Recall 13V081 covers 196,667 2004-2007 Ford Freestar and Monterey vehicles for third-row seat latch corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 196,667 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey minivans because corrosion at the third-row seat anchor on the rear wheel wells can keep the seat from fully latching. In a rear crash, an unlatched third-row seat raises the risk of injury, and the dealer repair will be free once Ford makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The third row stowable seat in 2004-2007 Ford Freestar and Monterey vans locks to anchor hardware mounted near the rear wheel wells. That anchor mechanism is what holds the folded seat in its seating position when passengers use it. The latch and anchor need solid metal contact so the seat stays locked.
In affected vans, corrosion attacks the seat anchor mechanism at the rear wheel wells. As the metal degrades, the latch no longer has a sound structure to grab. The third row seat then fails to lock fully into its seating position, leaving it less secure than designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first clue can be the third row seat refusing to click into place, sitting unevenly, or feeling loose after you try to latch it.
Who's affected?
Covers the Freestar and Monterey minivan lines across the 2004-2007 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2004 Ford Freestar | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2006 Ford Freestar | seat assembly |
| 2006 Mercury Monterey | seat assembly |
| 2005 Ford Freestar | seat assembly |
| 2007 Mercury Monterey | seat assembly |
| 2007 Ford Freestar | seat assembly |
| 2005 Mercury Monterey | seat assembly |
| 2004 Mercury Monterey | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 196,667 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific minivan.
What's the safety risk?
If the third row seat is not latched, a rear impact can leave the seat less secure and increase the risk of personal injury. Check that the seat is latched before use and schedule the recall repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2007 Ford Freestar or Mercury Monterey is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free third row seat latch striker bracket installation, which helps the third row seat latch into position.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V081 when you call.
- Avoid using the third row seat until the repair is complete if the seat does not latch fully.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about the repair or dealer appointment.
What happens at the repair
Ford's listed remedy is a dealer repair to the third row seat latch area. Once the repair is available for your VIN, a Ford technician installs new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets at the rear wheel well seat anchor points. That work addresses corrosion and structural degradation that can keep the stowable seat from fully latching into its seating position. The dealer repair will be free under the recall, with parts and labor covered.
Timeline
| March 7, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 28, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V081?
Recall 13V081 covers 196,667 2004-2007 Ford Freestar and Monterey vehicles with third-row seats in specified corrosion states. Corrosion at the rear wheel well seat anchor mechanism can keep the seat from fully latching. Ford dealers install new third-row seat latch striker mounting brackets for free.
What should I do if my 2004-2007 Ford Freestar or Monterey is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 13V081. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the third-row seat latch bracket repair. Reference recall number 13V081 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford dealers install the new third-row seat latch striker mounting brackets free of charge. Ford's customer relationship center is 1-866-436-7332.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is injury in a rear crash if the third-row seat is not fully latched. Corrosion can weaken the seat anchor mechanism at the rear wheel wells, so the seat does not lock into its seating position as intended.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Freestar or Monterey is included, then contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall number 13V081 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V081000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V081 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V081000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →