RecallRepo

2005 Ford Freestar Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2005 Ford Freestar has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 415,847 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,093 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEATS 13V081000 2013-03-07 196,667 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

Remedy

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.

POWER TRAIN 12V006000 2012-01-09 206,452 affected
Defect

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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.

STRUCTURE 06V069000 2006-03-09 12,728 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
376
2crashes2injuries
POWER TRAIN
265
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
84
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
53
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
36
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
28
2crashes
SEATS
18
1crashes3injuries
STEERING
18
STRUCTURE:BODY
13
1fires3injuries
Total complaints1,093

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2026-06-03

“The contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that the third-row seat attachments were rusted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 13v081000 (seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not…”

SEATS · reported 2025-06-17

“The contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission seized and remained in neutral. The vehicle jerked and shortly returned to normal functionality; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the gear shifter light was…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2025-04-12

“The contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, however the engine was still on. The…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-10-10

“The contact owns a 2005 ford freestar. The contact stated while driving 70 mph and releasing the accelerator pedal, the contact noticed an abnormal clucking sound. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled to the side of the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-06-14

“I was driving and my transmission stopped working left me stranded”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-05-26

“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…”

SEATS · reported 2023-03-10

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2023-03-10

Defect investigations

Investigation EA09016 Opened 2009-11-10 · closed 2012-02-02

Transmission Torque Converter Failure

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…

Investigation EA09016 Opened 2009-11-10 · closed 2012-02-02

Transmission Torque Converter Failure

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

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…

Investigation EA12003 Opened 2012-04-23 · closed 2013-05-02

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

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…

Investigation EQ12010 Opened 2012-09-28 · closed 2012-12-31

Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing

Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.

Investigation PE09033 Opened 2009-07-15 · closed 2009-11-17

TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE

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…

Investigation PE09033 Opened 2009-07-15 · closed 2009-11-17

TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE

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…

Investigation PE10033 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2011-07-15

Engine Stalling

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…

Investigation PE10033 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2011-07-15

Engine Stalling

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…

Investigation PE11033 Opened 2011-09-13 · closed 2012-12-07

Service Jack Failure

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Ford Freestar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.