NO!! Is all I have to say... SOME issues don't begin to describe the problems we have had with our 2004 Freestar. I was suckered into overlooking the reported mechanical problems because of the safety features (mostly all the airbags) and I regret this decision virtually every day. We have spent over $5K on repairs THIS YEAR and we still owe on it. In fact, if you really want one, you may have mine. I will leave the keys on the dash and you can come get it.
I might sound a "bit" bitter, but it is currently in for the third time this year. First was a/c compressor, which somehow made it stall out, the timing belt is connected to the a/c compressor or something? The second was the transmission, went out with no warning at about 90K miles going 60mph in rush hour. It's in now for the radiator and another tranny (which is covered under the warranty as the tranny was just done in July). I'll answer your questions, but I'm in this forum to try to decided what to do about our Freestar. It's a nightmare! I wish we would have put that extra $5K into buying a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey from the get go...
We have a 2004 Limited. It has LATCH in the captain's chairs and the center of the third row. No extra tether points. The captains chairs are VERY car seat friendly, never had a problem. They slide forward and back, fold down and tumble up and are removable, but do not fold into the floor. The third row is OK for car seats, most do fine, some are OK, and some (Regent) are totally incompatible. It's, IMO, better than the third row in the Dodge/Chrysler vans as far as compatibility. It does fold flat into the floor, which we appreciate and use often. The third row is NOT an adult space, realistically though. The captains chairs are as big as the front seats, and take up a lot of space, rendering that third row teeny. We just put the kids back there, and the adults in the captains chairs, when need be.
I like the big, full size captains chairs and the folding third row. I did like the heated seats before they broke, I also like the power sliding doors when they work. I like all the airbags (front, side, curtain, etc.). I don't like just about everything else. The plastic trim is cheap and broken or cracked in many places, including the handle/strap to fold the third row. The paint is chipping off the dials on the dash (radio, etc.). Gas mileage is bad, bad, for a van, we're around 14 to 15 MPH for normal in-city driving. NHTSA has launched a recall into the transmission issues for them failing w/low mileage at highway speeds, with no warning. This van has made us swear off ever buying a Ford again. And my DH works (as a contractor) for Ford.