Ford Freestar 2004–2007
Single generation · Ford MV1 (second-generation Windstar derivative)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,223 complaints, 2,863 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 64,000 and 117,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 57 complaints (2.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 41,000
- 25%
- 64,000
- Median
- 87,000
- 75%
- 117,000
- 90%
- 151,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 57 | 2.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 22 | 0.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 26 | 0.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 22 | 0.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 22 | 0.8% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 27 | 0.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 31 | 1.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 53 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 65 | 2.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 89 | 3.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 109 | 3.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 91 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 129 | 4.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 139 | 4.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 136 | 4.8% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 149 | 5.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 172 | 6.0% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 169 | 5.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 139 | 4.9% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 121 | 4.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 162 | 5.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 78 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 104 | 3.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 71 | 2.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 87 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 71 | 2.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 73 | 2.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 42 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 68 | 2.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 27 | 0.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 72 | 2.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 27 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 44 | 1.5% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 33 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 26 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 10 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 20 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 12 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 9 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 57 | 2.0% |
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.
Owners filed 3,223 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004–2007 Ford Freestar, and 2,863 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 64,000 and 117,000 miles. The median is 87,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (57.7% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the electrical system (7.8% of complaints, typically around 95,000 miles), the engine (4.9% of complaints, typically around 103,000 miles).
2 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 111,000
- Electrical system95,000median 95,000 miles, middle half 68,000 to 126,000
- Engine103,000median 103,000 miles, middle half 83,000 to 131,000
- Body structure101,000median 100,800 miles, middle half 74,000 to 141,000
- Seats120,000median 120,000 miles, middle half 93,000 to 154,000
- Throttle and speed control96,000median 96,340 miles, middle half 70,000 to 124,000
- Engine and its cooling system80,000median 79,500 miles, middle half 57,000 to 102,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,860 | 57.7% | 85,000 | 65,000–111,000 |
| Electrical system | 250 | 7.8% | 95,000 | 68,000–126,000 |
| Engine | 157 | 4.9% | 103,000 | 83,000–131,000 |
| Body structure | 138 | 4.3% | 101,000 | 74,000–141,000 |
| Seats | 122 | 3.8% | 120,000 | 93,000–154,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 101 | 3.1% | 96,000 | 70,000–124,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 97 | 3.0% | 80,000 | 57,000–102,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 80 | 2.5% | 37,000 | 23,000–45,000 |
| Steering | 53 | 1.6% | 86,000 | 55,000–123,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 50 | 1.6% | 94,000 | 47,000–130,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 87,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 57.7% of complaints (1,860 reports, 1,681 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 65,368 and 110,626 miles.
A single system taking 57.7% 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 7.8% of complaints (250 reports, 224 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 4.9% 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 131,369 miles.
Body structure accounts for 4.3% of complaints (138 reports, 123 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 140,987 miles.
Seats account for 3.8% of complaints (122 reports, 105 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 120,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 92,865 and 154,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 3.1% of complaints (101 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,340 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 124,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2004 model year drew the most — 1,600 complaints — while 2007 drew the fewest at 77. The median year sits at 773.
That makes 2004 an outlier: roughly 2.1 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 2 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.
Reported severity
Of the 3,223 complaints filed against this generation, 43 reported a crash; 28 reported a fire; 56 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 1.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 64,000 and 117,000 miles, with a median of 87,000. 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.
Documented problems
Torque Converter / Automatic Transmission 2004–2005 (recall); 2006–2007 vans report similar failures without a recall
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,600 | 1,413 |
| 2005 | 1,093 | 977 |
| 2006 | 453 | 407 |
| 2007 | 77 | 66 |
Recalls (2)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 13V081000 | 2013-03-28 | Seats |
| 12V006000 | 2012-06-29 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter |
What owners reported
October 2004 - less than 500 miles on van - brakes went out. Tracklight came on. Van was towed to dealer and they replaced sensor on it. Rakes have gone out again - carried back to same dealership and they could not duplicate problem. Brakes would go down, afraid would not stop, and would finally catch after…
2004 · 20 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
I just came across this website and wish i wrote this a year ago because i would have made a complaint then. I have had many issues with the lights flickering, coming on automatically when it rains, my interior lights staying on and actually catching fire because it had gotten so hot. My radio used to turn on by…
2004 · 20 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
I was driving the vehicle and it was raining outside and as i was driving all of a sudden my car just died in the middle of the freeway no warning ,no nothing just died i almost was rear ended, i took it to a mechanic who said the PCM is not sealed properly and got wet and fried out this is unbelievable that Ford…
2004 · 62 miles · Electrical system
Re: recall 11s25 a transmission failure just happened to my wife today on the long island expressway at exit 43 area. She was passing a car in the passing lane doing 60 and suddenly lost power, she was lucky she was able to get over the 3 required lanes to safety. I had received a letter a few months ago about the…
2004 · 72 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 2,863 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page