2006 Ford Freestyle Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,300 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 104,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2006 Ford Freestyle, 1% of the 1,300 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 104,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The passenger side puddle light under the mirror was smoking. I'd had the driver side door and trunk open for just about three minutes when someone passing by brought it to my attention that the right side mirror was smoking. You could smell plastic burning and feel the heat when you touched the mirror. After a period of time it stopped smoking. The following day july 3rd it happened again. I decided not drive the car for a couple of days rather than chancing any additional damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10524032, filed 2013-07, 86,750 miles“My 2006 Ford Freestyle first started to surge a couple of years after we got it(approx 2009) I reset it (as was explained in the manual) no major issue-I thought. It surged mostly while the AC was on,when it was hot and sometimes in reverse. After awhile I made allowances for this issue. My car was taken to the mechanic periodically for maintenance w/ no other (new or major mechanical) issues over the next few years. This past summer-2012(it has continued to surge(worse than before)) it also stalled a couple of times. …”
NHTSA complaint #10487657, filed 2012-12, 50,000 miles“Summary: I was putting gas in my car, as I entered the car after fueling, I was talking to my mother for a moment, and as I was about to place the key in the ignition, there was black smoke coming from the passenger mirror. I got out and ran over, and saw flames. I ripped the black cover with the mirror off, saw that there was an electrical fire. Burning myself, I put the fire out in time to keep it from getting out of control. With the fire safely out, I saw that it was from the LED courtesy light assembly at the bottom of the passenger side mirror. It was completely melted and burned. …”
NHTSA complaint #10442565, filed 2012-01, 108,000 miles“Vehicle sitting outside with tailgate open, no key in ignition when the right side front side passenger mirror emitted white smoke also a burnt electrical smell. The puddle light underneath the outside mirror on front passenger side melted the wires and blew fuse. Front windows no longer work as a result of blown fuse”
NHTSA complaint #11217166, filed 2019-05, 106,000 miles“While the car was in are garage and after opening door the puddle light on the right side mirror started smoking and sparking. Fire department was call and checked car after disconnecting battery. Puddle light has burn area and wiring to it was burnt. Fuse did not blow , light stopped burning after wires brock . Ford dealer says to replay light you have to replace whole mirror unit aprox cost $300.”
NHTSA complaint #10510024, filed 2013-04, 140,000 milesExterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 Ford Freestyle
602 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
484 complaintsFuel system
151 complaintsEngine cooling
144 complaintsEngine
114 complaintsElectrical system
84 complaintsOther or unknown
77 complaintsBrakes
66 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsElectronic stability control
18 complaintsEquipment
15 complaintsSuspension
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Ford Freestyle
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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