2006 Ford Freestyle Body & Structure Problems

Took the vehicle in to local Ford for 120000 mile service and was informed the subframe was rusted and starting to separate. The part is no longer available and maybe they could find a used one as they have had to do in other cases. Not sure why just the front subframe is bad and no other part of the frame structure also the car has had rustproofing done on it. Reading on the internet this seems to be a common problem with these subframes.

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestyle. The contact stated that she noticed that after it rained, the front passenger’s side floor would fill up with water. The contact was unsure where the leak was located. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,372.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION IN AUGUST. THE CAR PASSED, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC SAID THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST WHICH COULD MAKE PASSING IN FUTURE YEARS DIFFICULT. I FINALLY HAD TIME TO BRING TO BODY SHOP. ON LIFT, MECHANIC SHOWED ME SIGNIFICANT RUST. SAID HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND WOULD BE IN THOUSANDS TO FIX. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 59,900 MILES AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AS SEEN HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/FREESTYLE/FRAME-RUST-PROBLEMS.PHP AND HERE: HTTPS://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/39926/FORD/FREESTYLE/FORD-FREESTYLE-SUBFRAME-RUST COINCIDENTALLY, I JUST RECEIVED 11-27-18 A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE FOR A "FRONT CROSS MEMBER CORROSION SAFETY RECALL 28181 ON MY 2009 MAZDA6.

LAST WINTER THE DOOR LATCHES FROZE AND WOULD NOT STAY SHUT. I HAD TO BUNGEE THE 2 REAR DOORS TOGETHER. SO I DID RESEARCH FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT ISSUES BACK IN 2006. THE NUMBER ON THE OLD LETTER WAS WHO I CONTACTED. THE LADY WENT ON TO SAY THEY WILL NOT COVER THE RECHECK OF ISSUE OR RE-PERFORM THE RECALL. SO I SAID SO WHAT YOUR SAYING IS SINCE YOU ARE SAYING YOU CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE AND DOORS MALFUNCTION I COULD OPEN A LAWSUIT! SHE SAID " YES "! I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE ADVISOR THERE SAID THAT THE RECALL HAS NEVER BEEN PERFORMED IN MY VEHICLE. WINTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND I WOULD MY CHILDREN TO BE SAFE IN THE BACK SEAT AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM. WHILE I WAS AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY HAD ONE KIT LEFT IN STOCK BUT NOT EXACTLY SURE ON HOW TO PERFORM IT AND WILL ATTEMPT IF NECESSARY BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE IT DONE CORRECTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

TAKATA RECALL THIRD ROW SEAT IS UNSAFELY UNHINGED BECAUSE THE BODY HAS RUSTED AWAY AND LEAVES THE SEAT UNSECURED AND A HOLE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

ANYTIME IT RAINS MY VEHICLE FILLS WITH WATER. I HAVE MOLD STARTING IN MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK BUT IT STILL LEAKS HORRIBLE BAD. THIS CAR IS MOSTLY STATIONARY. WE HAVE HAD RAIN THE LAST TWO DAYS AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY. I CHECKED IT TODAY AND IT IS FULL OF WATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND BOTH REAR DOORS FAILED TO LATCH IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH MECHANISM HAD FROZEN AND WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SHIELD PLACED OVER THE FRONT LATCHES AND LUBRICANT APPLIED TO ALL LATCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V383000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF ANGLE PARKING SPACE. AS I BACKED I BUMPED CONCRETE POLE. AS I PUT CAR IN DRIVE TO GO FORWARD THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF SPEED. I SPED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF A PARKED PICK-UP. POLICE WERE CALLED. I WAS ONLY BRUISED AND SORE. I DID SEE A DR. AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOLLOW UP. MY INSURANCE CO. TOTALED THE CAR. IT WAS VERY DAMAGED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. SOMEONE COULD OF BEEN KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT. MY DESCRIPTION DOES NOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INCIDENT. POLICE AND OTHERS COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS NOT SEVERELY HURT. IF THESES CARS ARE NOT RECALLED IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE DIES IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY .

THE PAINT ON THE ALUMINUM STARTED TO BUBBLE THREE YEARS AGO AND BEGAN FLAKING OFF LAST YEAR.

DURING VERY COLD DAYS THE DOORS WON'T LATCH SHUT, AND HAVE EVEN POPPED OPEN DURING TRAVELS... SO FAR HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR.... *TR

IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUT AND SOME OF MY PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE ONE THAT DID OPEN WOULD NOT CLOSE AGAIN. I SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE 05 FREESTYLES BUT FORD WILL NOT PERFORM THE RECALL FIX ON MY 06 FREESTYLE BECAUSE THE BUILD DATE DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL I AM REFERRING TO IS 06S45. MY CAR WAS BUILT A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THE END OF THAT SPECIFIC RECALL EVENT. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME DOOR LOCK ISSUES IN COLD CLIMATE. FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE FORCING MY FAMILY INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS WHEN IT IS COLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL MILDEW SMELL WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DETAILED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR STRIKER WAS LEAKING AND CAUSING WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE FLOORBOARD WAS DAMP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE DOOR STRIKER, THE FLOORBOARD CARPET AND THE SPARE TIRE COVER. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A THIRD TIME. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAINING LINES WERE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO FLOOD WHEN ON AN INCLINE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR DRAINAGE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL, RUST ON THE THIRD SEAT SUPPORT, MOLD COVERING TIRE COVER, MOLD ON CARPET AND A TERRIBLE MILDEW SMELL IN THE CAR. PROBLEM IS REPORTED IN FORDS TBS07-03-06 TO DEALERS WATER LEAKING FROM DRAIN TUBES INTO BACK OF CAR. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN I SAW WATER RUNNING DOWN MY SEAT BELTS AND A TERRIVEL MILDEW SMELL IN CAR. SEEMS TO ME A MOLD/MILDEW PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIVING AROUND IN A CLOSED UP VEHICLE WITH SPORES FLOATING AROUND CAN'T BE HEALTHY ESPECIALLY WITH TWO SMALL CHILREN AGES 1 AND 3. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY BREATHING IN THIS MOLD IF IT WAS IN A HOME IT WOULD BE CONCIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD. I FOUND THIS FROM A POSTING ONLINE ABOUT MOLD-ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS. HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF AIRBORNE MOLD SPORES INCLUDE ALLERGIC REACTIONS, ASTHMA EPISODES, IRRITATIONS OF THE EYE, NOSE AND THROAT, SINUS CONGESTION, AND OTHER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENTS OF HOMES WITH MOLD ARE AT AN ELEVATED RISK FOR BOTH RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND BRONCHITIS. WHEN MOLD SPORES ARE INHALED BY AN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUAL, SOME MOLD SPORES MAY BEGIN TO GROW ON LIVING TISSUE, ATTACHING TO CELLS ALONG THE RESPIRATORY TRACT AND CAUSING FURTHER PROBLEMS. GENERALLY, WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ILLNESS IS AN EPIPHENOMENON AND NOT THE PRIMARY PATHOLOGY. ALSO, MOLD MAY PRODUCE MYCOTOXINS, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER EXPOSURE TO HUMANS, POTENTIALLY CAUSING TOXICITY. FUNGAL INFECTION A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT FROM MOLD EXPOSURE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS IS SYSTEMIC FUNGAL INFECTION (SYSTEMIC MYCOSIS). IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF MOLD, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC EXPOSURE MAY BECOME INFECTED. SINUSES AND DIGESTIVE TRACT INFECTIONS ARE MOST COMMON; LUNG AND SKIN INFECTIONS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. MYCOTOXINS MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRODUCED BY THE INVADING MOLD. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE LIMITED THAT LEAKS THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ROW SEATBELT. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MOONROOF DRAIN CLIPS. I KNOW THIS PART IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND SHORTED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE/TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. I KNOW IT IS NOT THE FUSE BECAUSE THE FRONT ONE WORKS AND I KNOW IT'S NOT THE BULB BECAUSE THE BULB ONE THE PASSENGER SIDE WORKED WHEN I TRIED IT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFELY PROBLEM SINCE OTHER DRIVERS DON'T KNOW IF I AM TURNING. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR PAINT WAS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BOUGHT NEW, PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF VEHICLE DEALER FIRST FIXED A RECALL FOR DOOR LOCK THAT JAMMED DURING COLD WEATHER FREEZING CAUSING REAR DOOR LATCH NOT TO CATCH. PROBLEM OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING WINTER OF 2008 WHEN DROPPING OFF CHILD TO SCHOOL, DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AND FLEW OPEN AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, NEARLY SWINGING INTO PATH OF CHILD. PULLED CAR OFF MAIN ROAD TO TRY AND CLOSE DOOR WITH SEVERAL HARD SLAMS BUT LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH DOOR. CALLED FORD RECALL CORPORATE CENTER WHO CHECKED THEIR RECORDS AND CONFIRMED THE DEALER MARKED THE RECALL AS FIXED ALREADY. I EXPLAINED TO THE FORD RECALL DEPARTMENT THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DEALER ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, IT IS STILL OCCURRING AND WAS A VERY DANGEROUS HAZARD DURING WINTER MONTHS WHEN DOOR COULD SWING OPEN AND HIT ADJACENT CARS, PEDESTRIANS, LIGHT POLES AND TREES ALONG URBAN LOCAL ROADS WHERE SIDEWALKS AND POLES ARE TYPICALLY NEAR THE CURB. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FURTHER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY 'FIXED' UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. I LOOKED INTO WHAT THE 'FIX' WAS AND IT WAS SIMPLY HAVING THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DRILL A HOLE IN THE DOOR FRAME TO ALLOW CONDENSATION TO DRAIN INSTEAD OF FREEZING NEAR THE LATCH MECHANISM. I AM AN ENGINEER BY PROFESSION, AND IN MY REVIEW OF THIS REMEDIAL MEASURE, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE DRILL BIT SIZE BEING PROVIDED TO THE DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS FIX WAS NOT A LARGE ENOUGH DIAMETER TO ENSURE PROPER DRAINAGE AND AS A RESULT, THE CONDENSATION WOULD SIMPLY FREEZE ACROSS THE FULL DIAMETER OF THE DRILLED HOLE INTENDED FOR DRAINAGE. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS EACH YEAR AND I HEARD THAT FORD IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AGAIN FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SOME NEWER MODELS

SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR CAR THE PAINT WAS "SAND BLASTED" OFF THE FORWARD SIDE OF THE REAR FENDERS. THE DESIGN OF THE CAR ALLOWS FOR THIS TO OCCUR. IT IS AWD AND THE FRONT TIRES CONSTANTLY THROW ROCKS AT THE REAR FENDERS. THE DEALER PAINTED THE FENDERS. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PAINT WAS WORN AWAY. THE DEALER PAINTED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER APPLIED A SPECIAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE GIVEN TO THEM FROM THE FACTORY OVER THE PAINT TO PREVENT IT FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SAME THIN PIECE OF PLASTIC FILM THE MANUFACTURER PUT THERE WHEN THEY BUILT IT. IT WAS DESTROYED ORIGINALLY WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS ALONG WITH THE PAINT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE, FORDS BUY BACK PROGRAM, THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, AND BBB. I AM JUST NOW WORKING WITH THE BBB. ALL OTHER CONTACTS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING MORE FORD WOULD DO TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. WHILE SPEAKING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD: (1) FORD WOULD DO NOTHING MORE TO FIX THE ISSUE, (2) I HAVE THE OPTION WHILE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY TO TAKE IT BACK AND HAVE IT PAINTED EVERY 6 MONTHS, (3) I COULD SEARCH THE FORD WEBSITE AND FIND A PART OFF ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM, HAVE THE DEALER ORDER IT, AND TAKE IT HOME AND TRY TO MAKE IT FIT ON MY CAR TO PROTECT THE PAINT, (4) HAVING PAINT REMAIN ON THE FENDERS FOR LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS WAS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THEIR QUALITY POLICY, (5) THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN ON GRAVEL. ALL THESE RESPONSE ARE NOT ONLY UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO ABSURD. IF THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME, "SINCE YOU HAVE A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE REPAINTED EVERY 6 MONTHS" I NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT IS A POOR DESIGN, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND POOR SALES PRACTICES TO SELL VEHICLES THAT MUST BE DRIVEN ON CLEAN DRY ROADS AT ALL TIMES. *TR

2006 FORD FREESTYLE, ROLLING DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS AND TRAVELING OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR, A LOUD, LOW PRESSURE THUMPING NOISE IS PRODUCED. *NM

2006 FORD FREESTYLE. WATER LEAKING FROM MOONROOF AREA SATURATING CARPET AND SPARE TIRE GALLEY CAUSING MOLD. *TR