2006 Ford Freestar problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (185) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (35) · Vehicle Speed Control (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Freestar model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
325 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Seats 2013-03-07 · campaign 13V081000 · 196,667 vehicles
Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable s
Risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (15)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2016-04-21 · TSB160069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall 13s01 - corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
Seats 2016-04-21 · 16-0069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2004-2007 freestar or monterey vehicles safety recall 13s01 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the sheet metal that supports the folding 3rd row seat latch strikers could experience corrosion and may compromise the mounting point
Seats 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0166 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: safety recall regarding sheet metal support for folding 3rd row seat latch strikers can experience corrosion and will compromise mounting point causing seat to move. model 2004-07 freestar, monterey. *pe
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2007-11-08 · 07141 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
damaged spark plug electrode/mil dtc p030x, rough idle, engine knock/ping on acceleration. *nj
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2007-06-25 · 071011 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
advanced traction control system - short duration activation. *kb
Showing the 6 most recent of 15 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-17 · Seats“i purchased a 2006 ford freestyle which currently has an open safety recall for 3rd row seat latch striker corrosion repair. i took the vehicle to a ford dealership to have the recall repaired. the dealership confirmed the recall but days later informed me that the necessary parts are no longer available and that they are unable to complete the rep…”
2025-02-27 · Engine · 🔥 fire“the alternator caught on fire and burned alternator wring harness.…”
2025-02-18 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the speedometer failed to function as intended. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 100,000.…”
2024-02-09 · Unknown Or Other“my ford freestar without warning or anything just wouldn’t go after stopping at a stop sign. it was like it was stuck in neutral. but it was in drive. in 2003 and 2004 there was a recall on the transmission. my van is a 2005 but the transmission was manufactured in 2004. which is one of the years that was recalled so why is my 2005 ford freestar va…”
2023-10-12 · Power Train · 85,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost all motive power and would not shift to any gear other than park. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. the vehicle was not repaired. after investigating the failure…”
2023-10-10 · Power Train · 137,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost significant motive power before briefly hesitating and jerking. after restarting the vehicle, it returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. the check engine warning light was illuminate…”
2022-10-01 · Power Train“was driving on populated road when all of a sudden car when in to neutral and almost rear-ended if not for quick thinking. had to have it towed and now don't have any money to fix it so i lost my job cause could not get to work please have this problem recalled like the earlier years..…”
2022-08-18 · Power Train · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. the contact stated that while his wife was driving on the freeway, the rpm’s increased however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. the contact’s wife was able to pull over. the vehicle was towed to the residence. the dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated…”
2021-10-01 · Fuel/Propulsion System“during rush hour i was pulling out of a walgreens parking lot to take a left hand turn. as soon as i gave it gas it went forward about 7 feet and then it seemed as though my van went into neutral on its own. i looked on the dash and saw it was still in drive. i was stuck in the middle of traffic in the middle of my left turn. my car was sidewa…”
2021-08-21 · Power Train“driving down the road vehicle experiences total loss of acceleration it’s like it’s in neutral in every won’t go forward or backwards towed home looked up problem seems that it’s the same as recall for 04-05 models torch converter had i been on highway in st. louis mo could have been killed as they aren’t known for being the safest drivers it’s my …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.