Overview & Reviews

With its Freestar, Ford learned the hard way that in the world of automobiles, there are few segments more cutthroat than the minivan category. Moms have ruthlessly high standards when it comes to their family transportation, and only those haulers with the most compelling mix of refinement, convenience features and luxury amenities survive. The Ford Freestar's sales had been disappointing from the outset, and as a result, 2007 was its last year of production. Crossovers, Ford believes, are the future of family transportation.

Ford's minivan wasn't completely without merit. Safety is an important factor in minivans, and in this area, the Freestar didn't come up short. It earned a perfect five stars in NHTSA frontal crash tests, and mothers and their pint-sized soccer stars were protected with features like standard stability control and optional side curtain airbags. Unfortunately, its success in this area paled in the face of its litany of shortcomings, which included sluggish acceleration, dismal fuel economy, ungainly handling and an unimpressive cabin.

For these reasons, savvy used minivan shoppers will find the Ford Freestar a relatively unsatisfactory proposition. If you're looking for a minivan, you'll no doubt find your needs better served by one of its competitors.

Most Recent Ford Freestar

The Ford Freestar was a seven-passenger minivan. Three trim levels were offered: SE, SEL and Limited. The Freestar could also be had in a cargo van body style, making it ideal for contractors needing a light-duty hauler.

The base SE trim was reasonably well equipped, with air-conditioning, full power accessories, a CD player and keyless entry all standard. The SEL added tri-zone air-conditioning, a power driver seat and second-row captain's chairs. The top-of-the-line Limited included upgrades such as chrome wheels, leather upholstery and automatic climate control.

Two engines were offered. A 3.9-liter V6 for the SE provided 193 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The SEL and Limited trims got a 4.2-liter V6 that generated 201 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. Neither engine was especially frugal, turning in real-world fuel economy numbers that were among the poorest in the segment.

At first blush, the Freestar's cabin seemed like a winner. But a closer look revealed shortcomings. Materials looked nice but to the touch became apparent as subpar for the segment. The legroom in the second row was cramped. The lack of versatility didn't help either. Those second-row seats were heavy and tough to remove. And though the third-row seat folded flat, it didn't offer a 60/40 split like virtually all others in its class. At 135.7 cubes, cargo capacity fell short relative to others in the segment.

In editorial reviews, the Ford Freestar earned praise for having reasonable around-town power and a forgiving ride. The engines didn't fare as well when pushed, though, as they ran out of breath when quick passing was attempted. Performance was exacerbated by the van's aged four-speed automatic transmission -- most competitors used more advanced five-speed units. Also, the engines had a rougher, noisier power delivery than nearly any other V6 in the minivan segment. In consumer ratings, the Freestar was panned for its poor ride quality and dismal fuel economy.

Past Ford Freestar models

Ford introduced the Freestar back in model-year 2004 to replace the aged Windstar, which was sold from 1995-2003. Although Ford touted it as an all-new vehicle, the Freestar minivan was little more than a rebadged Windstar with minor upgrades, including a freshened interior equipped with a fold-flat third-row seat. A pair of more powerful V6 engines replaced the Windstar's 3.8-liter V6. Unfortunately, Ford's minivan put on weight during the transition, so even with the larger of the V6s, it was no faster than before and slightly less fuel-efficient to boot. This made the Freestar about as appealing as, well, the Windstar. Straight off the bat, it was trampled by the competition, both import and domestic, and Ford did little to rectify the situation.

The Freestar remained pretty much unchanged for its production duration, so buyers shopping for one on the used market will find few differences between the model years.

User Reviews:

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  Dont Buy unless you have lots of money! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Honda 4 Me - April 14 - 12:48 pm

  Well when buying this hellish nightmare called a freestar I thought I was going to be getting a good vehicle. Was I so wrong! About 30,000 km in I started to get a wheel noise brought back to dealer 3xs they couldnt hear it. I asked the mechanic and he said they know what it was but couldnt replace both. I was a bit peeve and now out of warranty I am more peeved! I have 85,000 km and now paint is peeling so I called to Ford today and asked what they are going to do about it and there response is it is your problem. It is a well know fact the primer on these Ford vans is no good! Also went to trade it in and only worth get ready for it $4,000 wow after shelling out $17,000 2 years ago!

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  Nannies van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By nannieb43 - April 7 - 4:12 pm

  Ive enjoyed driving and hauling with this vehicle for 4 yrs. Because of distance from town and present gas prices, Im looking for a hybrid to replace it. I will miss the roominess and ability to haul almost anything I need.

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  Junk - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By padge24 - March 26 - 11:19 pm

  Torque converter failed at 40,000 miles. Brakes are a constant issue, poor design. Gas mileage is worse than most other minivans. Save your money and look at a different brand of van. I have owned a Ford Escort, Taurus, Ranger p/u, Explorer and currently also drive an F150 p/u. I dont have any complaints with any of those vehicles but the Freestar is a piece of junk. Hope I was clear.

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  Almost A Perfect Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Loyal Ford Buyer - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Owned a Mercury Villager before this vehicle. This is more spacious and has a much better ride. Second row of captain seats are a little narrow for an adult and the rear seat has little leg room for an adult and is uncomfortable for two. Rear restraint for a child hangs down from the ceiling and can be distracting when looking in the rear view mirror. When passengers in the rear are watching a DVD forget about seeing anything in the rear view mirror. When dropping kids off for sports and the van is running exhaust fumes enter van when tailgate is open.

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  Bought this brand new falling apart - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By momma2 - February 18 - 2:27 pm

  We bought this since my husband is an employee of Ford and we do everything suppose to change oil etc. Our warranty was up and that day our fuel gage went we got a fuel comm error not found on the manual called around to get prices Ford dealership wants to charge me 400 for diagnostic test not including to fix it. The traction control has a mind on its own works sometimes. I have a honda too its a 97 and we havent had this many problems. I wanted to buy Ford since my husband works for them but We are already thinking about getting rid of it . They need to recall them!!!

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  Freestar won my heart! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By KennyMA - February 8 - 2:00 am

  For anyone who has been looking at Minivans, you cant beat the Ford Freestar for the money. The torque is unbelievable (4.2L) and the third row seat is great. Im not sure if Ill ever use the tailgating feature, but its sure nice to have it if you need it. The way the seat folds to the floor is the best design. I can store pretty much anything in there. Im very happy and I cant believe Ive found a minivan for my wife that I enjoy driving.

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  Flaw in brake cylinder design - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Israel Barbosa - February 6 - 11:27 pm

  The vehicle is not that good when negotiating a sharp, vehicle leans too much. Rear brake calipers cost me $499.00 they have to be replaced if they extend to far out. Was told by a large reputable brake company, that the caliper is poorly designed and this problem happens frequently with two Ford vans: the Freestar and the Freestyle. the company should address this flaw and replace them with a system that doesnt cost the consumer hundreds to replace Fords poorly designed rear brake system. looking forward to hear something from the Ford company, im tempted to inform consumer report, the media etc, etc. Also had to have my 6 cd player changed the disc were getting jammed.

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  Not a soccer mom - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Ontoni - February 3 - 1:20 am

  Im not a soccer mom but i have two teens and a big dog. this vehicle fits the bill. comfort, smooth ride and space. It may not be the fastest thing on the road but it will cruise up to 70 and youll not even know how you got there.

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  Get an Import! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By DIsappointed - February 1 - 4:10 pm

  We have had this for two years and have been to the shop numerous times. The handle on the rear door has fallen off three times, for no reason at all. Since the dealership cannot fix it right, my husband has finally just bolted it to work and stay on. We also have had the radio/CD/Tape console replaced. The mileage could be better. The third row seat can only comfortably seat 3 kids. As I write this, it is broken down at the bus stop and I had to haul my 5 & 3 year old home in the rain! I have owned Hondas since 1992 and decided to take a chance on this Ford due to the great price. Sometimes you get what you pay for! Take my advice, buy the Honda. I know I will next time.

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  Solid, reliable transportation - 2007 Ford Freestar
  By cradimer - January 8 - 5:35 pm

  Vehicle has performed as well as the 2000 Windstar it replaced but with more power for trailer-pulling and better fuel economy.Rear door rattles and front door mis-alignment were corrected by dealer. Very stable on highway excellent visibility. Easy to lower rear seat to carry longer cargo.