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:

• 

  So far, so good - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By mom of 2 - July 4 - 8:58 pm

  I dreaded moving from my Subaru to a minivan, but I love my Freestar! Bought it used (it was a corporate lease) and saved about $15,000 off new price. The 4.2 liter engines gives me plenty of power and considering the size of the vehicle, Im not unhappy with the fuel economy. Ive gotten about 18 mph so far. I like the feeling that Im driving the vehicle, its not driving me, like with the Caravan and Sienna I tested. I will buy an extended warranty just in case. Time will tell.

• 

  Freestar - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By Freestar - June 26 - 1:15 pm

  The Freestar was the best van for me and my family. It had better exterior styling than the Chevrolet Uplander or the Venture. It also had a more refined interior than the Chevy vans. It was more comfort table and versatile and fit in with our life styles more.

• 

  Overlooked sibling - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By Minivan devotee - June 25 - 1:38 pm

  This is the overlooked sibling of the minivan market, but having driven Chrysler vans and the first-generation Honda van, I can tell you this is a excellent bargain. I bought mine second-hand with about 5K miles on it, and paid at least $10K less than the more popular vans. The basic SE model has a number of convenience features in the cabin, including a flexible seating plan, lots of cup holders, etc. Only mechanical problem so far (now have 12K miles) was a leaking transmission gasket, repaired under warranty, but still a hassle.

• 

  Back to the Drawing Board - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Bill Wilson - June 23 - 10:41 pm

  The Freestar is a let down compared to the Windstar I traded in on it. Ford has been trying to play catch up with Honda and Toyota for years and fell flat on their face for the Freestar. I have returned to the dealership 9 times for quality related repairs. 3 of which are a non fixable brake squeal that will bring you out of your seat when you hear it. They manufactured a kit that adjust the pads so the squeal is quieter, but the pad braces keep breaking because they are made from cheap thin sheet metal. The rear captains chairs threads are even coming apart at the seams and they are only used 1% of the time when I have someone riding in the back. I have purchased my last FORD.

• 

  dont buy this - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By bwmcc - June 17 - 12:16 am

  I have had this minivan since Jan 05. This is a company vehicle so luckily i didnt have to buy this. Been in the shop twice for engine knock and check engine light. Had to replace the gas tank and the knock is better but still there at highway speeds. Was in the shop total of 9 days. If this was my personal vehicle I would be very annoyed. Give me my Caravan back!

• 

  On par with other vehicles Ive owned - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Dave - June 11 - 11:55 am

  If you want a solid minivan then you should consider this one. I looked at the other competitors and theyre all great. I made the final decision on price and dealer experience. My second choice was the Nissan, third Honda, and last Toyota. I simply refuse to buy a Toyota because the dealers never budge on price. Ive driven Ford and Nissan products and will stick with them in the future.

• 

  Rattles and noises - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By James Littlefield - May 25 - 4:37 pm

  Isnt it possible for Ford to build an auto that doesnt have rattles in it and doesnt sound like a cement mixer when idling? Friends of ours have a new Toyoda van and when idling, it is impossible to hear it running. My new Freestar sounds like a cement mixer compared to the Toyota. Also at times there is a noise from behind the dash that sounds 100% like a tuning fork. Have taken van back to garage, and of course it doesnt act up! Am I the only one that has had these problems?

• 

  Surprisingly Happy with Purcahse - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By sjb - May 24 - 10:06 am

  I traded in a SUV for the Freestar and was very surprised how much I liked the Freestar. It has great functionality (a lot of storrage for your stuff), easy access in/out for the children, and it has a smooth & comfortable ride (4.2L good power). Its interior looks great. I wish I would have bought this vehicle much earlier.

• 

  Fab Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Howard Groce - May 23 - 9:02 am

  We bought our Freestar in September 2004 and have really enjoyed it. Styling is outstanding and reliability is unquestionable. Fuel economy is less than I had expected.

• 

  An In the Shop Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Brent McKee - May 10 - 2:30 pm

  I have had numerous electrical problems with my Freestar. I downsized from a Mavigator and knew that there would be a dramatic difference in comfort options. The mid-seats are very difficult to remove and the back seat is not comfortable for a average sized adult. I have had the vehicle in for service on eight different occasions with electrical problems Ford has changed out the dash electronic twice and the passenger side power window motor once. I have never been so dissatisfied with a vehicle and based on this experience, I will now be looking a lot closer at imports.