Problems · by component

2006 Ford Freestar engine problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Ford Freestar cite engine, 9% of all 356 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FREESTAR VAN ON 10-13-2020 AND 10-16-2020 CAR LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF IN AN OUTSIDE THE VAN. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME THE VAN STARTED JERKING BAD AND SMOKING. CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MY CHILDREN AN PREGNANT DAUGHTER IN LAW WERE IN THE VAN. THE AXLE BROKE AND MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING MY GEARS CHANGE BUT VAN WON'T MOVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2020Suspension, Structure, EngineODI 11364877
“MY 2006 FORD FREE STAR, LOST IT GEARS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A BUSY HWY. I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY ON TO THE HWY AND WENT TO GO INTO D AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO FIRST GEAR. I THINK THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT POOR DESIGN. ME AND MY CHILDREN COULD OF BEEN HURT OR EVEN WORSE KILLED. THE HWY IS 65 MPH AN I'M STUCK ACROSS THE TWO LANES. BECAUSE THE VAN WONT SHIFT. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AND IT NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOST POWER WELL DRIVING ON THE HWY IN THIS VAN DUE TO POOR DESIGN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11331799
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED IN REVERSE, THE RPMS INCREASED. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER FIXING THAT ISSUE. IT CAN HAPPEN ON DRIVE OR REVERSE AND WHILE I AM TURNING INTO ALONE IT WILL TURN OFF SO I HAVE TO RUSH AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND START IT SO I DON'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. *TR*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2019EngineODI 11209221
“WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT WAS LIKE THE ENGINE WOULDN'T GO. HAD TO HAD IT TOWED WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE MY TRANSMISSION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2018Unknown or other, EngineODI 11063333
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2017Power train, EngineODI 10980133
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,744.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2015EngineODI 10706639

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2006 Freestar problem areas