Ford Freestar recalls

6 official safety recalls for the Ford Freestar from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Third-row seat may not latch securely

    Reported March 7, 2013Model years 2004–2007NHTSA campaign 13V081000196,667 vehicles affected

    Corrosion and structural damage at the third-row seat anchor mechanism may prevent the seat from fully latching. In a rear impact, an unlatched seat may increase injury risk. Dealers will install new latch striker mounting brackets free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SEATS
    Defect
    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.
    Notes
    Ford's recall campaign number is 13S01.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  2. Torque converter output shaft may fail

    Reported January 9, 2012Model years 2004–2005NHTSA campaign 12V006000206,452 vehicles affected

    The torque converter output shaft may fail, causing a sudden loss of motive power without warning and increasing crash risk. Dealers will replace the torque converter, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
    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.
    Notes
    FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 11S25.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

  3. Brake lines may chafe on the stabilizer bar

    Reported April 12, 2007Model years 2004–2006NHTSA campaign 07V168000742 vehicles affected

    Incorrectly routed brake lines may rub against the stabilizer bar and wear through, causing partial or full loss of braking ability and possibly a crash. Dealers will check the routing, secure the lines if there is no chafing, and replace worn lines.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
    Defect
    ON CERTAIN MINI VAN CONVERSIONS, THE BRAKE LINES MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED INCORRECTLY. THE BRAKE LINES CAN MAKE CONTACT AND CHAFE ON THE STABILIZER BAR.
    Consequence
    IF THIS HAPPENS, THE LINES COULD WEAR THROUGH CAUSING PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES TO MAKE SURE THE ROUTING IS CORRECT. IF NO CHAFING IS FOUND, THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS. IF THE BRAKE LINES ARE WORN, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 15, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VMI AT 1-800-348-8267.
    Notes
    CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

  4. Power liftgate may fall unexpectedly

    Reported March 9, 2006Model years 2005–2006NHTSA campaign 06V06900012,728 vehicles affected

    The power liftgate motor disengages after opening. If a liftgate strut fails, the liftgate may fall without warning and injure someone beneath it. Dealers will reprogram the liftgate module free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
    Defect
    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.
    Notes
    FORD RECALL NO. 06S42.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

  5. Front wheel hub may crack

    Reported September 13, 2004Model years 2004NHTSA campaign 04V44600034,013 vehicles affected

    A front wheel hub may crack and eventually separate, potentially causing loss of vehicle control and a crash. Dealers will replace the front hub, rotors and wheel bearings.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    WHEELS:HUB
    Defect
    CERTAIN MINIVANS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE HUB.
    Consequence
    IF THE CRACKS WERE TO PROGRESS, THIS COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION. WHEEL SEPARATION MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT HUB, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    Notes
    FORD RECALL NO. 04S24.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  6. Power steering line may disconnect

    Reported November 6, 2003Model years 2004NHTSA campaign 03V45700023,996 vehicles affected

    The power steering low-pressure line may not be fully seated and could disconnect, allowing fluid to contact the exhaust and cause smoke or fire. Dealers will check that the line is seated properly.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
    Defect
    ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR.
    Consequence
    IF THIS LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, IT MAY CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLUID TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR FIRE.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SEATED PROPERLY AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    Notes
    FORD RECALL NO. 03S09.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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