2005 Ford FREESTAR: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING EXCESSIVELY, AND THERE ARE EXCESSIVE FUEL LEAKS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONSUMER FOUND A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE THEN TO THE GROUND IN LARGE AMOUNTS. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103766 at NHTSA ↗

3 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS GETTING OUT OF FREESTAR AND LEANED INTO THE SWITCH TO CLOSE THE DOOR; DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE ON CHILD. AS I WAS REACHING IN THE DOOR I WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND THE DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY BODY BRUISING MY SHOULDER AND HIP AREA. I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO PUSH THE DOOR BACK. IT TAKES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MAKE TO THE DOOR RETRACT WHILE SOMETHING IS IN ITS WAY. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE SEVERAL ADVISORS TOLD ME THAT THE DOOR IS OPERATING PROPERLY AND THAT IT WOULD NOT CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO AN INDIVIDUAL ONLY BRU…

Owner-reported narrative. 304 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106433 at NHTSA ↗

SUSPENSION SHOOK AT 60 MPH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES AFTER HITTING BUMPS. VIBRATION CAUSES HEAD RESTS TO EXTEND AT TIMES. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111208 at NHTSA ↗

THE ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN ABOUT A FOOT, AND IT WILL STICK. THE BRAKES ARE LIKE SPONGES. CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO COMPLETELY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112874 at NHTSA ↗

HEADLIGHT BEAM PATTERN IS TERRIBLE. NO SEEING DISTANCE ON LOW BEAM AND THE HIGH BEAM PATTERN HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIGHT RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE IT DOES NO GOOD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116461 at NHTSA ↗

DT: ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT SIMPLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT DID SLOW DOWN BUT AS DRIVER PROGRESSED THE BRAKE SHOE HUNG TO THE ROTOR AND MADE A CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THEY WERE STILL APPLIED. AFTERWARDS CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE IN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS A ROTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER GRINDED RUST OR " LOT ROT" OFF THE ROTORS AND PLACED THEM BACK ON THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AGO HOWEVER THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE BRAKE PADS STICKING…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128442 at NHTSA ↗

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS EQUAL TO GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. UNDER HEAVY BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HEIGHT IS BELOW GAS PEDAL HEIGHT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNDER BRAKING. UPDATED 11/28/2005 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128849 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FORRESTER. SHE IS RENTING THIS VAN, AND WHILE SHE WAS BENDING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW SHE ALMOST GOT HER HEAD CRUSHED WHEN SHE MOVED THE LATCH. THE BACK SUPPORT CAME TUMBLING DOWN AND HER HEAD GOT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN. THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH FORCE, AND IF SOMEONE WAS PLAYING WITH THE LATCH, A WHOEVER WAS IN THE NEXT SEAT WOULD BE HURT. CONTACT WAS GOING TO RETURN THE VAN TO THE RENTAL PLACE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129235 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)

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.

Reported: 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)

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.

Reported: 2013-03-07 (March 7, 2013)

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, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.

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.