2005 Ford Freestar problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (363) · Power Train (240) · Vehicle Speed Control (38)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Freestar model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
801 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Seats 2013-03-07 · campaign 13V081000 · 196,667 vehicles
Defect: 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 s
Risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter 2012-01-09 · campaign 12V006000 · 206,452 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
Risk: THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (44)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2016-04-21 · TSB160069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall 13s01 - corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
Seats 2016-04-21 · 16-0069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2004-2007 freestar or monterey vehicles safety recall 13s01 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the sheet metal that supports the folding 3rd row seat latch strikers could experience corrosion and may compromise the mounting point
Seats 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0166 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: safety recall regarding sheet metal support for folding 3rd row seat latch strikers can experience corrosion and will compromise mounting point causing seat to move. model 2004-07 freestar, monterey. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2007-06-25 · 071011 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
advanced traction control system - short duration activation. *kb
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections 2007-03-23 · 0712 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
power steering hose leak near cooler extreme cold climate areas only -4 degrees and cooler. *kb
Showing the 6 most recent of 44 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-07 · Power Train“when i was driving my van was loosing power even when i was pushing the gas i had to pull over before a car was about to hit me. i look it up online it had a recall in 2013 but i bought van from someone last year and i called the ford place about the recall and they said couldn’t do it mac hik in jackson…”
2025-07-17 · Seats · 317,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. the contact stated that the third-row seat attachments were rusted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 13v081000 (seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exce…”
2025-05-12 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission seized and remained in neutral. the vehicle jerked and shortly returned to normal functionality; however, the failure persisted. the contact stated that the gear shifter light was illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repai…”
2024-10-17 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. the contact stated that the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, however the engine was still on. the contact stated that the gear shifter did not fun…”
2024-06-27 · Power Train“i was driving and my transmission stopped working left me stranded…”
2024-06-18 · Power Train · 350,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. the contact stated while driving 70 mph and releasing the accelerator pedal, the contact noticed an abnormal clucking sound. the contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. the contact pulled to the side of the road. the contact stated he was able to continue drivi…”
2023-07-14 · Power Train · 180,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. the contact stated that upon selling the vehicle, she allowed another individual to test drive the vehicle; however, as the contact was driving on an incline, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the flex shaft had failed. the contact then stated that upon resear…”
2023-03-10 · Structure:body“the rear wheel well has rusted on both sides and completely rusted out a large hole (approx. 1 ft diameter area visibly effected) in the the body of the van. the rusted out section is where the back seat is anchored to the frame, so the rust has cause the seat to no longer be securely anchored to the car. the hole has also caused electrical wires t…”
2023-02-17 · Power Train“driving down highway at 60 mph lost all power basically coasted to side of road. looks like torque converter and pump shaft splines stripped out. shows there was a recall but none listed for this vin number. this is a huge safety concern and ford should have to repair. …”
2023-02-07 · Power Train“i was having issues with my car not able to really move so i had a mechanic to come to me to inspect it and he stated it was my torque converter someone on it in it near it.. that my issue.. so i was calling about the recall on it and it stated that it was already fixed in 2012 on recall. and i'm a new owner purchased in 2018.. i'm a ford girl.. so…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.