Showing the 2006 Freestar SEL. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
17–18 mpgcombined; city 15–16, highway 21–22; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$18,050–$19,110U.S. average; Ohio $16,120–$17,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 Freestar. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 356 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Freestar. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
254
2
2
1
Electrical system
40
0
1
0
Engine
31
0
2
0
Vehicle speed control
19
1
0
0
Unknown or other
13
0
0
0
Seats
12
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
8
0
1
0
Service brakes
8
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
7
0
0
0
Seat belts
6
0
0
0
Air bags
5
1
0
0
Steering
5
0
0
0
14 more parts
Structure
5
0
0
0
Visibility
5
0
0
0
Equipment
4
0
0
0
Suspension
4
0
0
0
Traction control system
4
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
3
0
0
0
Tires
3
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, diesel
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2006 Freestar over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
Risk: 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.
ON CERTAIN MINI VAN CONVERSIONS, THE BRAKE LINES MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED INCORRECTLY. THE BRAKE LINES CAN MAKE CONTACT AND CHAFE ON THE STABILIZER BAR.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE LINES COULD WEAR THROUGH CAUSING PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THE ROUTING IS CORRECT. IF NO CHAFING IS FOUND, THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 15, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VMI AT 1-800-348-8267.
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 15 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Freestar, the latest on Sep 21, 2016. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: engine and engine cooling (3), seats (3), electrical system (2), equipment (2), steering (2).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Freestar.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data