I love mine. I have a 2006, and have had it for about 3 years. We've always been loyal Ford drivers, but we've never been given cause not to be
I have the 6 passenger, and we removed the center console from the 2nd row for walk through access to the 3rd row. I frequently had 4 seats installed when I was doing childcare. The *one* thing that bugs me from a carseat angle, is that there is only one tether in the 3rd row, which means that in Canada, I can't put 2 FF'er kids there together. It's not an issue now that DS is in a booster, but previously meant hatch loading a RFer when I had 2 RFers and 2 FFers.
Our only transmission issue was when the dealership we bought it from put the wrong transmission fluid in during its 'get ready to sell' service. Since then, no major issues. Its got 180 000 KM on it now and we're still very happy with it. It's great in snow, the 3rd row is tolerable for adults for short drives, and in my 'every day' set up, I can put my huge Chariot running stroller in the back (over the flat 3rd row seats) w/ minimal disassembly!
Currently, I normally have my kids seats in the 2nd row (Monterey driver side, Radian RF passenger side), and a Maestro in the 3rd row for spare kids, and one 3rd row seat folded flat for cargo.
ETA: I've never had that AC issue, and neither has DH when he uses my vehicle, and he notices everything, so either it was fixed before we bought it, or wasn't an issue on this one.