KnownCarProblems2005 Ford Freestar Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 886 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Freestar, most often about the transmission (76% of complaints, typically around 81,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Freestar model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2005 Ford Freestar problems
Transmission
677 complaints · 76%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission.
Slowed to stop at traffic light, prior to coming to a complete stop, the light changed and when I accelerated nothing happen. In the middle of traffic I was able to glide into a gas station. Luckily traffic was just beginning to move. Could have been very dangerous!! Vehicle was towed to dealership where we purchased.…
In september of 2005 we purchased a used 05 Ford Freestar by that october it was in the garage the PCM without. The dealer had the van for 3 weeks went to pull out at the dealer the PCM was still not fixed after 2 or three more weeks got van back. Then june of 06 went pull out of the driveway the PCM without again.…
Engine
88 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
On my way home from work on january 1, 2012 at approx. 4:20pm my car starts to slow down n starts to go on reverse while it was on drive. I tried different gears but the car continue to go on reverse I had no warning light, no sign of the car go bad no noise, nothing the car just slowed down n went on reverse. The car…
When driving down the road the van will suddenly lose all forward momentum and drift momentarily until it will just as suddenly resume forward momentum and continue like normal. When this happens, the rpms drop off like the vehicle is stalling or fuel starved (however it has no hesitation like its running out of gas)…
Electrical
85 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
Pcm (power train control module) has gotten wet and causes car to not drive. Lose power. Not start. Lunge, lurch forward. Won't engage in drive or reverse. I have replaced PCM 6 times. Broke down 5 times. Had van towed 5 times. Left van at repair shop for months at a time to diagnose problem. Finally moved the PCM to…
Was on a very busy highway. The freestars dash lights lite up and went back off. Ac cut off then everything started working again. About 30 seconds later the Freestar died at 65. I was able to coast to a stop on the shoulder. Again on may 5 2012 the lights started flickering and the AC started to blow hard and it…
Speed control
39 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Upon a stop or when attempting to reverse, the car lunges for no apparent reason. I view this as dangerous, as this has occurred several times, either when in a parking lot with pedestrians behind me entering store or when I am at a stop light and pedestrians are in a crosswalk. After researching this issue, I see…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford freestyle. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the wrench and the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle suddenly failed to accelerate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was serviced previously under the manufacturers throttle body recall. The vehicle…
Body and structure
33 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
While merging onto route 50 off 628 the car died. I drifted onto side of road, but in park and restarted it. Took exit off 50 at 450 and car stopped again. Put in park at red light, started up again and drove down riva road. Car stopped 4 more times before getting to my residence, each time engine stopping, no power…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The vehicle was stationary when the contact activated the rear power liftgate, followed by a forceful closure. The manufacturer was notified of the malfunction. Recall 06v069000, structure body hatchback/ liftgate was repaired; however, the remedy was insufficient and failed to…
Brakes
27 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, power assist.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. In the summer of 2008 he noticed that the vehicle surged and shut off when he attempted to park at low speeds. The dealer diagnosed the failure and determined that the throttle body failed; however, the part is on back order. He also stated that the rear calipers were defected and…
Took my 2005 Ford Freestar minivan with only 43,223 miles into Ford dealer for annual safety inspection. Advised both rear calipers were bad, caused premature wear of break pads and rotors which needed turned. The repair cost me $581.40. I have owned many vehicles, and never have I had calipers fail at 43k miles. I…
Seats
20 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 147,000 miles. Parts named most often: mid/rear assembly.
2005 Ford Freestar was recalled for torque convertor, third row seat latch. Less than one year later (march 2014) the same problem occurred with the torque convertor.
I wrote on this yesterday but did some more research on this vehicle. There have been numerous recalls on these type of vehicles. Recall #12v006000 on the torque converter output shaft. Recall began august 9 2012. This is a serious matter I just recently purchased this vehicle to take my 8 grandchildren around. Now I…
Steering
19 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, rack and pinion.
While merging onto route 50 off 628 the car died. I drifted onto side of road, but in park and restarted it. Took exit off 50 at 450 and car stopped again. Put in park at red light, started up again and drove down riva road. Car stopped 4 more times before getting to my residence, each time engine stopping, no power…
Purchased vehicle in used condition lic. Auto dealer 06/07. 10/07 vehicle began to "drink" power steering fluid; resevoir dry/ refill/ dry etc.., 12/07 vehicle began to make a loud pop during turning; moving in both forward & reverse directions and also similar noise when breaks were applied above 20 MPH. Trouble…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Ford Freestar recalls
Seats
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: torque converter
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.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft may fail.
Body and structure: hatchback/liftgate
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
On certain vans equipped with the power liftgate option, the power liftgate motor automatically disengages after the liftgate is powered open.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Stabilus rear liftgate struts failing
Summary
Please see the attached closing resume summary.it has been attached to this document as a pdf.
Corrosion of third-row seat attachment
Summary
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (my) 2004 through 2007 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13v-081 for more details).the recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the united states: connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin.approximately 100,000 remaining my 2004-2007 freestar and monterey vehicles--those ve
Service jack failure
Summary
The subject vehicles (sv) are all automatic transmission, front wheel drive vehicles with hand actuated mechanical park brakes. The investigation focused on allegations that the service jack failed and caused the vehicles to fall. The subject scissors-type jack appears to fail at the slotted hinge joints where the jack screw is located (bends at mid-point). The failures occur while the jack is in use, and vehicle movement (forward or backward) is typically reported coincident with the failure. Ford reported that most my 2003 windstar and all my 2006-2007 freestar/monterey also use the subject jack, an additional 223,246 vehicles.NHTSA has received six consumer complaints (voqs) involving thr
Engine stalling
Summary
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the powertrain control module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.in addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into ei
Transmission torque converter failure
Summary
On january 4, 2012 ford motor company submitted a defect information report (NHTSA recall no. 12v-006) to NHTSA regarding a defect in the performance of the transmission torque converter for approximately 205,896 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles.the supplier of the torque converter manufactured converters containing a pump shaft spline that did not consistently meet the specified heat treatment requirements.in normal use, the spline may wear excessively and eventually fails without warning.if a torque converter malfunctions due to a sheared pump drive spline, the vehicle will abruptly lose motive power.this problem affected model year 2004 and 2005 freestar and monterey minivans.d
Torque converter output shaft failure
Summary
Odi has received 227 owner complaints alleging a sudden and unexpected loss of motive power due to an internal transmission failure in the subject vehicles.of those complaints, 124 can be attributed to the torque converter output shaft splines stripping causing a sudden loss of power to the drivetrain.the remaining 103 complaints experienced a loss of motive power but the specific internal failure cause within the transmission is not known.odi has upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis (ea09-016) to continue its assessment of the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.
Questions about the 2005 Ford Freestar
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Freestar?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (677 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles); engine (88 complaints, typically around 101,500 miles); electrical (85 complaints, typically around 98,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Freestar have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 7, 2013 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Ford Freestar?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Freestar model year since 2000, with 886 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.