This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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 the car. The hole has also caused electrical wires to get wet when water gets into the van and intermittently and unpredictably causing failure of electrical features, including headlights and blinkers, while driving.
I wrote on this yesterday but did some more research on this vehicle. There have been numerous recalls on these type of vehicles. Recall #12V006000 on the torque converter output shaft. Recall began August 9 2012. This is a serious matter I just recently purchased this vehicle to take my 8 grandchildren around. Now I won't even put them in it. I also found out there was a recall on the back seat. Recall # 13V081000. This is also a problem when your hauling around children. The undercarriage of the vehicle is really rusty. I wish I would of never bought this vehicle. It sure is going to be a money pit for sure. It only has 141000 miles on it. Very sad that Ford could make such a unsafe vehicle. I bought the vehicle and it seemed fine. 5 days into ownership the torque converter light came on while I was driving it. Drove it back home and started reading about how Ford has a recall on this situation and now I'm afraid to drive it anymore. This situation on these transmission has gone to court and Ford lost.
While you are driving the vehicle. The vehicle has something wrong with the transmission. I looked up Ford recalls and it states that this type of vehicle has been recalled for transmission problems. Torque something thing. The van has only 141000 miles and is rusted severely underneath it. Very sad.
Rear hatch door when opened immediately closes, wife was trapped in the door and had to be helped to reopen the door by a passing man. Stationary in a parking lot
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. While attempting to move the third row seat back into an upright position, the seat failed to latch. The contact found that the metal around the seat latch was rusted. The contact then noted that the rear wheel wells also showed severe rust. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact spoke to a dealer who stated that they were aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 162,015.
- Shawnee, KS, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. While driving 35 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Upon parking the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear wheel well was rubbing against the rear wheel. The contact removed the metal part of the seat bracket from the wheel well and continued driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Recently, the rear driver side experienced the same issue. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V081000 (seats). The failure mileage was 180,000.
I had received a letter of recall of my back row seat latch do to corrosion. I had taken my van in to be repaired they informed me that they would have to order the parts which took 2 weeks upon returning they informed me they need another part they forgot to order so I waited for my call back again.. within 2 months time I returned to have it worked on that is when they had told me it had begun to corrode N that they couldn't install the parts I asked them about the situation further & if it was safe to drive they had said yes & handed me my keys so upon leaving the dealership I had stopped for food on my way home I smelt burnt rubber then a thudding noise I had pulled over to check it out luckily I was to close to a family members house a piece had fallen off N was rubbing on my tire my tires had almost caught fire when luckily I had gotten the baby out before anything had happened the next day a mechanic had informed me a hole was burnt threw the floor where the wheel wells were N the tires almost caught fire he said he could weld the parts so frenchies Ford could fix what they had to fix.. the next day he informed me he had looked up the parts N came across this website stating it had been recalled I had told him what happened & informed me to take legal matters due to faulty parts. Please don't allow this to happen to anyone elts the thought of my baby being in the back seat while it could have caught fire is terrifying I wouldn't want to hear of it happening to another under the same circumstances especially a child. & now that there's a hole in the floor I'm uncertain what to do I haven't drove it since & quite honestly I'm afraid to.. P.S is this covered" whose @ fault? what can be done"
When going to put items in the back of the van, the hatch door suddenly came down and hit me in the back/shoulder leaving a bruise and some swelling. When trying to get out from under the door I bumped my head a little as it was very heavy! so, we were propping the hatch with a two-by-four while we try to figure out how to fix it. Then only a few days later, the handle to the hatch just came off into my hand when trying to open up the hatch! there had been no prior warning to either incident. Took it to a Ford dealer today and it cost $53.99 just to look at it to see what the problem was and they said it will be another $440 + tax to repair!!!!! this is only to repair the handle back onto the hatch just so that we can actually open it again and start using it again!!!!! we haven't even talked about the cost of repairing the shocks to the hatch, or whatever that issue is!!! the Ford dealer says the rod and cable has failed and needs replaced, but can't explain to me how this can happen with no prior warning, or why either incident happened at all. When looking online, this seems to be a common complaint with the Freestar, so why isn't there a recall on it"??? at the very least, why is it so expensive just to replace a handle????" Ford should fix this problem with a recall, or offer to re-pay customers!!!!!! I had a Windstar ('99) that we were constantly putting money into, including a completely rusted and almost cracked in half rear axle, but I was raised by a Ford family, so I bought this Freestar (2005), hoping for better results! what a joke!!!!! from the bad brakes that need replaced every 1 1/2 - 2 years, to the horrible rusting out of the body causing my 3rd row seats to detach, etc. Etc.etc....never again!!!!! Ford, please make it right!!!!!! I don't have over $500 sitting around to replace a door handle that definitely should last the life of the vehicle!!
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that water penetrated through the windshield and the engine covering. The engine covering clips failed to sustain and the water penetrate the power control module, causing the engine to stall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while attempting to enter the vehicle through the right side door, the door failed to stop when contact was in the middle of doorway. The vehicle had power sliding doors which are supposed to stop if person was on the way. Also, the contact mentioned that the left side door failed too. The vehicle was taken to dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure and suggested that the automatic doors should be disconnected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The failure mileage was 108,900 and the current mileage was 109,500.
The anchor plate that houses the latch for the third row seats rusted out and completely detached from the vehicle. The plate is housed in the rear left tire hub. There is subsequently no way to use the third row seats and a large hole in the wall of the vehicle that is open to the outside. It is exactly the issue described in this New York times article: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/Agency-upgrades-investigation-of-63000-Ford-Freestar-minivans-for-rust-condition/
I own a 2005 Ford Freestar model 's'. couple of days ago suddenly rear liftgate strut failed and it led liftgate to free fall on me when I was removing the stuff from the van. I was able to hold the liftgate in time but it still hit me on my head a little bit.
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- Lawrence, KS, USA