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
What owners actually said
1,300 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A SUNNY/OR TO MANY ERRANDS I WILL START SEEING THE AREA FOR THE RPM'S TO GO UP AND DOWN. AT THAT POINT I HAVE TO BASICALLY DRIVE WITH BOTH FEET. THE CAR WHEN PLACED ON EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE WILL EXCELERATE ON IT'S ON, I THEREFORE HAVE TO BREAK QUICKLY SO AS TO NOT HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR AUTOMOBILE, WHICH I…
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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A SUNNY/OR TO MANY ERRANDS I WILL START SEEING THE AREA FOR THE RPM'S TO GO UP AND DOWN. AT THAT POINT I HAVE TO BASICALLY DRIVE WITH BOTH FEET. THE CAR WHEN PLACED ON EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE WILL EXCELERATE ON IT'S ON, I THEREFORE HAVE TO BREAK QUICKLY SO AS TO NOT HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR AUTOMOBILE, WHICH IN TURN THE CAR WILL TURN OFF. IF IN TRAFFIC I MUST THROW IT ONTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART CAR. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #11377008
123,000 miles · Aug 25, 2020
Power Train
I JUST BOUGHT A 2006 FREESTYLE FROM A LOCAL DEALER AND HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON THE WAY HOME ON THE 2ND DAY OF OWNERSHIP. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS MANY COMPLAINTS LISTED FROM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION WITH EXORBITANT REPAIRS COSTS WELL OVER $5000.00
NHTSA ODI #11351197
135,000 miles · Jul 30, 2020
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED 12 FEET FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THE AIR B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED 12 FEET FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. INVALID VIN.
NHTSA ODI #11342345
120,000 miles · Jul 6, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN PARKING. IT IS WORSE IF THE AC IS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11337807
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2020
Power Train
CAR WON'T GO INTO ANY GEAR UNTIL ABOUT 45 MIN WHEN TRANSMISSION IS WARM. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11337495
10 miles · Jun 28, 2020
Power Train
WHEN CRUISING IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAY, THE CVT TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOWNSHIFTS TO A LOWER GEAR, IT WOULD REV BUT NO POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. THE WRENCH ICON IN THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP. THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY IT IS TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THEN IT RESETS. IT HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY.
NHTSA ODI #11331357
180,575 miles · Apr 5, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM PRIVATE SELLER. ON THE DRIVE HOME I TURNED ON AC AND NOTICED A SURGE SO I TURNED THE AIR OFF. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I FILLED THE TANK AS IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AT AN IDLE, AND THEN BEGAN TO SURGE WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAM…
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM PRIVATE SELLER. ON THE DRIVE HOME I TURNED ON AC AND NOTICED A SURGE SO I TURNED THE AIR OFF. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I FILLED THE TANK AS IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AT AN IDLE, AND THEN BEGAN TO SURGE WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODES INDICATED IT WAS A MISFIRE, SO DID A TUNE UP (CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS) ONLY TO HAVE THE ISSUE GET WORSE. THE CAR IS NOW ALMOST STALLING AND SURGING HARD. CAR IS VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE AND FEELS TO HAVE NO POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET UP TO EVEN IN TOWN SPEEDS(25-30MPH) CAR IS UNDRIVABLE SAFELY AT THIS POINT AND I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED 2 MONTHS. SURGING HAPPENS AT IDLE, LOW SPEEDS, FREEWAY SPEEDS, AND SURGES VIOLENTLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE.
NHTSA ODI #11320241
142,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Power Train
IT STARTED MAKING LIKE A WHINING GROWLING KINDA NOISE WHEN NOT IN HEAR AND WEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE AND START TO GO BACK WARDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CHANGE GEARS TO DRIVE AND YOU COULD GO A LITTLE BIT IT WOULD FINALLY CLUNK REAL HARD AND YOU COULD GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LITTLE WRENCH WOULD P…
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IT STARTED MAKING LIKE A WHINING GROWLING KINDA NOISE WHEN NOT IN HEAR AND WEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE AND START TO GO BACK WARDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CHANGE GEARS TO DRIVE AND YOU COULD GO A LITTLE BIT IT WOULD FINALLY CLUNK REAL HARD AND YOU COULD GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LITTLE WRENCH WOULD POP UP AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO ANY WHERE AT ALL
NHTSA ODI #11317655
Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2020
Engine
THE TRANSMISSION DON'T WORK LIKE THOUSANDS OF FORD FREE STYLE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO FIND AND VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK !!!
NHTSA ODI #11312202
148,446 miles · Jan 29, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE VIA PRIVATE SELLER. NO ISSUES WERE REPORTED BY SELLER. I FILLED VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE FREEWAY. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED JOLTING WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JOLT OFF/ON. I EXITED THE FREEWAY DUE TO FEELIN…
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I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE VIA PRIVATE SELLER. NO ISSUES WERE REPORTED BY SELLER. I FILLED VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE FREEWAY. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED JOLTING WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JOLT OFF/ON. I EXITED THE FREEWAY DUE TO FEELING UNSAFE TO CONTINUE ON THE FREEWAY. UPON EXITING THE RAMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BREAKS DID NOT SEEM TO WORK AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. I PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL, AS HARD AS I COULD, TO THE RIGHT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY. DRIVING AT A SLOWER RATE, 35-40MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JOLT AGAIN AND HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF THIS ISSUE, I CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS TO ENSURE THERE WAS A GOOD CONNECTION. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. AT THIS POINT I HAD HALF A TANK. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, I WAS ON EMPTY. I FILLED UP THE VEHICLE FOR THE WEEK. MY VEHICLE IS NOW JOLTING AND SURGING AGAIN. I WAS ALMOST HOME, WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN AND THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING. I AGAIN PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL, AS HARD AS I COULD TO THE RIGHT, TO GET OFF THE ROAD AS AN ONCOMING CAR WAS JUST AHEAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, I PUT IT IN PARK, RESTARTED THE CAR, ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY AND PARKED IT. TODAY THE VEHICLE IS STILL JOLTING, SURGING AND HAS A DELAY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I AM SCARED TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE! I HAVE NO CONTROL AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS. I AM SCARED THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL, AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF TO THE SHOULDER, TURN THE WHEEL FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION OR MANEUVER A CURVE WHEN IF IT STALLS. I AM SCARED I MAY HIT A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO NO BREAKS.
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
2006 Ford Freestyle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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