Head-to-head reliability
FORD Freestar vs FORD F 150
How the FORD Freestar and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD Freestar vs FORD F 150: The Freestar averages 633 complaints per year, with transmission failures often causing rollaway or loss of power. The F-150 averages 1131 complaints per year, with harsh shifting and electrical glitches. Both have recalls, but the Freestar's issues are more safety-critical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Freestar or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Freestar
The Ford Freestar is a minivan that, in owner reports, shows a dominant and serious pattern of transmission and powertrain failures, often occurring without warning and at low speeds. Electrical issues, including water intrusion into the computer, and engine stalling compound the risk, making it a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a history of repairs. Structural rust and dim headlights are additional concerns for long-term ownership.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 pickup, while having a higher total number of complaints, spans a longer model range and shows a more varied pattern. The most frequent issues are also in the powertrain, specifically harsh shifting and loss of power in the 10-speed automatic, along with electrical glitches affecting driver-assist systems. Exterior lighting and engine problems are also notable, but the overall picture is of a vehicle with common but not universally catastrophic failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Freestar | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,533 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 29 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 633.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 41 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
FORD Freestar
- 01POWER TRAIN1,819
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM248
- 03ENGINE157
- 04STRUCTURE136
- 05SEATS121
Owners report transmissions that slip into neutral, fail completely, or allow the vehicle to roll when the gear shift is touched, sometimes without the engine running. This can lead to unexpected movement or loss of drive power, especially dangerous in traffic.
Water entering the computer can cause hesitation or sudden loss of all gears and speed, with no warning lights. This makes the vehicle unpredictable and can leave the driver stranded in hazardous situations.
Sudden loss of power and stalling at intersections are reported, sometimes forcing drivers to shift into a lower gear to creep through traffic. This can be a serious safety hazard in busy areas.
Rust and corrosion on rear quarter panels and permanent yellowing of headlamp covers are common. While not immediately dangerous, they affect visibility and long-term body integrity.
“WHEN I TOUCHED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT ONE MORNING, THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY & ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NOT YET RUNNING & THE POWER BRAKES WERE NOT ON. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WOULD N…”
“I HAVE A 2007 FORD FREESTAR SE. VIN# [XXX]. AT 102,296 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. I LOOKED AND…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a frequent source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power or shutdown. These issues can occur during normal driving and may lead to sudden loss of momentum.
Electrical problems often manifest as warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist unavailability, appearing every time the truck is started. These issues can disable safety features and require dealer visits.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints suggest issues with visibility, which is critical for night driving. Owners may experience dim or failing headlights, increasing the risk of accidents.
Engine problems, while less frequent than transmission issues, include stalling or loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic. Recalls related to the engine indicate known defects that may require attention.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
FORD Freestar — 14 recalls
The defect: 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, Massa…
The risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The fix: 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.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE…
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
The defect: 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, Massa…
The risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The fix: 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.
The defect: ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
The 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.
The fix: 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.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
FORD Freestar or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ford Freestar has fewer complaints per year (633 vs 1131) but a higher proportion of severe transmission failures that can leave you stranded or cause unintended movement. The F-150's issues are more varied and often involve annoying but less immediately dangerous problems like harsh shifts and warning lights. In practice, the Freestar's transmission problems are more likely to be a safety concern, while the F-150's issues may be more of a reliability nuisance.
Key differences
- The Freestar's transmission failures can cause the vehicle to roll away or lose drive power without warning, a severe safety issue.
- The F-150's transmission problems are more about harsh shifting and occasional loss of power, but not typically rollaway.
- Electrical issues in the Freestar include water intrusion into the computer, leading to sudden loss of function, while the F-150's electrical issues are more about warning lights and sensor malfunctions.
- The Freestar has structural rust and dim headlights, while the F-150 has headlight recalls but not as much rust reported.
- Inspect the transmission thoroughly: test drive at various speeds, check for slipping, and have a mechanic scan for codes. Look for any signs of transmission fluid leaks or previous repairs.
- Check for water damage around the engine computer and look for corrosion or moisture in the electrical connectors. Also examine the rear quarter panels for rust and the headlight lenses for yellowing.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and listen for clunks or jerks. Check for any recall work done on the transmission.
- Start the truck and see if any warning lights appear for front camera or pre-collision assist. Also inspect the headlights for proper function and any signs of moisture or dimness.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic and at highway speeds to feel for any transmission issues.
- Check the Freestar for rust on body panels and the F-150 for any signs of electrical gremlins by starting it multiple times.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and any previous repairs.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific FORD Freestar or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Freestar vs FORD F 150
- FORD Freestar total complaints
- 2,533
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- FORD Freestar total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- FORD Freestar avg complaints/year
- 633.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- FORD Freestar
- FORD Freestar top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN