2006 Ford Freestar Interior & seats Problems

I purchased a 2006 Ford Freestyle which currently has an open safety recall for 3rd Row Seat Latch Striker Corrosion Repair. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership to have the recall repaired. The dealership confirmed the recall but days later informed me that the necessary parts are no longer available and that they are unable to complete the repair. This creates a serious safety concern because the recall involves corrosion of the 3rd row seat latch striker, which can affect proper seat latching and passenger safety in the event of a crash. I attempted to escalate this issue by contacting Ford corporate customer support. However, I have not received any resolution. I have been given the runaround between Ford corporate and the dealership. The dealership referred me to Ford customer support, and Ford customer support continues to refer me back to the dealership without providing any solution. I also have written communication from the dealership service department stating that their Special Service Support Center would not be able to assist and advising me to contact Ford customer support. Despite following these instructions, no assistance or remedy has been provided. As a result, the safety recall remains unresolved, and I am unable to complete required vehicle inspection/registration. I am left with a vehicle that has a known safety defect with no available repair and no clear resolution from the manufacturer. I am requesting immediate assistance and a definitive resolution to this safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11724996

Incident

Mar 6, 2026

MY THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH RUSTED OFF AND COMPLETELY FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAD A BIG HOLE RIGHT BY THE DRIVER SIDE BACK TIRE. I HAD TO SCREWW A PIECE OF METEL OVER THE HOLE CAUSE WATER WOULD SPLASH IN. I CANNOT USE MY THIRD SEAT ANY LONGER.

NHTSA ID

11394540

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

155,000 mi

3RD ROW SEAT LATCH STRIKER CORROSION DOES NOT HOLD UP 3RD ROW SEAT

NHTSA ID

11388145

Incident

Apr 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD-ROW SEAT LATCHED WHEEL WELL CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RAIN WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR WHEEL WELL BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ROLLER OF THE SLIDING DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11387577

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

154,000 mi

THE 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH PANEL IS ROTTED OUT ON MY FREESTAR, THANK GOD MY GRANDKIDD WEREN'T IN THE SEAT WHEN IT BROKE AWAY FROM BODY.

NHTSA ID

11341924

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY, 45-60 MPH THE THIRD ROW STOW-ABLE SEAT FRACTURED AND LEANED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREENWOOD FORD LINCOLN 3075 SCOTTSVILLE RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104 (270) 843-9041, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V081000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,118.

NHTSA ID

11299329

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

Mileage

178,118 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IN PLACE FRACTURED. LARSON MOTOR GROUP IN NEBRASKA CITY, NEBRASKA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE BRACKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11097661

Incident

May 20, 2018

Mileage

101,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD COLLISION CENTER IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA AFTER I HEARD RUBBING ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THE RUST CORROSION OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS IS SO SEVERE THAT THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER AT UNIVERSITY FORD IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA REFUSES TO DO THE REPAIR AS SPECIFIED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE UNSAFE. I HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA (10913700) BUT I REQUEST HELP IN COMPELLING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EITHER PERFORM A PROPER REPAIR OR REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10914999

Incident

Sep 20, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMEDIED DUE TO THE TECHNICIAN STATING THAT THE CORROSION WAS TOO SEVERE TO PERFORM THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10913700

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

RECALL #13S01, TOOK VAN IN FOR RECALL ITEM TO BE FIXED, FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PARTS TO FIX UNDER RECALL. CALLED FORD AND THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THE CORROSION WAS TOO SEVERE TO BE FIXED UNDER RECALL. I WAS GIVEN NO EXPLANATION AND WAS TOLD CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10684302

Incident

Feb 19, 2015

Mileage

129,800 mi

THE ENTIRE UNIT THAT LOCKS THE 3RD ROW SEAT CAME LOOSE FROM THE WHEEL WELL DUE TO CORROSION. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION, AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VAN MAKE AND MODEL YEAR, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I BOUGHT THIS VAN NEW IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, AND HAVE LIVED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY EVER SINCE, FORD HAS DECIDED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO ME, ALTHOUGH CLEARLY, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED UNDER THE RECALL. NORTHERN KENTUCKY BORDERS OHIO, AND OHIO VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE RECALL IS BY STATE, AND FORD IS CHOOSING TO LET THIS SAFETY HAZARD GO. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608719

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOLD UNDER THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TREATED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V081000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10544030

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

6,000 mi