2005 Ford Freestar

Family: Freestar · filed with NHTSA as FREESTAR

Summary

Of the 880 complaints that name a component, 77% concern Powertrain (677).
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Not enough history to compare this year with the rest of its generation.
4 recalls filed for this model year.
6 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 886
Recalls: 4
Investigations: 6
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 18
Annual fuel cost: $3,450
Median mileage at complaint: 82,000 mi (n = 804)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 8 / 2 / 18 / 0

What owners report

Powertrain

677 complaints · 77% of complaints that name a component · median 81,220 mi (n = 620)

Owner report 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

Owner report 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 vehi…

Engine

88 complaints · 10% of complaints that name a component · median 101,653 mi (n = 81)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT SAFELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED…

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT SAM LEMAN FORD (1508 MORRISSEY DR, BLOOMINGTON, IL 61701, 309-938-4596) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…

Electrical System

85 complaints · 10% of complaints that name a component · median 98,000 mi (n = 74)

Owner report THIS IS A BIG, BIG, DEAL RELATED TO DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. REFERENCE BULLETIN:FORD TSB 6-14-10, ISSUED JULY 24, 2006 (SUPERSEDES FORD TSB 5-23-7 ISSUED NOVEMBER 28, 2005) MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL SURGING AND UNABLE TO SHIFT AND NO REVERSE GEAR. HAVE HAD OFF AND ON PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR RESULTING IN ABOUT $200…

Owner report WATER DRIPPED FROM THE WIPER BLADE COWL INTO THE PCM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START, DRIVE BRIEFLY, AND THEN SHUT OFF WHILE MOVING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND,…

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2004–2007)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2004	1,227	59
2005	886	30	not compared
2006	356	19	not compared
2007	64	2	not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

13V081000 · SEATS

Filed 2013-03-07 · 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 seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.

Risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: 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.

12V006000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

Filed 2012-01-09 · 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.

Remedy: 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.

06E056000 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Filed 2006-06-13 · 58,640 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

06V069000 · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

Filed 2006-03-09 · 12,728 vehicles

Defect: ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER LIFTGATE MODULE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
EQ12010	STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT	2012-09-28	2012-12-31
EA12003	SEATS	2012-04-23	2013-05-02	13V081000
PE11033	EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT	2011-09-13	2012-12-07
PE10033	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	2010-08-23	2011-07-15
EA09016	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2009-11-10	2012-02-02	12V006000
PE09033	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2009-07-15	2009-11-17

EQ12010: Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing

EA12003: Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

PE11033: Service Jack Failure

PE10033: Engine Stalling

EA09016: Transmission Torque Converter Failure

PE09033: TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Freestar Cargo Van FWD	3.9L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	22	18	$3450
Freestar Cargo Van FWD	4.2L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	21	18	$3450
Freestar Wagon FWD	3.8L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	22	18	$3450
Freestar Wagon FWD	4.2L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	21	18	$3450

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2005 Ford Freestar	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 44 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about electrical system.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2016-09-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)	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 …
2016-04-21	SEATS	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…
2016-04-21	SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY	Safety recall 13S01 - Corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
2014-09-09	EQUIPMENT	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
2006-01-01	EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	REAR CLIMATE CONTROL NOISES - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-09-01	AIR BAGS	RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2296 - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-07-01	POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY	VEHICLES WITH A CVT TRANSAXLE, MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK FROM THE TRANSAXLE OIL PAN AREA. *TT
2005-06-07	SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
2005-06-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING	SERVICE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
2005-03-01	EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.	INABILITY TO PLAY HOME MADE CD ON SINGLE CD AUDIO SYSTEM WITHOUT MP3 CAPABILITY. *EH

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Freestar, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Freestar model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.