2006 Ford Freestar Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 9%of 356 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,060miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the engine of the 2006 Ford Freestar, 9% of the 356 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,060 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When I was driving a hill down, suddenly the engine and all electronic equipment stopped, warning lamp engine and battery flashes, steering wheel and brakes did not work correctly. I need about 1 mile to stop the car. After that the car could not be reactivated/started again. - cause for incident (Ford service): the motor control unit was filled with water after a rain.”
NHTSA complaint #10556300, filed 2013-12, 81,417 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11063333, filed 2018-01, 30 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11331799, filed 2020-06, 160,000 miles“I was traveling down the highway when my transmission completely quit working and my RPM's shot up to 5000. I coasted to the side of the road and the transmission would not engage. I had it towed to a local shop where I was referred to cottman transmission to get it evaluated. Cottman transmission said the transmission was full of water and completely burned up. They said that these vans have a problem with water leaking through the wiper vents onto the top of the PCM and water entering into the transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10490912, filed 2013-01, 109,121 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10605475, filed 2014-06, 100,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 Ford Freestar
254 complaintsElectrical system
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsSeats
12 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Ford Freestar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology