Problems · by component

2006 Ford Freestyle structure problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Ford Freestyle cite structure, 2% of all 1,300 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
2% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Took the vehicle in to local Ford for 120000 mile service and was informed the subframe was rusted and starting to separate. The part is no longer available and maybe they could find a used one as they have had to do in other cases. Not sure why just the front subframe is bad and no other part of the frame structure also the car has had rustproofing done on it. Reading on the internet this seems to be a common problem with these subframes.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2022StructureODI 11466341
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that she noticed that after it rained, the front passenger’s side floor would fill up with water. The contact was unsure where the leak was located. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,372.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2021StructureODI 11432476
“WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION IN AUGUST. THE CAR PASSED, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC SAID THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST WHICH COULD MAKE PASSING IN FUTURE YEARS DIFFICULT. I FINALLY HAD TIME TO BRING TO BODY SHOP. ON LIFT, MECHANIC SHOWED ME SIGNIFICANT RUST. SAID HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND WOULD BE IN THOUSANDS TO FIX. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 59,900 MILES AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AS SEEN HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/FREESTYLE/FRAME-RUST-PROBLEMS.PHP AND HERE: HTTPS://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/39926/FORD/FREESTYLE/FORD-FREESTYLE-SUBFRAME-RUST COINCIDENTALLY, I JUST RECEIVED 11-27-18 A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE FOR A "FRONT CROSS MEMBER CORROSION SAFETY RECALL 28181 ON MY 2009 MAZDA6.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2018StructureODI 11154481
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2018StructureODI 11130987
“LAST WINTER THE DOOR LATCHES FROZE AND WOULD NOT STAY SHUT. I HAD TO BUNGEE THE 2 REAR DOORS TOGETHER. SO I DID RESEARCH FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT ISSUES BACK IN 2006. THE NUMBER ON THE OLD LETTER WAS WHO I CONTACTED. THE LADY WENT ON TO SAY THEY WILL NOT COVER THE RECHECK OF ISSUE OR RE-PERFORM THE RECALL. SO I SAID SO WHAT YOUR SAYING IS SINCE YOU ARE SAYING YOU CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE AND DOORS MALFUNCTION I COULD OPEN A LAWSUIT! SHE SAID " YES "! I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE ADVISOR THERE SAID THAT THE RECALL HAS NEVER BEEN PERFORMED IN MY VEHICLE. WINTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND I WOULD MY CHILDREN TO BE SAFE IN THE BACK SEAT AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM. WHILE I WAS AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY HAD ONE KIT LEFT IN STOCK BUT NOT EXACTLY SURE ON HOW TO PERFORM IT AND WILL ATTEMPT IF NECESSARY BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE IT DONE CORRECTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2017StructureODI 11048695
“THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR SEAL IS FAULTY, LETTING WATER GET INTO THE DOOR CAUSING IT TO FREEZE AND RUST. THE ELECTRICAL FOR THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING IT TO KEEP BREAKING. THE LEVERS THAT FLIP THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEATING HAVE BECOME FAULTY AND WILL NO LONGER WORK. LASTLY, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE COMPONENT ON MY VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS DURING THE WINTER AND THE ROADS WERE ICY SO IT CAUSED ME TO HAVE LESS TRACTION AND FISH TAIL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2017Electrical system, Structure, SeatsODI 10947119

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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