . THEIR WAS NO ENGINE LIGHT WARNING NO TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND HE HAD TO CROSS OVER 4 LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE GARDEN STATE PKWY. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AND 6 WEEKS LATER UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE IT NOW HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 60MPH FOR ME TO ENTER TRAFFIC. IT STILL DOES NOT CLIMB STEEP HILLS. THE CAR REVS IN RPMS TO 5 AND FEELS LIKE IT IT NOW GETTING AIR OR FUEL. WHEN DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACES TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FINE. HELP
NHTSA ODI #10850831
105,000 miles · Feb 19, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE OPERATED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE AND MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE OPERATED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10837092
103,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA ODI #10836966
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2016
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
THROTTLE BODY IN CAR CHECK ENGINE AND WRENCH LIGHTS COME ON , THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE EVEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR I HAVE TO LET CAR WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 45 MIN THEN CUT CAR OFF N ON A COUPLE TIMES THE RPM NOT MOVING SPEEDOMETER NOT MOVING
NHTSA ODI #10826118
140,000 miles · Feb 11, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10825563
90,000 miles · Feb 2, 2016
EngineVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPEND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY VALVE WAS STICKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10823663
13,430 miles · Jan 21, 2016
Structure
BOUGHT NEW, PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF VEHICLE DEALER FIRST FIXED A RECALL FOR DOOR LOCK THAT JAMMED DURING COLD WEATHER FREEZING CAUSING REAR DOOR LATCH NOT TO CATCH. PROBLEM OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING WINTER OF 2008 WHEN DROPPING OFF CHILD TO SCHOOL, DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AND FLEW OPEN AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, NEARLY SWINGING INTO PATH OF …
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BOUGHT NEW, PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF VEHICLE DEALER FIRST FIXED A RECALL FOR DOOR LOCK THAT JAMMED DURING COLD WEATHER FREEZING CAUSING REAR DOOR LATCH NOT TO CATCH. PROBLEM OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING WINTER OF 2008 WHEN DROPPING OFF CHILD TO SCHOOL, DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AND FLEW OPEN AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, NEARLY SWINGING INTO PATH OF CHILD. PULLED CAR OFF MAIN ROAD TO TRY AND CLOSE DOOR WITH SEVERAL HARD SLAMS BUT LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH DOOR. CALLED FORD RECALL CORPORATE CENTER WHO CHECKED THEIR RECORDS AND CONFIRMED THE DEALER MARKED THE RECALL AS FIXED ALREADY. I EXPLAINED TO THE FORD RECALL DEPARTMENT THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DEALER ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, IT IS STILL OCCURRING AND WAS A VERY DANGEROUS HAZARD DURING WINTER MONTHS WHEN DOOR COULD SWING OPEN AND HIT ADJACENT CARS, PEDESTRIANS, LIGHT POLES AND TREES ALONG URBAN LOCAL ROADS WHERE SIDEWALKS AND POLES ARE TYPICALLY NEAR THE CURB. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FURTHER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY 'FIXED' UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. I LOOKED INTO WHAT THE 'FIX' WAS AND IT WAS SIMPLY HAVING THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DRILL A HOLE IN THE DOOR FRAME TO ALLOW CONDENSATION TO DRAIN INSTEAD OF FREEZING NEAR THE LATCH MECHANISM. I AM AN ENGINEER BY PROFESSION, AND IN MY REVIEW OF THIS REMEDIAL MEASURE, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE DRILL BIT SIZE BEING PROVIDED TO THE DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS FIX WAS NOT A LARGE ENOUGH DIAMETER TO ENSURE PROPER DRAINAGE AND AS A RESULT, THE CONDENSATION WOULD SIMPLY FREEZE ACROSS THE FULL DIAMETER OF THE DRILLED HOLE INTENDED FOR DRAINAGE. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS EACH YEAR AND I HEARD THAT FORD IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AGAIN FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SOME NEWER MODELS
NHTSA ODI #10821587
128,700 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,700.
NHTSA ODI #10820906
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2016
Suspension
THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. I AM AWARE THAT BETWEEN THE YEARS 2001 AND 2004 FORD MOTORS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND RECALLED THE VEHICLES
NHTSA ODI #10820330
Official recalls
1Oct 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