Most common 2006 Ford Freestar problems
Share of the 356 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Freestar complaints by model year
Best Freestar years: 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2006 Ford Freestar recalls (2)
Seats
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,…
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.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
On certain vans equipped with the power liftgate option, the power liftgate motor automatically disengages after the liftgate is powered open.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2006 Ford Freestar:
Engine Stalling
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…
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
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,…
What 2006 Ford Freestar owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 254 →
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.
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.
Electrical system all 40 →
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.
Before it broke down completely the van was driving funny, like if it didn't have enough strength especially when I was driving hill but one night I was driving the van and suddenly just shut off in the middle off the highway. Thanks god I didn't have many cars behind me and I manage to avoid getting hit by holding my phone out the window so to be seen until I was able to "drive" to a section of road with street lights. The next day I had it towed to my mechanic because it would not start anymore. The mechanic told me there was a lot of complaints for this problem.so I don't know what are they waiting for to make this an official recall. I feel very lucky my children and wife were not in the vehicle during these past incidences. I would like a response from you on this recall matter a.s.a.p. Thank you.
Engine & cooling all 39 →
Sudden loss of power to wheels @ 114,000 miles; Ford dealer: "you need to purchase a rebuilt transmission" this is the torque converter as known to NHTSA; demanded Ford refund, refused. Second Ford remanufactured transmission warranty not being honored with failure @ 93,000. Ford dealer: "replaced fuse, torque converter shudder; your van has over 200,000 miles on it!!" significant transmission vibration with steering shudder, re-diagnosed January 10, 2014; continuation of 93,000 failure and claimed repair. PCM failed at aprox. 85,000 miles; power steering leaks year after purchase @ 53,000 original miles. Ford dealer refuses repair/refund. All documents in possession.
While driving down the highway with my five children in the car the carson we lost power and I had to say try my best to safely coast to the side of the road and was not able to get completely out of the way before the car stopped and wouldn't move. We have to get out of the car walk through a field a9 year old 10 year old 6 year old two year old and an 8 month old. There are recalls on all other urs except this one even though they have the same engine and failing parts. Torque converter!!! My kids were afraid and didn't know what would happen to us. It will cost us money we don't have to fix this car, with the faulty part. We should be included in the recall.
2006 Ford Freestar engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Ford Freestar a good car?
Based on 356 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Freestar rates better than average: 64% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Freestar at the same age. It is one of the best Freestar years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Ford Freestar?
The transmission & drivetrain — 254 complaints, 71% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (40) and engine & cooling (39).
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Freestar have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Ford Freestar, the most recent from March 7, 2013 (seats). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Freestar?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004 and 2005. See the full Ford Freestar years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Freestar problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 95,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.