Ford Freestar 2004–2007 problems by year and mileage
Single generation · Ford MV1 (second-generation Windstar derivative)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,533 complaints, 2,269 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2004 Ford Freestar
Close- Median failure report
- 86,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,227
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2004
- Transmission and driveline851 reports · median 85,000 mi
- Electrical system118 reports · median 95,000 mi
- Body structure94 reports · median 114,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2004: Seats; Power train — automatic transmission; Wheels — hub. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Ford Freestar
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 886
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2005
- Transmission and driveline677 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Electrical system85 reports · median 98,000 mi
- Engine53 reports · median 111,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2005: Seats; Power train — automatic transmission; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Ford Freestar
Close- Median failure report
- 95,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 356
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2006
- Transmission and driveline254 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Electrical system40 reports · median 92,000 mi
- Engine31 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2006: Seats; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2007 Ford Freestar
Close- Median failure report
- 91,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 64
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2007
- Transmission and driveline37 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control10 reports
- Electrical system5 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2007: Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2006 reports latest and the 2005 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2005 has had 1 more year on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2004–2007 Ford Freestar reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 86,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 150,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,269
- Recalls
- 5
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline71.8% of complaints · median 85,000 mi
- Electrical system9.8% of complaints · median 95,000 mi
- Engine6.2% of complaints · median 103,000 mi
Documented problems
- Torque Converter / Automatic Transmission2004–2005
- Automatic Transmission (4F50N)2004–2007
Owners filed 2,533 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004–2007 Ford Freestar; the transmission and driveline leads with 71.8% of them, and half of the 2,269 that record an odometer reading came by 86,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 64,000 and 114,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2004–2007 Ford Freestar last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2004–2007 Ford Freestar, half of the 2,269 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 86,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles.
225 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 41 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Freestar reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Ford Freestar 2004–2007 · 2,269 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 146 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 41 complaints (1.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 43,223
- 25%
- 64,000
- Median
- 85,500
- 75%
- 114,062
- 90%
- 149,565
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 40 | 1.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 19 | 0.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 20 | 0.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 24 | 1.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 43 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 52 | 2.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 69 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 87 | 3.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 79 | 3.5% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 116 | 5.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 119 | 5.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 111 | 4.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 128 | 5.6% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 146 | 6.4% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 138 | 6.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 115 | 5.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 91 | 4.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 123 | 5.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 65 | 2.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 76 | 3.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 53 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 72 | 3.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 54 | 2.4% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 48 | 2.1% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 34 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 56 | 2.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 22 | 1.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 51 | 2.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 20 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 36 | 1.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 20 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 41 | 1.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Freestar problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Ford Freestar 2004–2007
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system97 reports80,00057,000–102,000Engine and its cooling system: 97 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 102,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline1,819 reports85,00065,000–111,000Transmission and driveline: 1,819 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 111,000 miles.
- Electrical system248 reports95,00068,000–126,000Electrical system: 248 reports, median 95,000 miles, middle half 68,000 to 126,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control101 reports96,00070,000–124,000Throttle and speed control: 101 reports, median 96,000 miles, middle half 70,000 to 124,000 miles.
- Body structure136 reports102,00075,000–141,000Body structure: 136 reports, median 102,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 141,000 miles.
- Engine157 reports103,00083,000–131,000Engine: 157 reports, median 103,000 miles, middle half 83,000 to 131,000 miles.
- Seats121 reports122,00095,000–155,000Seats: 121 reports, median 122,000 miles, middle half 95,000 to 155,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,819 | 71.8% | 85,000 | 65,000–111,000 |
| Electrical system | 248 | 9.8% | 95,000 | 68,000–126,000 |
| Engine | 157 | 6.2% | 103,000 | 83,000–131,000 |
| Body structure | 136 | 5.4% | 102,000 | 75,000–141,000 |
| Seats | 121 | 4.8% | 122,000 | 95,000–155,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 101 | 4.0% | 96,000 | 70,000–124,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 97 | 3.8% | 80,000 | 57,000–102,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 66 | 2.6% | 37,000 | 12,000–50,000 |
| Steering | 52 | 2.1% | 82,000 | 55,000–123,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 50 | 2.0% | 94,000 | 47,000–130,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 71.8% of complaints (1,819 reports, 1,655 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 111,000 miles.
A single system taking 71.8% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (248 reports, 222 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 68,000 and 126,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 6.2% of complaints (157 reports, 143 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 103,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,000 and 131,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.4% of complaints (136 reports, 121 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 102,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 141,000 miles.
Seats account for 4.8% of complaints (121 reports, 104 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 122,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 95,000 and 155,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.0% of complaints (101 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 124,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2004–2007 Freestar
Torque Converter / Automatic Transmission 2004–2005
Torque converter output shaft splines strip, causing sudden and complete loss of motive power with no warning while driving. NHTSA ODI logged 227 owner complaints of sudden power loss, 124 attributed to spline stripping; Ford recalled roughly 205,896 MY2004-2005 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vans in 2012 (Ford campaign 11S25, NHTSA 12V-006) and replaced the torque converter.
Automatic Transmission (4F50N) 2004–2007
Broader transmission durability complaints across the run — slipping, harsh engagement and failure — continuing the driveline reputation the Windstar redesign was meant to fix.
Before you buy a 2004–2007 Freestar: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,269 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check torque converter / automatic transmission on 2004–2005 (recall); 2006–2007 vans report similar failures without a recall cars. Torque converter output shaft splines strip, causing sudden and complete loss of motive power with no warning while driving. NHTSA ODI logged 227 owner complaints of sudden power loss, 124 attributed to spline…
- Check automatic transmission (4F50N) on 2004–2007 cars. Broader transmission durability complaints across the run — slipping, harsh engagement and failure — continuing the driveline reputation the Windstar redesign was meant to fix.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 64,000 and 114,000 miles, with a median of 86,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 85,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Freestar problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi21% below | At 90k mi54% below | At 120k mi77% below | At 150k mi90% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 65,000–111,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 68,000–126,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 83,000–131,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 75,000–141,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Seats | 95,000–155,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 70,000–124,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 57,000–102,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Ford Freestar 2004–2007 · 2,269 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 21% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 54% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 77% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 1.8% of reports (41) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2004–2007 Ford Freestar recalls (5)
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Mar 2013 · 2004–2007 · SeatsIn the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of…
The 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…
What can happen. In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The free fix. 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…
Jan 2012 · 2004–2005 · Power TrainThis condition results in a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft may fail.
What can happen. This condition results in a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Mar 2006 · 2005–2006 · StructureIn the event of a liftgate strut malfunction, the liftgate can fall freely with no prior warning.
The defect. On certain vans equipped with the power liftgate option, the power liftgate motor automatically disengages after the liftgate is powered open.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
Sep 2004 · 2004 · WheelsIf the cracks were to progress, this could eventually result in wheel separation.
The defect. Certain minivans may have been produced with front wheel hub assemblies that were not heat treated correctly. This condition may lead to the development of small cracks in the hub.
What can happen. If the cracks were to progress, this could eventually result in wheel separation. Wheel separation may lead to loss of vehicle control, and potentially result in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the front hub, rotors, and wheel bearings. The recall began september 20, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Nov 2003 · 2004 · SteeringIf this line becomes disconnected, it may create the potential for fluid to come into contact with the…
The defect. On certain minivans, the power steering low-pressure line may not be fully seated at the rack and pinion steering gear.
What can happen. If this line becomes disconnected, it may create the potential for fluid to come into contact with the exhaust system, which could result in smoke or fire.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the power steering low-pressure line to ensure that it is seated properly at the rack and pinion steering gear. Owner notification began november 10, 2003. Owners should contact…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,533 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 29 (1.1%)
- Fires
- 21
- Injury reports
- 33
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Freestar problems by model year
The 2004 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,227, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2007 the fewest, 64. A typical year drew about 621.
The first year of the generation, 2004, drew more complaints than a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,227 | 1,088 | 86,000 | Transmission and driveline (851) | 4 |
| 2005 | 886 | 801 | 82,000 | Transmission and driveline (677) | 3 |
| 2006 | 356 | 325 | 95,000 | Transmission and driveline (254) | 2 |
| 2007 | 64 | 55 | 91,000 | Transmission and driveline (37) | 1 |
What Freestar owners reported
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 repaired. The contact stated…
2005 · 317,000 miles · Seats
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact…
2004 · 104,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
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 road. The contact…
2005 · 350,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost all motive power and would not shift to any gear other than park. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired.…
2006 · 85,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 2,269 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built