2006 Ford Explorer vs 2006 Ford Freestyle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2006 Ford Explorer | 2006 Ford Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 630 | 1,300 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 40 | 23 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 42 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–16 | 19–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 56,313 mi | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 296 | 484 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 28 | 602 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 164 | 144 |
| Engine | 58 | 114 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 84 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 85 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 49 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 53 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 66 | 417 |
| Stalling | 61 | 228 |
| Shifting problems | 41 | 0 |
| Overheating | 30 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 19 | 86 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 14 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 14 |
2006 Ford Explorer
2006 Ford Freestyle
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Freestyle years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.