Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford Freestar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I have my 2 grandchildren who have muscular dystrophy. I bought this van to get them to doctors appointments, etc with wheel chair. I was driving the vehicle home and stopped at the light. As soon as the light turned green I proceeded though the intersection and the vehicle just stopped. The vehicle just would not move. I had children in this van and was almost hit because of the transmission in this vehicle. Why would Ford not step up and do a recall on these vehicles. When will someone take notice that this could have easily caused a accident, hurting innocent children. These vans are mostly used as a family van. Does someone have to get hurt for someone to do something? The van is not fixed yet and I am still making payments. I can not afford to fix it.
Where to start.... Every time its raining my van starts to putt and stall out I have almost had 3 accidents due to my van stalling on a main road trying to get home...issue #2. I use my key pad to unlock my vehicle on nights that im working and lately it will unlock then re lock n unlock over and over with out being touched. I was driving down a road and it would unlock and lock.. Its not safe if its unlocking its self and my 2 year old reachs he could open the door while driving... Issue #3.. My van says I have 1/2 a tank of gas yet my digital gas reader continues to say 0 miles..
My radio goes off by itself, and all light flicker even when driving of a night. It is now making a sound like tight belts...but does not appear to have any ready to break. Ford you really messed up on this one! I no longer like having a Ford car! I have had 3 different alternators on the car and it has not helped!
I am experiencing problems with my 2006 Ford Freestar when it becomes wet. If I go through a car wash or drive in inclement weather the engine light starts flashing and the engine power starts becoming erratic, bucking and hesitating. When this first started happening I would have to let the van sit for a few hours and then it would run fine. The last few times it has happened it is taking days for the motor to get back to normal. I have had it at a shop, they gave it a tune up. The problem recurred and took it to a Ford certified dealership and they ran diagnostics, charged me $100 and told me I needed a tune up which I just had done. Took it back to the shop that did the tune up and they replaced the EGR valves to the tune of $700. Ran the car through the car wash and problem recurs, they have now removed the PCM module looking for moisture which they did not find, another $100. …
The first failure was when I was driving down the road doing just over 55 MPH, all of a sudden the van died an I coasted to the side of the road. After several failed attempts to restart the van it finally started and stayed running. I eventually made it home without incident. Had it checked and was told it possibly had an electrical failure but change the fuel filter in case it was an issue with fuel getting to the engine. So we did. It ran fine after that until about 3 months later. We took it to run errands with no problem and returned home. Went to run to the grocery store and the van would not go into gear. It would start OK but not move, wouldn't go into drive or reverse. Thankfully it was at home when it happened and not going down the road like the first time when I had all 3 kids with me. Had it towed to a garage where they found metal shavings in the torque converter. …
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 times over the next few months. I started to notice a pattern of it only happening when it was raining outside. Otherwise, the vehicle ran fine in good weather. I realized water was getting into the engine somehow. Our mechanic thought it was a problem with the spark plugs at first. Then it kept happening so we had it in the shop again. Water was found to be leaking into the powertrain control module. I started to research the problem on the internet and found several customers complaining about the same problem with their vehicles. …
Have owned this 2006 Freestar since new. Several electrical issues. Stereo system - intermittent problems with the presets resetting and the clock setting back to 12:00. Also the volume fluctuating up and down on its own when using the rear controls. The stereo has been replaced twice. Still having the problem. Rear driver side turn signal lamp - has burned out and been replaced 7 times. Outside temperature probe - is not reading properly. Starter - have intermittent problems starting the vehicle. Have not received any resolution from several dealers. The PCM was not found to be wet or damaged. Are concerned that the vehicle has major wiring issues and is a possible fire hazard. Also, the rear ac blower squeals intermittently and has been replaced twice as well. Still doing it. There is a muffled thump sound coming from the air cleaner box area. …
Every time it rained, my engine would shudder, shake, sometimes knock, the transmission would shift for no good reason, and I stalled out in traffic once. The vehicle became non-drivable when it rained (and only when it rained). I took the vehicle to my Ford dealer (schults Ford of harmarville, pa), where technician pat sand indicated that this is a known problem with Ford freestars, and said a Ford service bulletin indicates that because of a manufacturing problem (incorrect sealer application to the PCM and poor position of PCM in relation to windshield run-off) water leakage into the program control module causes it to issue random commands and errors. They followed the Ford bulletin and by simply better sealing against moisture / blocking the water flow, resolved the problem. This is a safety issue and a known manufacturing defect.
Electrical complaints in other Freestar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Ford Freestar?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Ford Freestar, 11% of the model year's 356 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford Freestar electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2006 Ford Freestar, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Freestar electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.