IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY FORD FREE STAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VAN TOTALLY BURNED.
2006 Ford Freestar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freestar years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
1825–50K
4750–75K
9275–100K
105100–150K
38150K+
325 reports with mileage · 31 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 254 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
356 reportsWHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY. 163 NEAR MONUMENT VALLEY, UT. AND THEN JUST INTO AZ., I WAS PULLING OVER @ DIFF. TURN-OUT FOR PICTURE TAKING. I PULLED OUT OF ONE, MANEUVERED BACK ONTO HWY. A SHORT BIT WHEN I REALIZED THE 2006 FORD FREESTAR I WS DRIVING WAS GOING NOWHERE, JUST ROLLING FRM OWN WEIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO SIDE, STILL TOO CLOS…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY. 163 NEAR MONUMENT VALLEY, UT. AND THEN JUST INTO AZ., I WAS PULLING OVER @ DIFF. TURN-OUT FOR PICTURE TAKING. I PULLED OUT OF ONE, MANEUVERED BACK ONTO HWY. A SHORT BIT WHEN I REALIZED THE 2006 FORD FREESTAR I WS DRIVING WAS GOING NOWHERE, JUST ROLLING FRM OWN WEIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO SIDE, STILL TOO CLOSE TO TRAFFIC, AND STOPPED AND RE-STARTED IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD RE-ENGAGE THE GEARS. NO, ONLY ENGINE REVVING. I WAS OUT THERE FOR MANY HRS. WITH NO PHONE SIGNA. FINALLY SOMEONE WENT AND GOT MECHANIC BROTHER TO COME OUT WITH HIS PICK-UP TRUCK, CHAINS, AND TRAILER WITH RAMPS. NEXT DAY IT WAS TAKEN BY TOW TRUCK TO FORD OF PAGE, AZ. THEY WANT $3700 FOR WHOLE TRANSMISSION. THEY DO NOT KNOW OF THIS PENDING PROCEDURE FOR SAFETY RE-CALL, BUT WILL CALL FORD ON MON. ALSO TOLD HIM MY VAN IS MY HOME, I AM OVER THE ROAD TRANSPORTER, AND WOULD HAVE TO CAMP OUT IN DEALER-SHIP LOT INDEFINITELY. THE PTICE IS NOW $3000. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 73,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR DISENGAGES WHEN THE LATCH OPENS, CAUSING IT TO FALL IMMEDIATELY. THROUGH THE INTERNET, SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS I…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR DISENGAGES WHEN THE LATCH OPENS, CAUSING IT TO FALL IMMEDIATELY. THROUGH THE INTERNET, SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED BY STANDING UNDER THE LATCH OF THE VEHICLE AS THE MOTOR DISENGAGES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE 2006 FORD FREESTAR MINI VAN BOTH OF THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ALL FREESTARS BUT ONLY SOME OF THE 2004 MODELS WERE GOVERNED BY RECALL. THIS IS THE SECOND FREESTAR THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBL…
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WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE 2006 FORD FREESTAR MINI VAN BOTH OF THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ALL FREESTARS BUT ONLY SOME OF THE 2004 MODELS WERE GOVERNED BY RECALL. THIS IS THE SECOND FREESTAR THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTAR THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. TWICE I LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT WOULDN'T START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND IT WAS FINE NOW. THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. IN JANUARY 2009 IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. I WAITED A FEW MI…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD FREESTAR THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. TWICE I LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT WOULDN'T START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND IT WAS FINE NOW. THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. IN JANUARY 2009 IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED BACK UP. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER THE SECOND TIME. THEY SAID THERE WAS WATER IN MY POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND REPLACED IT. I HAVE NOT LOST POWER SINCE THEN. I AM NOW HAVING SOME PROBLEMS STARTING THE VAN. THE VAN HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP A MINIMUM OF 30 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS BUT IT IS NEVER THE SAME PROBLEM SO THE LEMON LAW DOES NOT APPLY IN MY STATE. *TR
ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. THE CAR STARTED BRAKING AND COULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH AT THE TIME. I CALLED FORD DEALER WHO GAVE ME NO HELP. I BROUGHT TO MY REGULAR MECHANICS AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES THAT SHOWED UP, BUT THERE IS A TECHNICAL S…
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ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. THE CAR STARTED BRAKING AND COULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH AT THE TIME. I CALLED FORD DEALER WHO GAVE ME NO HELP. I BROUGHT TO MY REGULAR MECHANICS AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES THAT SHOWED UP, BUT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB07-10-11. THIS DESCRIBES IT AS A "NUISANCE". IT IS MORE LIKE A SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IF YOU LOOK ON WWW.FORDFORUM.COM, YOU'LL SEE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THIS WAY. *TR
ON THE RAINY EVENING OF MARCH 10, 2009, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO AN UNLIT RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING. I WAS PUSHING THE GAS AND HEARING THE ENGINE CHANGE BUT WITH MY CAR IN "D" THERE WAS NO MOTION. WIT…
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ON THE RAINY EVENING OF MARCH 10, 2009, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO AN UNLIT RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING. I WAS PUSHING THE GAS AND HEARING THE ENGINE CHANGE BUT WITH MY CAR IN "D" THERE WAS NO MOTION. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL RUNNING, I TRIED THE OTHER MOVEMENT GEARS WITH NO REACTION. MY CAR HAD JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED ON THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING! THANK GOODNESS THAT WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT NIGHT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND WHATEVER OTHER WORK WAS REQUIRED TO GET IT WORKING. THEY ONLY GAVE ME A 1 YR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH IS JUST SCARY. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR JUST OVER A WEEK. HAVE NOTICED THAT IT NOW SEEMS TO OCCASIONALLY HESITATE WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MY 2006 FORD FREESTAR (24,000 MI.) VAN COMPLETELY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS AT ALL, IT JUST DIED. I SAFELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUSHED IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. LATER IN THE DAY THEY STARTED IT RIGHT UP, CHECKED IT ALL OUT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I WAS VE…
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WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MY 2006 FORD FREESTAR (24,000 MI.) VAN COMPLETELY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS AT ALL, IT JUST DIED. I SAFELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUSHED IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. LATER IN THE DAY THEY STARTED IT RIGHT UP, CHECKED IT ALL OUT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NOBODY STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINS ONLINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. THIS VAN HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. *TR
THE SPINES IN THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAIL BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT HARDENED . WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE STOPS AND CAN NOT MOVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS , AND AT SOME POINT ( IF IT HASN'T ALREADY) WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND POSSIBLE DEATH. *TR
Official recalls
213V081000 · Seats
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
06V069000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
Mar 9, 2006
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EQ12010 · Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Opened Sep 28, 2012 · Closed Dec 31, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
EA12003 · Corrosion Of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Opened Apr 23, 2012 · Closed May 2, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:mid/rear Assembly; Structure; Structure:body
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Seats
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.
Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.
Structure:body
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.
Structure
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.
PE10033 · Engine Stalling
Opened Aug 23, 2010 · Closed Jul 15, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Vehicle Speed Control
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse. Also the problem could cause a higher than normal idle RPM in Park, or for the radio to malfunction, or the interior lights to stay on.During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk.In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend.For example, the number of engine stalls identified in Ford's warranty claims for the model year (MY) 2004 subject vehicles, the MY with the most failures, was 200 out of population of 125,865, for a failure rate of 0.16%.The one crash recorded by a complainant to NHTSA, VOQ 10311522, alleged that the engine stalled, due to water intrusion into the PCM, while the road was turning causing her to go off the road and according to the police report the vehicle then hit an embankment and a tree stump. Ford reported in their response that there were three alleged crashes but none of these were validated as being caused by a problem with water intrusion into the PCM causing a stall.Accordingly this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse. Also the problem could cause a higher than normal idle RPM in Park, or for the radio to malfunction, or the interior lights to stay on.During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk.In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend.For example, the number of engine stalls identified in Ford's warranty claims for the model year (MY) 2004 subject vehicles, the MY with the most failures, was 200 out of population of 125,865, for a failure rate of 0.16%.The one crash recorded by a complainant to NHTSA, VOQ 10311522, alleged that the engine stalled, due to water intrusion into the PCM, while the road was turning causing her to go off the road and according to the police report the vehicle then hit an embankment and a tree stump. Ford reported in their response that there were three alleged crashes but none of these were validated as being caused by a problem with water intrusion into the PCM causing a stall.Accordingly this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.
Vehicle Speed Control
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse. Also the problem could cause a higher than normal idle RPM in Park, or for the radio to malfunction, or the interior lights to stay on.During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk.In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend.For example, the number of engine stalls identified in Ford's warranty claims for the model year (MY) 2004 subject vehicles, the MY with the most failures, was 200 out of population of 125,865, for a failure rate of 0.16%.The one crash recorded by a complainant to NHTSA, VOQ 10311522, alleged that the engine stalled, due to water intrusion into the PCM, while the road was turning causing her to go off the road and according to the police report the vehicle then hit an embankment and a tree stump. Ford reported in their response that there were three alleged crashes but none of these were validated as being caused by a problem with water intrusion into the PCM causing a stall.Accordingly this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.