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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 →

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

What owners actually said

1,300 reports
61,000 miles · Aug 4, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AT SLOW SPEED OR WHILE STOPPING. IT HAS DONE SO NUMEROUS TIMES NOW AND SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAS DONE IT AT STOP SIGNS AND WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469177

95,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ON SOME OCCASIONS WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. ON ONE OCCASION THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ON SOME OCCASIONS WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. ON ONE OCCASION THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10469091

101,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE INTAKE VALVE AS A REMEDY HOWEVER FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,306. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ODI #10469070

30,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE AND THROTTLE BODY KIT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE AND THROTTLE BODY KIT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE SAME REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. TWO YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A THIRD TIME. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468964

146,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468946

94,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468918

98,213 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES MAINLY IN REVERSE, BUT ALSO DOES IT IN DRIVE AT TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT SURGED I THOUGHT MAYBE MY FOOT HAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND DISMISSED IT. I STARTED DRIVING THIS CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2010 AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THEN, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT PREVI…

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MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE SURGES MAINLY IN REVERSE, BUT ALSO DOES IT IN DRIVE AT TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT SURGED I THOUGHT MAYBE MY FOOT HAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND DISMISSED IT. I STARTED DRIVING THIS CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2010 AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THEN, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT PREVIOUS OWNERS OR THE CAR'S HISTORY SO I ONLY KNOW HOW IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. ALSO THERE ARE 2 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT ARE ALSO WRONG WITH MY CAR. TSB 07-1-8 AND 06-11-4 I THINK THAT SINCE FORD KNOWS THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CVT TRANSMISSION THAT THEY OUGHT TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468872

100,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, DESPITE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CRASH. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER DID INFORM THE MECHANIC AT FORD AND INQUIRED ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, AS THE FAILURE HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHICH REQUIRED HIM TO HOLD THE BRAKES. UPDATED 08/28/12

NHTSA ODI #10468869

80,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
EnginePower Train

THE CAR AHEAD OF ME HAD RUN OFF THE FREEWAY DUE TO SNOW. I STOPPED TO SEE IF HE WAS OK. ONCE I STARTED UP, I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND BE UP TO SPEED FOR THE TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME. THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. ONCE IT REACHED 75MPH, I HELD DOWN FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AN…

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THE CAR AHEAD OF ME HAD RUN OFF THE FREEWAY DUE TO SNOW. I STOPPED TO SEE IF HE WAS OK. ONCE I STARTED UP, I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND BE UP TO SPEED FOR THE TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME. THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. ONCE IT REACHED 75MPH, I HELD DOWN FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED. AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE, THE CAR TOOK OFF AGAIN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I QUICKLY HIT MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO KNOCK IT LOOSE AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY GAS PEDAL AND I HAD IT REPLACED (AT MY COST). THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. AFTER THAT FIRST INCIDENT, THERE WAS ONE TIME THAT I HAD STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE AND DROVE DOWN THE STREET. ONCE I TURNED THE CORNER, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, LUNGING FORWARD BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. AT THAT TIME, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DID THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. EVEN AFTER THAT WORK, I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468520

89,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR SPEEDS UP WITH OUT ANY WARNING WHEN IN REVERSE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND ONLY SCRAPED THE FRONT BUMPER ON THE GARAGE DOOR. TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS CANNOT FIND A REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468508

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