2005 Ford Freestar SEL 4.2 V6 from North America

Summary:

Wonderful mini van. Kids love it!

Faults:

Missing the rear wiper nut cover (Replaced promptly by the dealer when I got my first oil change)

Other than that.. NO problems.

General Comments:

So far my family loves our Freestar. It replaced my wife's trusty 1995 Subaru Impreza All Wheel Drive which she misses, but we needed the room.

It has a wonderful ride, quite interior, comfortable seats (Both front and middle. The rear bench is for children, but OK for adults) Purchased with the DVD entertainment package which is wonderfully integrated with the front stereo/CD/Cassette player and 3 zone AC/heating unit.

Mechanical and electrical reliability is excellent so far.. so I guess Ford finally worked out all the bugs from the previous Windstar on this model. Fit and finish surprisingly excellent!

(I own a BMW)

Dealer included a 100 month 100k miles power-train warranty to ease my reservations about this domestic vehicle. I would highly recommend this mini van to anyone looking for a reliable (so far) and comfortable family vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th August, 2005

20th Sep 2005, 11:04

I too can appreciate your sckepticism towards buying a Ford product, but all in all, I think you made a good choice.

For the price, the Freestar is perhaps the best combination of room and convenience offered in a mini van by any manufacturer. Granted Honda and Toyoto are perceived to have better build quality, but, you pay a lot more for them and I really don't think ether models are completely trouble free. They do have great resale values though.

Even though my children have all grown and left the nest, I intend on trading my Kia Sedona for a new Freestar this year. My wife really likes the hide-a-way rear seat that can also be configured to face the rear, similar to the station wagons of old.

I am a bit leary about buying another Ford product, the previous Fords I've owned have proven to be less than stellar, but, according to some automotive journalists, Ford is hanging their reputation on both the Freestar and Freestyle. This remains to be seen. My Sedona was less than stellar too.

You mentioned that your dealer threw in a 100 month / 100,000 mile warranty to persuade you. Is this a Ford or an after-market warranty, what is the retail price of the warranty and, what does it cover? I might be open to a little arm twisting myself to make a deal.

Well good luck with your purchase, keep us posted on your adventures with Ford and your Freestar.

8th Jan 2010, 01:43

We bought a used 2005 Freestar two years ago and have loved it. It really does handle like a sports car, compared to other minivans I've driven. We bought it with 28k miles; now have 70k and still have the original tires! (Michelins) I don't believe in rotating tires; the fronts are due to be replaced soon but the rears have plenty of tread, probably another 20k or so.

We have a lower model with the 3.9L engine and average about 19mpg. Freeway trips have gotten as high as 24mpg. We added a frame-mount tow hitch and tow our boat, which is an old 15' fiberglass tri-hull with an outboard motor. (1200lbs?) The Freestar tows it like a breeze - can't even feel it behind us. Even without trailer brakes, it stops just fine.

We're beginning to hear a few squeaks and rattles, but nothing serious. And it was a rental vehicle before we bought it! I'm really impressed by Ford on this vehicle. Wish I could say the same about the dealer's shop, though...

2004 Ford Freestar Ltd 4.2 from North America

Summary:

Overpriced. I would recommend it only if you can get it cheaply

Faults:

Car stalled several times while driving (intermittent problem, dealer still haven't fixed the problem yet).

Check engine light went on.

Groaning noise from the front wheel when turning from a stop sign (happened three times).

Doors and hood out of alignment (fixed very nicely by dealer).

Power sliding door opens part way and stops (fixed by dealer).

Brakes make a scraping noise in the morning on the first stop of the day. Does not make noise the rest of the day.

General Comments:

Gas mileage (actual MPG) is disappointing.

Engine revs too high in first gear. This might be the cause of the bad MPG. Maybe Ford is trying to capture the boat and trailer towing market.

Leather seat is hard and uncomfortable.

Hard to get to the third row seats.

Trunk storage could use a cover, so we can store things on top of the cover without crushing the things under the cover.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th June, 2005

14th Jun 2005, 20:03

As for your brakes, Ford will tell you that the sound you hear is from moisture in the brakes. As for the leather seats, I highly recommend Armor all leather wipes. They clean and soften the leather. Ford's leather seats aren't what they used to be, but regular cleaning and conditioning will soften them up. The Freestar is actually a Windstar in different clothing with a different engine.

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