Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Ford Freestyle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 130 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 130, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF SURGING FORWARD WHEN IDLING OR COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER CLEANED AND REPROGRAMMED THE THROTTLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 09/07/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 18 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/15/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH,, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD AND THE CONTACT QUICKLY SHIFTED TO PARK, STOPPING THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,953. UPDATED 7/20/12 *CN THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/30/12
VEHICLE SURGES WHEN IDLING OR GOING SLOW. ACCELERATES AT TIMES LIKE PARKING OR MOVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS OR WHEN STOPPED AT STOPLIGHTS. *KB
I FIRST NOTICED OUR 2006 FORD FREESTYLE STARTED LUNGING FORWARD WHEN I WOULD BE IN LINE AT THE DRIVE UP WINDOW AT A RESTAURANT OR THE BANK, NUMEROUS TIMES, ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ALSO, WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER THE GARAGE OR A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO CHARGED $125.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TO TELL ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. THEIR ESTIMATE WAS ALMOST $800. I HAD MY OWN MECHANIC FIX IT FOR AROUND $600 AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE. I AM HOPING YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT LUNGING FORWARD AND HITTING SOMEONE. *KB
VEHICLE SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON. *KB
UPON STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING IT IN EITHER REVERSE OR FORWARD, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND EITHER LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL. THIS WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON. ON STARTING THE CAR, I HAD TO PLACE MY FOOT WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ENSURE THAT THE CAR DID NOT LUNGE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THEY COULD BE HURT IF THE CAR STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS STRUCK. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE PART. IT WAS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THIS PART. I AM URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE THROTTLE BODY. *KB
ON 9/12/11 MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES. DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND MY WRENCH AND EMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, AND THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS WHINING AS ANY TURNS WERE MADE. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT WHILE NOT UNCOMMON, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED AT 160,000 MILES AS THE COST OF REPAIRS ARE GREATER THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. *KB
WHEN THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AND I PUT IT IN GEAR EITHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD THE CAR LUNGES. IT ALSO HAPPENS AT STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS. IF THE CAR IS STOPPED AND I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, IT LUNGES. IT WILL STOP IF I HIT THE BRAKE. *KB
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LURCHES AND SURGES. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR MY FREESTYLE WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY AND WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SURGE POWER. WHILE SITTING AND IN GEAR POWER SURGES AND LURCHES FORWARD FORCING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING FORWARD. WHILE CRUISING POWER WILL SURGE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. *KB
WE HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE AND ARE EXPERIENCING A LUNGING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING IDLE. IT HAPPENS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ALERT AND APPLIED THE BREAKS BEFORE RUNNING IN TO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. ONE OTHER THING, WE ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *KB
2006 FORD FREESTYLE HAD LURCHING AND TRANSMISSION WANTING TO NOT ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING DOWN OPEN HIGHWAY. *TR
I EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I WASN'T PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR EITHER MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS IS EVIDENT IN BOTH BUT WORSE IN REVERSE. WHEN STOPPING AT THE LIGHT AND GEAR IS IN "D", AFTER A FULL STOP, THE ENGINE INCREASES THE RPMS. WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKES TO START MOVING AGAIN, THE CAR ABRUPTLY MOVES WITHOUT PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. IN REVERSE, WITH BRAKES LIGHTLY APPLIED, THE ENGINE INCREASES THE RPMS MORE DRAMATICALLY THAN IN FORWARD. IT IS EVEN WORSE IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IN MY CASE, TO THE LEFT. YOU HAVE TO APPLY FIRMLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING WITHOUT CONTROL BUT THE RPMS STILL RUNNING HIGH. ONE OF THE TIMES, EVEN WHEN APPLYING FIRMLY THE BRAKES, THE CAR STILL MOVED UP TO THE POINT THAT IT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE PARK THE CAR INSIDE OUR GARAGE AND IT BECAME UNSAFE TO PULL IN AND OUT AS SPACE IS TIGHT AND YOU COULD HIT THE WALLS OR MY OTHER CAR OR THE KIDS. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AND HOW SEVERE THE SUDDEN INCREASE IN SPEED WILL BE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY THAT FAILED AND CHANGED IT. I HAVE A 2006 FREESTYLE SE. *KB
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE AND I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE MOST PREVALENT AND FRUSTRATING ISSUES ARE ONES I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT. THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD OR BACKWARD (HAPPENS MORE WHEN A/C HAS BEEN ON), HIGH RPMS WITH PEDAL TO FLOOR AND THE CAR GOING NOWHERE (WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON). THE FIRST TIME THE RPM ISSUE HAPPENED I WAS ON MY WAY UP TO LANCASTER, CA DRIVING UP A VERY STEEP HILL. I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD SON WITH ME AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY GO. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND MADE IT TO A PARK-AND-RIDE. AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR AWHILE AND STARTED IT AGAIN IT WAS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN; THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST MONTH (JULY 2011). ALSO, MOSTLY WHEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAVING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR WILL REV AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND NOT GO DOWN UNLESS I PULL OVER/GET OFF FREEWAY AND TRY THE ACCELERATION A LITTLE SLOWER. IF THE RPMS STAY HIGH IT SOMETIMES CAUSES THE WRENCH LIGHT TO COME ON AND PROBLEM WITH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND CAR GOING NOWHERE COMES INTO PLAY. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ANY WORK DONE ON THE CAR TO TRY TO ALEVE THE PROBLEMS DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND I JUST HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS HURT. *KB
2006 FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES WHEN REVERSING OR GOING FORWARD WHEN THE AC IS ON. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOSE OF POWER WHILE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITH TIME BECAME CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OPEN 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 65,000.
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SURGING FORWARD AND ALSO SURGING IN REVERSE AT AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK AND FROM REVERSE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THESE SURGES WITH THE BRAKE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THERE IS ONLY 34000 MILES (2006 FORD FREESTYLE) AND HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET , AS I HAVE PARKED IT AT HOME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE SEEN THAT A NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PE11018 IS PENDING. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS ALSO AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH THIS. *TR
THE CAR DEVELOPED A WHINE AT 52K MI WITH NO APPARENT VIBRATION OR PERFORMANCE ISSUES. DURING THE 60K SERVICE (PERFORMED AT 57K), THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE WHINE AS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND WANTED PERMISSION TO OPEN THE CASE TO INVESTIGATE AND POSSIBLY PERFORM AN INPUT SHAFT BEARING REPLACEMENT. WHILE WAITING FOR PARTS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP UNABLE TO MOVE BUT COULD NOT FULLY GET OFF THE ROAD DUE TO ARMCO ON THE SHOULDER. LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS CALLED TO WARN APPROACHING MOTORISTS AND PREVENT A COLLISION UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD ARRIVE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FOR $6300 MINUS A CONTRIBUTION FROM FORD AND THE DEALER SUPPLYING PARTS AND LABOR AT COST. REPAIRS WERE AUTHORIZED AND THE FINAL BILL WAS $3000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
FORD FREESTYLE LUNGES WITH FOOT ON BRAKE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE...VERY DANGEROUS COULD EASILY LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LATELY HAS BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH HIGH RPMS AT A STOP WHILE IN DRIVE. WITH THE HIGH RPMS IT SOMETIMES WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME A WRENCH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. ONCE THE INDICATOR WRENCH LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE IT WILL ONLY ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH AND THE RPM GO TO ABOUT 3500. I KNOW IT IS A CVT BUT THE DESCRIPTION IS AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. TODAY AS I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON BRAKE. IT WOULD THEN STALL EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED TO KORNER FORD 805 W. GENESEE ST, SYRACUSE NY. 13204. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FINAL VERDICT WILL BE BUT HAVING READ SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON-LINE, IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO OTHER FREESTYLE OWNERS.
2006 FORD FREESTYLE "LURCHES" AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN SITTING STILL; INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD GEARS; ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOTTEST OUT. EXAMPLE: SITTING IN LINE TO PICK UP OUR CHILDREN (CARPOOL LANE) AT THE SCHOOL; VEHICLE IN PARK. ONCE YOU MOVE THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE WILL REV (RUN HIGHER) AND THE VEHICLE WILL TRY TO MOVE, THERBY CAUSING IT TO 'LURCH' OR JUMP FOWARD. IT IS NOT A CONSISTENT THING, HOWEVER IT DOES SEEM TO HAPPEN THE MOST WHEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE HOT. ALSO HAPPENS WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. OFTEN, IT WILL CAUSE THE 'WRENCH' ICON ON THE DASHBOARD TO TURN ON. PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK THEN TURNING IT OFF; AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEEMS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, TEMPORARILY. HOWEVER, IT DOES HAAPPEN 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK. *TT
TRYING TO PARK MY CAR IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAITED A MINUTE, TURNED OFF THE RADIO, A/C, ETC AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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