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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  Get rid of it now before its too late!! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Willbuyatoyota - September 26 - 3:06 pm

  Bought this car in 04 with 10 miles on it. Since 36,000 miles front bearing problems, took it in 3 times for brakes squealing/ very soft brakes (dealership couldnt find anything wrong) and the last straw 50,038 miles torque converter and transmission problems. We were stopped at a stop sign, wouldnt move. Research is telling me this is a common problem with 04 and 05. Not enough crashes or deaths for Ford to make a recall. My family has driven Fords since the 60s, not anymore.

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  Nice Van Overall, but Bad Brakes - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Iowa Van - August 29 - 8:46 pm

  I like the interior design. This is my first van. I have owned primarily SUVs for 15 years. The brakes were pulsating a year ago and I took it in and the dealer said I needed new pads. I took it to a brake shop and they said the pads were fine. I put new pads on and had the rotors turned and the problem is back. The fan in the heat/AC broke the first 2 months. The gasket on the rear door leaks in a hard rain and in a car wash. Terrible gas mileage. Had to get new tires after 40,000 miles.

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  2006 SEL 4.2 - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By tarichra4 - August 26 - 7:18 pm

  We spent 3 months searching for the exact Freestar after having a 99 Explorer Sport. Decided to go with Ford because of styling and our dedication to Ford. Good choice for us. We found the exact van we wanted in Norsea Blue, SEL, bucket 2nd row, DVD, 4.2 engine and 17 inch rims, and just under 36,000 miles. Drove our 93 Escort 4 hours to get it. Very nice van, great exterior styling, better than GM and Chrysler. Ample power for a van, no major problems to date. Only things I notice are rear side defroster doesnt work, rear hatch struts creak in winter, has an exhaust droan right off idle, both side doors rattle over bumps,and a slight speedometer/rpm cluster noise We love it and plan to keep it

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  Best minivan Ford built - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Mark - August 5 - 7:54 pm

  Have almost 90,000 miles on mine and havent had any mechanical problems. Whats more by keeping rpms at 2000 at speed at 55-60 am getting 23 mpg highway. Van is fun to drive. Has a lot of torque for V6 and is comfortable and roomy. Very little fatigue on long trips. Road noise could be a bit better but its not bad. Owned Windstars before this and this was definitely best one Ford built. Sorry its not being made anymore.

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  disappointed - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By hey you - July 17 - 10:00 am

  I have only test driven a Freestar. I have a 1992 Aerostar XL. I hate to get rid of it. The Freestar dash design is excellent and the seating seems good. I have owned many Fords and they have generally been good for me. I have decided against the Freestar because I cannot put a 4x8 sheet of plywood in it. Ford in their infinite wisdom shrunk the interior width. I guess I have to save a little longer and get a Sienna which is not as good inside.

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  Worth the money, Check it out! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By K. Bartley - July 17 - 10:00 am

  Debated for 3 months over Ford, Honda and Toyota. I am VERY happy I bought this. With rebates MUCH cheaper than both and great value for the money. I know Honda and Toyota keep their value better, but this van is awesome. I own a Honda so I know about reliability. I have heard horror stories about all cars so I went with what I believe is the best value. I have the DVD, Quad buckets, power pedals, cargo net and Red paint. My wife still cant believe we own a van now but even she admits its nice. Bottom line for us. $5K cheaper and same warranty. Doubt anything will happen to cost us $5K in repairs before warranty runs out so here we are. A GREAT VAN!

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  Ford Freestar Review - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Lisa - June 20 - 2:17 pm

  My minivan is great exept for 2 things. Acording to my digital dashboard, my fuel economy is currently 14.9. Not so good at $4.00 a gallon gas. My brakes are squeaky. I have had them checked several times, and the brake pads are fine. I was told its a "Ford thing".

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  Love this vehicle - 2007 Ford Freestar
  By Jo Jo - June 16 - 10:11 am

  We are Ford people. The Freestyle is a great combo vehicle. We love the complete fold down back. Now I am hooked on the heated seats and the memory seating (things I never thought I would need) The sound system is not as good as it could be (we previously had Lincolns and Marquis) it is actually irritating on some stations, but the CDs seem to play very well. Adjusting the heating/AC is strange. We just dont seem to understand it. Give me the simple turn button controls. When I am driving I do not have time to think about all of those buttons. All in all, we love the handling, the body style, the room and the three sets of seats. On trips 22-23 MPG. It is easy in/out.

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  Review - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Louise - June 13 - 12:14 am

  We have had our van a month and love it! It is actually fun to drive! We have plenty of room and there is a DVD player for our grandkids!! If youre looking for a sporty reliable van this is the one to get!

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  Underrated Minivan - 2007 Ford Freestar
  By TedH - May 29 - 10:16 pm

  After driving my wifes "04 Freestar Limited for 3 years, I went out and bought an 07 Sport for the business. Compared to Japanese models, the Freestar is quite a good drive. Im surprised by the overall reliability, but ticked at the minor breakdowns of simple things. A good product, but backed by inferior Ford service departments.