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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train677
  2. Electrical system85
  3. Engine53
  4. Vehicle speed control39
  5. Engine and engine cooling35
  6. Structure33
  7. Seats20
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic20
  9. Steering19
  10. Suspension10
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)9
  12. Latches/locks/linkages8
  13. Air bags8
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20059
200610
200711
200850
2009108
2010187
2011159
2012109
201349
201446
201540
201621
201724
201815
201914
202015
20213
20226
20234
20243
20252
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2026Power trainODI 11742615

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2023Electrical system, Structure, SeatsODI 11511200

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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2021Power train, EngineODI 11397067

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).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11233431

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10873645

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2020Power train, Structure, SeatsODI 11324406
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.