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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  Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Trish - April 12 - 5:12 pm

  I love our Freestar. It has all the options, and is fun and completely practical for our family of seven! I would recommend this minivan to anyone looking for a safe, reliable, family friendly minivan.

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  I love this van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Michelle Scott - April 9 - 4:23 am

  The features on this van astound me. I really enjoy driving this van. Id had a Chevy Astro van before, and this one drives more like a car. The styling and comfort of this vehicle are very impressive.

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  NICE VAN - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By TREVOR - April 2 - 3:28 pm

  I found my van to be not like the reviews said it to be - nice interior and great gas economy, and way more torque than any other van. Third row seats fold flat into foor and the DVD system is great for the kids.The bottom line is the vans are all the same but the Ford was way cheaper the Honda or Toyota and I feel the Ford Freestar is just as good as both of those vans. My wife loves the van for it gives her a good view of the road and has adjustable pedals which no other company offers

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  Bought it for price - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By shoob - April 2 - 12:22 am

  Bought Freestar SEL 4.2 for $14,800. 2004 leftover - list price $30,440. Van rides nice so far. Concerned about the electronic problems. The day i picked it up the driver door lock was not working. 5 days later indash 6 CD player not working and had to be replaced. I have 1,000 miles and I have to bring it in to get the brakes checked out. When applied hard theres a lot of vibration. Van is good looking and feels safe. The fuel economy could be improved along with the horsepower. We were going to buy a used Odyessy but we couldnt pass up the discount and rebates from Ford. Interior design looks cheap and cold. I suggest buying extended warranty.

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  My Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Jodi - March 29 - 2:21 pm

  Very reliable. A little lacking in power but a definite sense of security when you drive this vehicle.

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  Please read before purchasing Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Paul - March 26 - 1:46 pm

  This purchase unfortunately has been a disappointment. The Ford dealer was willing to give a good discount but we wound up with a very uncomfortable minivan. The second and third row of seats offer very poor leg room and on long trips it almost becomes unbearable. If I had to do it over again I would have definitely taken a closer look at the Sienna or Odyssey. Ford doesnt have its act together in this car at all.

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  Best value - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By John - March 22 - 9:08 pm

  With the marginal press reviews this van gets, discounts are plentiful. Very quiet and comfortable. Zero problems so far.

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  Freestar SES - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By George E. - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Not a van person but I love the Freestar. I compared it to Honda and Toyota minivans and more bang for the buck. Test drove a SES with 16 inch wheels on the highway with wind gusts to 70 mph and very stable. Ordered the SES with 17 inch wheels and stability is even better. Love the room, safety features, acceleration, looks and the quiet ride.

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  Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By aperry - March 19 - 5:04 pm

  This van, while very safe feeling, handles more like a small truck.

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  About the same as the Windstar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Family in MI - March 18 - 11:25 am

  I traded in my Windstar which was one big electrical problem. And it seems I just got a new version of the Windstar. Still electrical problems. Ive had the electric door module fixed twice in 5 months. The door ajar light stays on with the dome lights when the module goes out. Had the same problem with my Windstar. The quality inside is worse than the Windstar and has cheaper plastic. But it looks nice inside. I just dont feel the quality is there. I dont like that you cant get cloth seats in the Limited. I dont like leather, its too hard and uncomfortable. I like the van, but it isnt my best choice. I should have shopped better.