FordFreestyle2006Overview/ford/freestyle/2006/base/

2006 Ford Freestyle

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Freestyle.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Classified as an SUV, the 2006 Ford Freestyle pairs an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios to an engine requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, resulting in EPA fuel economy ratings of 17/22/19 mpg. In terms of dependability, this model year accumulated 1300 total owner complaints with Vehicle Speed Control identified as the top complaint area alongside one recall. Positioned within the 2002-2007 model complaint history, the 2006 edition falls below the peak of 1459 complaints recorded in 2005 yet remains substantially higher than the lowest year of 2002, indicating a reliability profile that leans toward the generation's higher complaint volumes.

Model year200720062005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 36r · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 36r · 540 CCAOEM · verified
High beam bulb2OEM · verified
Tire size215-65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase112.6 in
Curb weight3825 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-90 · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.9 pints

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugPTU: 36 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub259 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess auxiliary climate control, 1.81. With auxiliary climate control, 2.38. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityLess auxiliary climate control, 7.00. With auxiliary climate control, 9.00. oz
Standard BCI Group Number36r
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca
Optional BCI Group Number36r

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-203 °F
Pressure Test18-20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-207 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)39.7
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 DOHC ohms
Engine Oil Pressure11 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle74 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.067 in / 0.417 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.043 in / 0.394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3Loosen one full turn
430 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Ford Freestyle sits near the peak of a pronounced early-generation reliability arc. Federal complaints surged from just 12 in 2004 to 1,459 in the launch year of 2005, and 2006 carried nearly that volume again at 1,300 — the second-worst year in the five-model run before falling sharply to 893 in 2007. The 2005 launch also concentrated the worst of the engineering fixes, with 2 recalls, 2 investigations, and 43 TSBs; each of those metrics declines in 2006 (1 recall, 1 investigation, 23 TSBs) and again in 2007, indicating Ford was still working through early issues. Within the target year itself, the dominant failure category is Vehicle Speed Control at 372 complaints, followed by Power Train at 241, and with 42 crash and 10 fire reports on file, these are clearly substantive defects rather than cosmetic complaints — though the underlying root cause is not specified in the data. The takeaway is concrete: the 2006 model is one of the two worst years in this generation and is best avoided, while a 2007 Freestyle — with roughly a third fewer complaints, zero recalls, and a single investigation — represents the meaningfully better buy.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
23
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,300
Owner complaints
42 involved a crash · 10 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,300 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control372
Power Train241
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control69
Unknown Or Other53
Engine & Engine Cooling51
Fuel System, Gasoline36
Power Train,Engine22
Engine & Engine Cooling,Vehicle Speed Control22

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06V383000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 05/10/2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 23 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 525672024-05-24Power TrainMotorcraft® Continuously Variable Chain-Type Transmission Fluid (XT-7-QCFT in…
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
CSP-12N032012-11-29EngineFORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. MOMENTARY ENGINE IDLE RPM SURGE MAY BE…
07102007-11-28Service Brakes, AirFORD\MERCURY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN 2005…
197222007-04-01Engine And Engine CoolingMIL WITH DTC P0106 AND/OR P0109. *KB

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Freestyle. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Freestyle take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Freestyle have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Freestyle get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.