KnownCarProblems2006 Ford Freestar Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 356 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Ford Freestar, most often about the transmission (71% of complaints, typically around 95,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Freestar model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2006 Ford Freestar problems
Transmission
254 complaints · 71%Half of these problems showed up before 95,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
The spines in the transmission torque converter fail because they were not hardened . When this happens the vehicle stops and can not move. This is very dangerous , and at some point ( if it hasn't already) will cause an accident, and possible death.
I had just gotten of the interstate when my 2006 Ford Freestar would not drive. I coasted in a parking lot. This is a very busy street. The would not drive without any warning or any lights on the dash. The check engine light is still not on. I called a mechanic and he said that they just fix a van like mine and it…
Electrical
40 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 92,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, instrument panel.
While driving in heavy traffic during a snow storm with my 9 year old daughter on the freeway my 2006 Ford Freestar started jerking and trying to stall out when trying to get off the freeway to safety speedometer was showing I was driving 120 at a stop light. The RPM's were at a 3 while sitting still. If the van had…
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, it appeared that the audio system had been reset. The contact also stated that the reverse indicators failed and the passenger side air bag light illuminated. The contact also mentioned that after opening the lift gate, the…
Engine
39 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
I was driving down the road in the rain and the engine light came on. Then the vehicle started to sputter and acted like it was going to stall out. It felt like I was going to lose power but I was able to make it home. Then the next day the sun was out and the car seemed to run fine. This happened to me several more…
I was driving my 2006 Ford Freestar in my neighbor hood with my kids with me. All of a sudden the car shook and I lost all power in my vehicle. The engine just revved like I was in neutral. I pulled over in a parking lot. None of the gears on van were working. I was very fortunate that I was not on highway and not…
Speed control
19 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Some times while backing up the car would lurch. While driving the car would suddenly accelerate while cruise control was engaged oreven just by it self. Sometimes the car was having problems accelerating from a stop.
My family had stopped to let pedestrians cross and when my husband pushed the gas pedal down to accelerate but it did not in gauge the drive. The van acted as if it was in neutral. The only gear that worked was reverse. I looked on-line to find that the Freestar '04 and '05 where both recalled for the same problem.…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
Vechicle just stopped. Got it going again after turning off and restarting. Code showed it needed to be "reflashed." cost 110 at dealership and no improvement. Code showed ignition coil. Replaced and no improvement. Finally replaced PCM april 2011. Also experience intermitent electrical problems (radio, clock reset)…
Bought the 2006 Ford Freestar on 9/14/11. 5 minutes after the purchase, I came to a light and the car lost all power. Turned right around and went back to the dealership and assumed it was from sitting in the lot through a massive snow storm. In the 18 weeks that I have had the vehicle, it has been brought back to the…
Seats
12 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 143,000 miles.
The entire unit that locks the 3rd row seat came loose from the wheel well due to corrosion. I looked up the recall information, and there is a recall for my van make and model year, but due to the fact that I bought this van new in northern kentucky, and have lived in northern kentucky ever since, Ford has decided…
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that the third-row seat latched wheel well corroded. The contact stated that there was rain water entering the vehicle through the rear wheel well by the passenger's side roller of the sliding door. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles.
The van has been hard to start just recently past month it takes 4 turns of key to start , van dies while driving, battery has died . Took to Ford dealership and they cant find anything wrong at all . They had me replace , fuel pump / spark plugs and wires / fuel filter/ ignition coil / tps sensor / air intake idle…
Transmission fails without warning, causing loss of power and control of vehicle. Driving at 70 MPH in traffic on interstate, engine revved to 5000 RPM's and we had to coast through traffic to the shoulder and coast to a stop. Transmission would not engage in any gear. Had to be towed. Lucky to get to the shoulder…
Brakes
10 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it…
Some times while backing up the car would lurch. While driving the car would suddenly accelerate while cruise control was engaged oreven just by it self. Sometimes the car was having problems accelerating from a stop.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Ford Freestar recalls
Seats
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.
Full defect summary
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 seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
Body and structure: hatchback/liftgate
Risk: In the event of a liftgate strut malfunction, the liftgate can fall freely with no prior warning. Anyone standing beneath the liftgate may be injured if the liftgate falls.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the power liftgate module to reduce the likelihood that the liftgate could fall free of charge. The recall began on march 15, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain vans equipped with the power liftgate option, the power liftgate motor automatically disengages after the liftgate is powered open.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Stabilus rear liftgate struts failing
Summary
Please see the attached closing resume summary.it has been attached to this document as a pdf.
Corrosion of third-row seat attachment
Summary
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (my) 2004 through 2007 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13v-081 for more details).the recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the united states: connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin.approximately 100,000 remaining my 2004-2007 freestar and monterey vehicles--those ve
Engine stalling
Summary
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the powertrain control module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.in addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into ei
Questions about the 2006 Ford Freestar
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Freestar?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (254 complaints, typically around 95,500 miles); electrical (40 complaints, typically around 92,500 miles); engine (39 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Freestar have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 7, 2013 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Ford Freestar?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Freestar model year since 2000, with 356 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.