Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Ford Freestar problems
Owners filed 886 complaints about the 2005 Ford Freestar with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (677).
Complaints
886
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train677
- Electrical system85
- Engine53
- Vehicle speed control39
- Engine and engine cooling35
- Structure33
- Seats20
- Service brakes, hydraulic20
- Steering19
- Suspension10
- Electronic stability control (esc)9
- Latches/locks/linkages8
- Air bags8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
10
11
50
108
187
159
109
49
46
40
21
24
15
14
15
3
6
4
3
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 50 |
| 2009 | 108 |
| 2010 | 187 |
| 2011 | 159 |
| 2012 | 109 |
| 2013 | 49 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
677 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“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”
Electrical system
85 reports1 crash
“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 to get wet when water gets into the van and intermittently and unpredictably causing failure of electrical features, including headlights and blinkers, while driving.”
Engine
53 reports1 fire
“AFTER HAVING THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AS THE RECALL SAYS I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOING GOOD BUT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE WARRENTY MILEAGE I NOTICED THAT IT STARTED ACTING KINDA LIKE BEFORE AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS GUESS WHAT AS I WAS CLIMBING UP A HILL ON MY DRIVEWAY THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED PULLING STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AS FOR IT TO RECALL THE TORQUE CONVERTER THEN WHY HAS IT ONCE AGAIN ALMOST LIKE ME WITH LOSS OF ALL GEARS YET NO NEW RECALL HAD BEEN ADDED WHY DID IT DO THIS AGAIN?”
Vehicle speed control
39 reports1 crash
“THEIR IS 5 RECALLS ON MY VAN THAT I PULLED UP ON NHTSA AND THE FORD COMPANY IS SAYING THEIR IS ONLY ONE RECALL AND I'M HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS VAN AND I WAS DRIVING THIS VAN AND IT IS LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING IT. I NEED UR HELP PLEASE. MY NUMBER IS (XXXXX) PLEASE LEAVE ME A MESSAGE SO I CAN CALL U BANK THANKS REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Engine and engine cooling
35 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Structure
33 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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 WON'T EVEN PUT THEM IN IT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BACK SEAT. RECALL # 13V081000. THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WHEN YOUR HAULING AROUND CHILDREN. THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS REALLY RUSTY. I WISH I WOULD OF NEVER BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. IT SURE IS GOING TO BE A MONEY PIT FOR SURE. IT ONLY HAS 141000 MILES ON IT. VERY SAD THAT FORD COULD MAKE SUCH A UNSAFE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEMED FINE. 5 DAYS INTO OWNERSHIP THE TORQUE CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. DROVE IT BACK HOME AND STARTED READING ABOUT HOW FORD HAS A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. THIS SITUATION ON THESE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE TO COURT AND FORD LOST. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.