2005 Ford Freestar Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 677about this part
- Share
- 76%of 886 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 81,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 677 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Ford Freestar, 76% of the 886 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 81,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When I was driving down the highway the vehicle started losing power but the engine was starting to race the vehicle slowed down to a stop causing me to be stuck in the middle of the highway with cars going around me the police came by and had to push me off to the side of the road to a safe place so I can have the vehicle towed .found out the trans torque converter stopped working .just like the recall 11s25”
NHTSA complaint #11164357, filed 2019-01, 152,099 miles“My Freestar was recalled for a problem with the torque converter,( my vehicle never really had good pick-up) anyway the trans went and a Ford dealer in ny state (watkins glen) repaired it it still didnt have any pick -up now about 1.5 years later im having same problem my vans been sitting now for a year could they have installed another faulty torque converter? What can I do?08”
NHTSA complaint #10896969, filed 2016-08, 100,000 miles“I was driving my 2005 Ford Freestar van to work. My trip to work was just like any other day. No problems and worry free. I was at work pulling into my parking place and it was just like someone had put the vehicle in neutral. The vehicle will not move in any gear, or in any direction. This has been an issue for many people now including myself.”
NHTSA complaint #10384125, filed 2011-02, 87,877 miles“I had a torque converter replaced 4 days ago on my van due to a recall and 4 days after repair my car shuts down in the middle of driving. Now the Ford dealer is telling me it has nothing to do with the torque converter which I find impossible since I haven't had any other issues before with my car just your basic brake repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #10481575, filed 2012-10, 56,000 miles“After having the torque converter replaced as the recall says I noticed that the transmission was doing good but right outside the warrenty mileage I noticed that it started acting kinda like before after several months guess what as I was climbing up a hill on my driveway the transmission stopped pulling starting to roll backwards and making a grinding noise as for it to recall the torque converter then why has it once again almost like me with loss of all gears yet no new recall had been added why did it do this again?”
NHTSA complaint #11397067, filed 2021-02, 389,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V006000Jan 9, 2012Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft may fail.Covers: Ford Freestar 2004–2005, Mercury Monterey 2004–2005
Related service bulletins
- 10016808Oct 11, 2005Erratic fluid level reading on transaxle dipstick-leaks-4f50n, ax4n, ax4s transaxle.
- 10017862Jul 1, 2005Vehicles with a cvt transaxle, may exhibit a fluid leak from the transaxle oil pan area.
- 10017552Jan 1, 2005A broken outer c/v joint on vehicles built before 5/1/2005.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
- 10011157Sep 6, 20044f50n transaxle no 1-2 upshift and diagnositc trouble code p0732.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Freestar
85 complaintsEngine
53 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsEngine cooling
35 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsSeats
20 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsElectronic stability control
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Ford Freestar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology