2006 Ford Freestar Problems: Transmission / driveline (353 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2006 Ford Freestar is Transmission / driveline (64% of 353 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 353 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2006 Ford Freestar?

227 of 353 filings named Transmission / driveline (64% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (22 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2005 has 881 reports on file; this year has 353. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2006 Ford Freestar

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 227 complaints · 64.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 4
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
All Ford Freestar years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 227 of 353 owner complaints (64.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 227 complaints, 64.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 227 · 64.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 22 complaints, 6.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 22 · 6.2% Engine (ENGINE): 20 complaints, 5.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 fire reports 20 · 5.7% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 11 complaints, 3.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 11 · 3.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 8 complaints, 2.3% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 8 · 2.3% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 5 complaints, 1.4% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 5 · 1.4% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 1.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 · 1.4% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 5 complaints, 1.4% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 5 · 1.4% Steering (STEERING): 5 complaints, 1.4% of reports Steering (STEERING) 5 · 1.4% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 92 complaints, 26.1% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 92 · 26.1% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 227 64.3% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 22 6.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 20 5.7% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 11 3.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 8 2.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 1.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 1.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 5 1.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 5 1.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 92 26.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2005; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2006. 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2011-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2012-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2012-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2012-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2013-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2013-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2014-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2005 Jan 2026 Recall campaign 06V069000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V069000 Recall campaign 06E056000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E056000 Recall campaign 13V081000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V081000 Investigation PE10033 ● Investigation PE10033 Investigation EA12003 ● Investigation EA12003 Investigation EQ12010 ● Investigation EQ12010
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q4 Owner reports 4
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q2 Owner reports 2
2008-Q3 Owner reports 2
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 11
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 6
2010-Q4 Owner reports 7
2011-Q1 Owner reports 13
2011-Q2 Owner reports 3
2011-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q4 Owner reports 7
2012-Q1 Owner reports 23
2012-Q2 Owner reports 13
2012-Q3 Owner reports 9
2012-Q4 Owner reports 17
2013-Q1 Owner reports 15
2013-Q2 Owner reports 15
2013-Q3 Owner reports 19
2013-Q4 Owner reports 8
2014-Q1 Owner reports 8
2014-Q2 Owner reports 14
2014-Q3 Owner reports 9
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 14
2015-Q2 Owner reports 6
2015-Q3 Owner reports 7
2015-Q4 Owner reports 7
2016-Q1 Owner reports 8
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 6
2016-Q4 Owner reports 11
2017-Q1 Owner reports 4
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 4
2017-Q4 Owner reports 5
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 5
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 4
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 06V069000
Recall campaign 1 06E056000
Recall campaign 1 13V081000
Defect investigation 1 PE10033
Defect investigation 1 EA12003
Defect investigation 1 EQ12010
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame.

  1. Recall campaign 06E056000

    Safety recall 06E056000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06V069000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 13V081000

    Safety recall 13V081000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 353 complaints · page 1 of 15
2026-03-17Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11724996
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 repair. This creates a serious safety concern because the recall involves corrosion of the 3rd row seat latch striker, which can affect proper seat latching and passenger safety in the event of a crash. I attempted to escalate this issue by contacting Ford corporate customer support. However, I have not received any resolution. I have been given the runaround between Ford corporate and the dealership. The dealership referred me to Ford customer support, and Ford customer support continues to refer me back to the dealership without providing any solution. I also have written communication from the dealership service department stating that their Special Service Support Center would not be able to assist and advising me to contact Ford customer support. Despite following these instructions, no assistance or remedy has been provided. As a result, the safety recall remains unresolved, and I am unable to complete required vehicle inspection/registration. I am left with a vehicle that has a known safety defect with no available repair and no clear resolution from the manufacturer. I am requesting immediate assistance and a definitive resolution to this safety issue.
2025-02-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11645204
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The alternator caught on fire and burned alternator wring harness.
2025-02-18Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11643484
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2024-02-09Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11571123
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 van not one of the ones under that recall. Is it cause it’s a 2005 cause the transmission was manufactured in 2004. I almost got hit by semi truck when this happen. Please recall this van. Please help!!! [XXX] Bless you all. Thanks, [XXX] Family INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-10-12Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11549645
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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, the contact related it to a possible recall but was unable to provide details. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.
2023-10-10Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11549260
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 137,000.
2022-10-01Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11487389
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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..
2022-08-18Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11480057
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 with the VIN. The contact referenced the NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V006000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2006 Ford Freestar?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 227 of 353 reports (64%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Ford Freestar?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2006 Ford Freestar?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources