The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·13V081000·Announced 2013-03-07

Ford Recalls 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey for Seat Defect

Ford is recalling 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles because the third-row seat may not latch properly due to corrosion, increasing injury risk in a rear-end crash.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where a seat may not latch, increasing the risk of personal injury in a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles. The recall covers vehicles manufactured between March 24, 2003, and November 7, 2006, that are equipped with a third-row seat and were originally sold in or are currently registered in specific states and the District of Columbia.

The defect involves corrosion and structural degradation at the third-row seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. This corrosion can prevent the third-row seat from fully latching into its seating position. If the vehicle is struck from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

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 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
FORD, MERCURY FREESTAR, MONTEREY
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — Minivan
Hazard
Affected units
196,667

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • FREESTAR
  • MONTEREY

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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