Fuel Economy

• In its review of the 2005 Freestar, Edmunds' automotive website noted that this Freestar's fuel economy was poor when compared to competitors in its class. The Freestar's estimated 16 miles per gallon in the city and 20 mpg on the highway were well below the Dodge Caravan's estimated 19 city mpg and 26 highway mpg.
  
  

Transmission Failure

• Transmission failures are the most commonly reported mechanical issues with the 2005 Freestar, according to the Car Complaints website. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that the majority of Freestar transmission failures were due to a faulty torque converter, which can cost between $1,000 to $3,000 to replace.
  
  

Lawsuit

• In June 2010, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the Ford Motor Company on the behalf of all 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey owners. The lawsuit was filed following Ford's refusal to issue a recall after the NHTSA reported that Ford Freestar suffered from transmission defects. The lawsuit is unsettled as of January 2011.