IllustrationTRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY AVENUE, JUST BEFORE AN INTERSECTION.
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 reportsMOM WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, SHE WAS ON THE SECOND LANE SO THEIR IS CARS GOING BY AT 60 MILES PLUS ON THE SIDES, THE VAN CAME TO A SLOW STOP AND WITH CARS BARELY MISSING US AND CAUSING A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. WE FINALLY HAD A TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT IS A FRIEND OF MINE COME TO OUR RESC…
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MOM WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, SHE WAS ON THE SECOND LANE SO THEIR IS CARS GOING BY AT 60 MILES PLUS ON THE SIDES, THE VAN CAME TO A SLOW STOP AND WITH CARS BARELY MISSING US AND CAUSING A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. WE FINALLY HAD A TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT IS A FRIEND OF MINE COME TO OUR RESCUE. MOM IS SCARED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY EVER SINCE. I GOT ON THE INTERNET THAT SAME DAY AND FOUND OUT FORD RECALLED THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR BUT THAT SAME WOMAN TORQUE CONVERTER USED ON THE 2006 MODEL WAS NOT , THE SAME ONE ME AND MY MOM WERE NOT ONLY US BUT OTHER DRIVERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. AND IF I MAY SAY THE VAN ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT. AND I'VE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE SAME 2006 MODEL WITH DIFFERENT OWNERS, PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR
MY 2006 FORD FREE STAR STOPPED ON THE ROAD YESTERDAY MORNING. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. NO WAY TO CHANGE GEARS.FORD REFUSES TO DO A RECALL ON 2006 YEAR MODELS BUT DID SO FOR 2004-2005 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
MY RADIO GOES OFF BY ITSELF, AND ALL LIGHT FLICKER EVEN WHEN DRIVING OF A NIGHT. IT IS NOW MAKING A SOUND LIKE TIGHT BELTS...BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY READY TO BREAK. FORD YOU REALLY MESSED UP ON THIS ONE! I NO LONGER LIKE HAVING A FORD CAR! I HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT ALTERNATORS ON THE CAR AND IT HAS NOT HELPED! *TR
MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD COLLISION CENTER IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA AFTER I HEARD RUBBING ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THE RUST CORROSION OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS IS SO SEVERE THAT THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER AT UNIVERSITY FORD IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA REFUSES TO DO THE REPAIR AS SPECIFIED BY FORD MOT…
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MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD COLLISION CENTER IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA AFTER I HEARD RUBBING ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THE RUST CORROSION OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS IS SO SEVERE THAT THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER AT UNIVERSITY FORD IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA REFUSES TO DO THE REPAIR AS SPECIFIED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE UNSAFE. I HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA (10913700) BUT I REQUEST HELP IN COMPELLING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EITHER PERFORM A PROPER REPAIR OR REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.
THE TRANSMISSION AND ACCELERATION FAIL TO RESPOND ON A RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY. SWITCHING MANUALLY TO 1 OR 3 WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF I GO TO NEUTRAL WHEN IT STILL ROLLING THE GAS PEDAL WORKS. ON THE OTHER GEARS IT STAYS AT ABOUT 60KPH, 2000 RPM. I CAN'T GAIN ANY SPEED TO MERGE TO THE HIGHWAY, SO I HAVE TO GO TO THE SHOULDER, TUR…
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THE TRANSMISSION AND ACCELERATION FAIL TO RESPOND ON A RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY. SWITCHING MANUALLY TO 1 OR 3 WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF I GO TO NEUTRAL WHEN IT STILL ROLLING THE GAS PEDAL WORKS. ON THE OTHER GEARS IT STAYS AT ABOUT 60KPH, 2000 RPM. I CAN'T GAIN ANY SPEED TO MERGE TO THE HIGHWAY, SO I HAVE TO GO TO THE SHOULDER, TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, TURN OFF ENGINE, WAIT A MOMENT AND THEN EVERYTHING IS OK. IT HAS HAPPENED ALWAYS ON THE SAME SPOT GOING DOWNHILL THE RAMP. AT LEAST 5 TIMES. ON THE AREA THERE IS A STOP LIGHT CONTROLLED BY RADIO FOR THE MAIN TRAFFIC AND ABOUT 200 METERS THERE IS AN HYDRO TRANSFORMER STATION, OTHERWISE JUST REGULAR BUILDINGS. I DON'T RECALL IT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER PLACE. I WONDER IF IT COULD BE RADIO INTERFERENCE THAT AFFECTS THE COMPUTER AND MAKES IT FAIL TO RESPOND AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, IT RESETS BY ITSELF.
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 380 ON 10/6/2016 AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. SUDDENLY (AROUND MILE MARKER 13-14), THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH AND THE VAN DECELERATED. I WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND WAS DANGEROUSLY DECELERA…
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TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 380 ON 10/6/2016 AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. SUDDENLY (AROUND MILE MARKER 13-14), THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH AND THE VAN DECELERATED. I WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AND WAS DANGEROUSLY DECELERATING IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE INTERSTATE. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (CUTTING OFF A SEMI-TRUCK) WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PROPULSION. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE DRIVE WHEELS. THERE WAS NO WARNING THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THE VAN JUST SUDDENLY STARTED DECELERATING RAPIDLY ON THE INTERSTATE. I NOTICED QUICKLY BECAUSE THE ENGINE REVVED UP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LET GO. I HAD THE VAN TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE I LEFT IT FOR THEM TO REVIEW THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED COMPLETELY. I ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS A RECALL INVOLVED WITH THIS COMPONENT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE 2006 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FREESTAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CONFIRMED THAT MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 98,000 MILES ON IT, ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2006 MODEL. IT APPEARS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005 MODELS. THE REPAIR COST IS ROUGHLY $1,400.
I WAS TRAVEL HOME AND HAD JUST TURN A CORNER. THE VEHICLE WAS CLIMBING A LOW HILL AND SUDDENLY LOST MONUMENT. I CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THE GAS PELLET AND COULD HEAR THE ENGINE RUN UP WITH OUT THE CAR PICKING UP ANY MORE SPEED. I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AND AS CLOSE AS I COULD TO THE CURB. THIS STILL DID…
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMEDIED DUE TO THE TECHNICIAN STATING THAT THE CORROSION WAS TOO SEVERE TO PERFORM THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMEDIED DUE TO THE TECHNICIAN STATING THAT THE CORROSION WAS TOO SEVERE TO PERFORM THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INDEPENDENT DECELERATION. THE MAINTENANCE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INDEPENDENT DECELERATION. THE MAINTENANCE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. ..UPDATED 10/18/16 *BF
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.