Problems · by component
2005 Ford Freestar engine and engine cooling problems
35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Freestar cite engine and engine cooling, 4% of all 886 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
35
4% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FLOW WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.”
“REPLACED THE CONVERTER THROUGH FORD RECALL. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THIS VEHICLE DROVE AND HOW COMFORTABLE IT WAS I SOUGHT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER. HOWEVER, IN MY SEARCH THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING SOLD AT PRIVATE DEALERS MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEY ARE CONSIDERED "INCOMPLETE" RUNNING THE VIN THROUGH NHTSA SAFECAR.COM WHICH MEANS ALL BUYERS ARE BEING SOLD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WITH THIS SAFETY RECALL WAITING TO CATCH UP TO THEM IF IT EVER DOES??? WHY, WHY WHY IS THIS NOT MANDATORY TO RECALL AND REPAIR RATHER THEN ALLOW THE POOR UNSUSPECTED BUYER TO LATER HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THEY NEVER KNEW. WHY IS THERE NOT A DISCLOSURE CLAUSE LIKE IN REAL ESTATE THAT IF YOU FAILED TO INFORM THE BUYER YOUR RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR IT!!! COMMON SENSE IS ALL ANYONE WANTS EVEN FROM THE GOVT. *TR”
“AFTER STARTING VEHICLE NORMALLY, I PUT IT IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE. MECHANIC: TORQUE CONVERTER, CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZER, OIL FILTER. 2ND INCIDENT SAME AS 1ST. MECHANIC: OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, ENGINE BRAIN BOX (PROGRAMMED AT FORD DEALERSHIP). 3RD INCIDENT SAME. MECHANIC: REPLACED ALTERNATOR. 4TH INCIDENT SAME. MECHANIC CURRENTLY HAS IT. COMPUTER IS TELLING HIM IT'S THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR”
“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 WOULD SLOW BACK DOWN THEN THE DASH LIGHTS ABS,BRAKE,BATTERY LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF THEN THE FREESTAR DIED AGAIN AT 70 MPH. BRAKES DIDN'T WORK I WAS GOING THROUGH A INTERSECTION AND HAD TO USE THE E BRAKE. FREESTAR HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH I JUST HIT THE HIGH SPOTS. IT HAS HAD TEST AFTER TEST AND I'M ALWAYS TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY! I JUST WANT MY VAN FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR”
“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) NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW IT IS NOTICED THAT IT HAS A HIGHER TENDENCY TO DO IT WHEN IT IS RAINING OR THERE IS HIGH HUMIDITY. IT DOES IT AT ALL SPEEDS FROM 25MPH TO 70MPH. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE VAN AND COULD NOT GET IT TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAD IT. HOWEVER, THEY STATED THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM ADDRESSED UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S25/ NHTSA RECALL 12V-006. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I HAVE NO WARNING THE PROBLEM IS GETTING READY TO HAPPEN AND HAVE NO WAY TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORIST OF MY SUDDEN AND QUICK DECELERATION. *TR”
Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.