Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
Safety risk
In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER LIFTGATE MODULE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Power train
30
85,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter
3
100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
10,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
2
10,000 mi
Traction control system
2
36,001 mi
Unknown or other
2
150,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
2
78,655 mi
Electrical system
1
90,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
1
10,000 mi
Engine
1
40,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
1
146,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
1
37,000 mi
Seats
1
100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light
1
12,000 mi
Steering
1
8,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate
1
78,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control
1
30,000 mi
The 2005 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2007 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.