2006 Ford Freestar Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2006 Ford Freestar has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 209,395 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 453 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEATS 13V081000 2013-03-07 196,667 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

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. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

STRUCTURE 06V069000 2006-03-09 12,728 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.

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.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN
207
2crashes2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
38
1injuries
ENGINE
31
2fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
12
SEATS
12
SERVICE BRAKES
8
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7
1fires
Total complaints453

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I purchased a 2006 ford freestyle which currently has an open safety recall for 3rd row seat latch striker corrosion repair. I took the vehicle to a ford dealership to have the recall repaired. The dealership confirmed the recall but days later informed me that the necessary parts are no longer…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2026-03-06

“I purchased a 2006 ford freestyle which currently has an open safety recall for 3rd row seat latch striker corrosion repair. I took the vehicle to a ford dealership to have the recall repaired. The dealership confirmed the recall but days later informed me that the necessary parts are no longer…”

SEATS · reported 2026-03-06

“The alternator caught on fire and burned alternator wring harness.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-02-26

“The alternator caught on fire and burned alternator wring harness.”

ENGINE · reported 2025-02-26

“My ford freestar without warning or anything just wouldn’t go after stopping at a stop sign. It was like it was stuck in neutral. But it was in drive. In 2003 and 2004 there was a recall on the transmission. My van is a 2005 but the transmission was manufactured in 2004. Which is one of the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-02-08

“My ford freestar without warning or anything just wouldn’t go after stopping at a stop sign. It was like it was stuck in neutral. But it was in drive. In 2003 and 2004 there was a recall on the transmission. My van is a 2005 but the transmission was manufactured in 2004. Which is one of the…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-02-08

“The contact owns a 2006 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost all motive power and would not shift to any gear other than park. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2023-08-16

“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…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2023-01-15

Defect investigations

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

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…

Investigation EQ12010 Opened 2012-09-28 · closed 2012-12-31

Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing

Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.

Investigation PE10033 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2011-07-15

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…

Investigation PE10033 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2011-07-15

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 Ford Freestar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.