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Ford Freestyle fire or smoke problems

11 of the 3,665 owner complaints about the Ford Freestyle describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2006 model year.

owner complaints
11
worst model year
2006
typical mileage
85,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 20, 2018 · 63,099 miles · NJ · fire

We used the remote to unlock the door and the driver side mirror immediately caught on fire. Engine was not started and door was never opened. We blew the fire out. Does not appear to have harmed any other electrical parts except the mirror. Very strange. Odometer reading is only 63099 original miles.

Filed Apr 13, 2015 · Electrical · 128,900 miles · MA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford freestyle. While the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered smoke coming from the passenger side mirror without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who removed the fuse on the passenger side mirror. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,900.

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 85,000 miles · FL · fire

After driving home, approximately 10 miles and speeds up to 50mph, I noticed smoke coming from the passenger side mirror. The smoke lasted a few minutes and then stopped on its own. Not sure if this information is pertinent or not, but it had been raining and the dvd player was playing during the trip.

Filed May 4, 2014 · Electrical · 111,000 miles · MN · fire

I unlocked my car to load the back. I noticed smoke coming from the passenger side mirror. There was a small fire which I put out with water. Now my radio and power windows will not work and the fuse blows when we tried to replace (2x). I have not yet taken it in since it is the weekend, but I am not happy about a random fire that may have burned the entire vehicle if not noticed.

Filed Jan 20, 2014 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · KY · fire

We went out to the garage to get in the car to leave. I opened the back of the car to put a bag in. My daughter went to the passenger side to get in and the mirror was smoking. We went to get a fire extinguisher but it burned out on its own. There was smoke and flames coming from behind the mirror glass. I unplugged the mirror to keep it from burning again. Now my windows don't work.

Filed Aug 7, 2013 · Transmission · 76,293 miles · AZ

In ca for funeral, check engine (wrench) light came on. We brought the car to ken grody ford in buena park. They at first said transmission could be fixed, but during next diagnostics, the transmission froze. Rebuilt trans ordered from ford. Car left there, we rented one and came home. Our daughter drove the car home on 7/3/13, got 300 miles in to trip, transmission locked up, no power. Towed to berge ford in mesa, az where we live. A second transmission put in. Several incidents of leakage, then picked car up on 8/1/13, got one mile on freeway, smoke coming out of back end. Very dangerous situation now twice for this transmission. It is now 8/6/13, car still not fixed.

Filed Apr 12, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

2007 ford freestyle. Consumer states vehicle had a burning smell and stopped running while driving *tgw the consumer stated the catalytic converter was replaced. A few days later, the burning smell returned and the vehicle stopped running. The dealer replaced the catalytic converter again. The consumer stated the catalytic converter was replaced three times. Also, the manifold, gasket and seals had to be replaced because they melted due to heat. Three months later. The oil light illuminated. The service mechanic informed the consumer there was no oil in the engine and he was unable to see any type of leak. The consumer was informed the entire exhaust system needed to be replaced as well as the ignition coil and fans, because the vehicle would probably overheat.

Filed Jan 5, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 108,000 miles · KS · fire · 1 injury

Summary: I was putting gas in my car, as I entered the car after fueling, I was talking to my mother for a moment, and as I was about to place the key in the ignition, there was black smoke coming from the passenger mirror. I got out and ran over, and saw flames. I ripped the black cover with the mirror off, saw that there was an electrical fire. Burning myself, I put the fire out in time to keep it from getting out of control. With the fire safely out, I saw that it was from the LED courtesy light assembly at the bottom of the passenger side mirror. It was completely melted and burned. I removed the part, (as well as the one from the driver side for safe measure), and took them to my local ford dealership so they could report it as a faulty part. The part is the wagner part 71077. According to the driver side (I could not read the passenger side to see if it has the same part number, or if it is different for right and left.) the wire assembly, was burned near the base of the wires where they enter the assembly. Had I not been there to put out the fire, my car would have burnt to the ground!!! My hand is recovering at this time. *tr updated 09/19/13*lj the consumer sold the vehicle, a year ago. Updated 09/24/13

Filed Mar 20, 2009 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · MI · fire

At the beginning of february, my kids wanted to watch a dvd in the car while I was cleaning the driveway. I put the keys in the ignition (I did not start the engine) for the dvd to work, put on the dvd and start cleaning the driveway. Few minutes later I have seen a big smoke coming from the outside passenger side mirror. I have checked the mirror and it was in flames. I took the kids out of the car, took the keys out of ignition, remove the back cover of the mirror and put out the fire which was coming from a bundle of wires inside the mirror assembly.

Filed Feb 24, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 20,123 miles · WA

Excessive brake dust. Was informed that rear brakes were down to metal. Rotors were so worn they could not be turned.replaced rear brakes and rotors.took car in for routine check and mentioned that the rear bar that the 3rd row of seats holds onto was rusting. Asked if they could check for leaks and if other people were complaining. They found no leaks and said I must have gotten the car excessively wet on the inside (no!). I also complained about a sour moldy smell coming from the air conditioner...again no solution.had to replace tires becuase they wor out 'prematurely'. Was told it was my driving. Dealership would not do anything under warranty or offer help. Tires had abnormal wear on the inside(toeing?) then I was getting very poor gas mileage and needed a routine check and oil change again. I took it in and was informed I had no rear brakes left. The rear calipers were failing to release. Once again brake assembly was replaced. Took car in for and engine noise/whine 3 different times and had a tech ride with me. Each time they heard nothing and did nothing. Took car in for a loud noise coming from rear wheel along with a burning smell. Tech rode with me and did not hear any noise from tire but did comment about the engine noise/whine. I was finally relieved that he heard it and I told him no other tech has seemed to hear it. Car was looked at and found that rear driver tire bearings were shot and wheel was loose(very dangerous they said) they had to order parts. When I asked what they found out about the engine whine that the tech also heard, I was told there was no mention of it but they would look into it before I came to pick up my car. Next I got a phone call saying the shop foreman didn't hear the noise, so there was nothing they could do.now for the last two days my car has started really rough and then died. Yesterday it surged forward and the wrench light turned on. I took it in and now they say the code says there is a transmission failure!? 45,000.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Ford Freestyle fire or smoke

Which Ford Freestyle years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2006 (9 complaints) and 2007 (2 complaints).

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