The 2005 Ford Freestar has 690 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 63% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.
690
Transmission complaints
63%
Share of year
3
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
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.
“-NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-75, VAN LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. TACH WOULD SHOW ENGINE WAS REVVING, BUT NO ACCELERATION. WAS ABLE TO GET TO EMERGENCY LANE. COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, FAILURE SO COMPLETE CAR COULD NOT EVEN BE ROAD…”
NHTSA has 690 complaints about the 2005 Ford Freestar transmission — 63% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 12V006000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.