Summary
The Ford Freestar has 12 recalls covering the 2004–2007 model years, with the most serious being a front wheel hub defect on 2004 models where internal cracks can develop and progress until the wheel separates from the vehicle, causing loss of control.
The 2004 model year also has a power steering return line that can leak fluid onto the exhaust system, creating a risk of smoke or fire. On 2004–2005 models, the torque converter output shaft can fail without warning, cutting drive power suddenly and increasing crash risk. A third-row seat latch recall covers 2004–2007 vehicles in high-road-salt regions across much of the northern United States and Canada, where corrosion can prevent the seat from holding in a rear-end crash, raising the risk of injury to rear occupants. A separate third-row seat corrosion issue on 2004 models registered in Canadian salt-belt provinces can similarly leave the forward seat latch unable to secure the seat. On 2005 models equipped with the power liftgate option, a strut malfunction can cause the liftgate to drop freely without warning onto anyone standing beneath it. There is also a 2005-only compliance issue where the daytime running lights may be inoperative, making the vehicle less visible to other drivers and pedestrians in daylight, though normal headlights are unaffected. Finally, 2004 Freestar vehicles modified for wheelchair accessibility by Liberty Motor Company lack the required child seat anchor hardware in the second row, limiting the ability to properly secure child restraints.
