Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Ford Freestar problems

Owners filed 64 complaints about the 2007 Ford Freestar with NHTSA between Dec 2007 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is power train (37).

Complaints
64
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train37
  2. Vehicle speed control10
  3. Electrical system5
  4. Engine and engine cooling5
  5. Engine4
  6. Structure4
  7. Seats3
  8. Suspension2
  9. Air bags1
  10. Seat belts1
  11. Steering1
  12. Service brakes1
  13. Fuel/propulsion system1
  14. Other / unknown1

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
20071
20081
20090
20104
20119
201213
201311
20143
20156
20164
20175
20185
20190
20200
20210
20221
20230
20241

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

37 reports
“I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTAR SE. VIN# [XXX]. AT 102,296 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. I LOOKED AND IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, I TRIED DOWNSHIFTING, PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE AND NOTHING WORKED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT INTO PARK. THAT APPEARED TO WORK. I THEN TRIED USING REVERSE AND IT DID NOT ENGAGE. I THEN TRIED ALL GEARS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT STILL DID NOT WORK. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS A CLEAN PINK AND SMELLS BRAND NEW. I PROCEEDED TO DO ONLINE RESEARCH TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND IF IT CAN BE EASILY REPAIRED, WHAT I FOUND WAS VERY INTERESTING. IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING AROUND 103,000 MILES. MANY (HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS, MOST NOTABLY FROM 2004 THROUGH 2006. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THOSE YEARS. THERE WAS NOT, HOWEVER, A RECALL FOR THE 2007 MODEL YEAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THIS YEAR AND PROBLEM AS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2018Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11080128

Vehicle speed control

10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTAR. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE VENT CONTROL FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER, THERE WAS A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLED VERY POORLY WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10734350

Electrical system

5 reports1 fire
“PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR BURNED, SMOLDERED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE. COULD SEE ORANGE GLOW BEHIND THE MIRROR. SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL BURN. CAR WAS PARKED, NO KEY IN IGNITION, HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER UNLOCKING CAR WITH KEY FOB.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2018Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11163095

Engine and engine cooling

5 reports
“I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN MY TOWN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STARTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT SUDDENLY THERE WAS NO POWER. I WAS STALLED BUT EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED THAT I COULD PUT THE VEHICLE INTO 3RD GEAR AND COULD EKE MY WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY 5 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR, PEOPLE WERE HONKING, IT WAS A MESS. FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T GET HIT. I TOOK THE FORD FREESTAR TO TWO SHOPS THAT BOTH TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO ALSO TOLD ME THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION SO THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE WHOLE ORDEAL COST ME $4,900 FOR THE CAR REPAIR + RENTAL CAR. I'M VERY GLAD MY CHILD AND I DIDN'T GET HURT, AND I AM DEFINITELY UPSET THAT A CAR THAT WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD WOULD REQUIRE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALTHOUGH I GOT THE CAR FIXED, I WONDER IF THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10454792

Engine

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2018EngineODI 11115445

Structure

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR QUARTER PANELS ON THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2017StructureODI 10979646
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.