2004 Ford Freestar complaints

TRANSMISSION POWER FAILURE- SINCE IT WILL NOT SHIFT. I CONTACTED FORD-WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR.. THEY SAID CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. BUT NO PARTS- DON'T KNOW WHEN? BRING 4-1-12 AND LEAVE IT. I ASKED ,WHAT WILL YOU DO? I SAID WAS RUNNING FINE TILL THIS- WHAT IF CONVERTER DOESN'T FIX? SORRY; THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO. I ASKED; W/ THE TRANS OUT WHY WOULDN'T YOU FIX IT? WELL WE DON'T HAVE THE TRANS OUT -OUR MECH KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE CHANGE W/O REMOVING IT! IF IT IS NOT RIGHT -THEN WHAT? THEN IT MIGHT COST YOU 2,000.00 OR MORE FOR A TRANSMISSION! WE ARE 80 PLUS YEARS OLD- WE LIVE ON LITTLE SOCIAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC AID.. I AM DISABLED WITH PROBLEMS - OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTORS ,ECT FREQUENTLY.. I CAN'T PAY FOR THIS FAULTY TRANS AND CAN'T BE W/O CAR, WAITING TILL ???? THE LOCAL TRANS SHOPS SEEM TO HAVE NO TROUBLE GETTING THESE PARTS AT ALL. I JUST HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY THEM!!PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING UP A VERY STEEP HILL MY POWER TRAIN/ TOURQE CONVERTER LET GO. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. NOW ITS 2012 AND THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE. I PAID OVER $1500.00 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. I THINK THAT THE FORD DEALER THAT REPAIRED MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR SE SHOULD PAY ME BACK. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT SAFELY COASTED TO A STOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ELEVEN MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR A THIRD REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

REAR 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THE REAR SEAT COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES IN A ACCIDENT IF RUST GOES UNDETECTED, VEHICLE IS KEPT IN GARAGES AND WELL MAINTAINED. *TR UPDATED 05/31/12*LJ

1) WE NOW HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR EQUALS MOST OF THE VEHICLE'S VALUE. 2) DRIVER-SIDE PASSENGER DOOR CLOSES AND OPENS AGAIN CONTINUALLY. WE GET OUT AND DO THAT MANUALLY. 3) WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, GOING DOWN HILLS, THE FREESTAR TRANSMISSION HAS "CHUGGED" FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, REPRODUCE-ABLE AT DEALER LAST YEAR BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE (WE RAN OUT OF MONEY LETTING THEM STUDY IT).... WE NOW KNOW THESE THINGS ARE ALL RELATED. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS OTHER OWNERS HAVE FOUND WET PCM TO BE PROMULGATING CAUSE FOR DOOR SENSORS AND THE CAUSE FOR PREMATURE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY PCM OVER TIME. TO PUT PCM BELOW WINDSHIELD, WITHOUT PROPER WATERPROOF HOUSING, THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR THAT CAUSES VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE DAMAGE AND REPAIRS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AGAIN, WITHOUT PCM BEING TOUCHED. DEALERS REPAIR DAMAGE (NOT CAUSE) UNDER WARRANTY, BUT MOST OF US ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. WE'VE ONLY GOT 74000 VERY WELL-CARED FOR MILES. PROBLEM IS THE VEHICLE IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE; TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE GOOD FOR US. THE SCHEDULE RECALL FOR THE TRANS AXLE WILL BE OUR NEXT REPAIR, BUT IT WON'T REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION! SEE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0FB94A!MAKE=FORD&MODEL=FREESTAR&ED_MAKEINDEX=.F0FB94A. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER). ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RECALL STATING THAT WHEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD BE FLUSHED OUT TO MEND THE BROKEN COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

DRIVING NORTH ON MINNESOTA HIGHWAY 169 AT 65MPH AND NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WITHIN THREE MINUTES THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS SMOKE. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING WELL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST STARTED SMOKING AND THEN IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD OCCASIONALLY BECOME LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANS RECEIVER WAS REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS OR GOING UP HILL. WE NOTICE IT MORE WHEN WE ACCELERATE REALLY FAST LIKE AN ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, BUT IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN IT NEEDS THE EXTRA POWER GOING UP HILL. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH READ OUTS ON TEMPERATURES AND OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GET THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN TO ISSUES WITH THE PCM. *TR

TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT STARTED TO STALL. EVEN SINCE THEN VAN HAS BEEN HAVING A STALLING TYPE OF ISSUE. JUST IS PAST SUNDAY SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO WAIT A WHILE TO GET THE VAN TO MOVE. AS TO THE RETURN HOME [XXX] ALMOST CRASHED THRU THE GARAGE BECAUSE IT STOP MOVING, AS SHE HIT THE ACCELERATOR WHICH IT APPEAR TO GRASP GEAR CAUSE TRAUMATIC STREET. AS WE TRIED TO LOOK FOR A TROUBLE SHOOTING SOLUTION WE RAN INTO YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT THE RECALL. WE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT IT AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND CAN NOT FIX UNTIL THE LETTERS ARE RECEIVED FROM TO US FROM FORD. THEY SAID THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS COST AND WHEN THE RECALL LETTER IS OUT THEY CAN REFUND OUR MONEY BACK. ALSO NOTE WE PURCHASE THE VAN IN 2004 AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALLS. THE STRANGE PART IS THAT WHEN WE PROVIDE THE VIN, THEY DID NOT MADE US AWARE OF THIS. 2004 FORD TRUCK FREESTAR 2WD 3.9L SFI 6CYL ESTIMATED MILEAGE: 96066 NAME:[XXX] COLOR: TAN VIN:[XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V457000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V446000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E056000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 PLEASE ADVISE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THIRD ROW REAR SEAT WOULD NOT LATCH IN PLACE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT ANCHOR IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT WAS CORRODED AND BORE A HOLE INTO THE SEAT ANCHOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REPAIR AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, AT ABOUT 35 MPH, MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A SIDE STREET WITHOUT POWER. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT RAN ROUGHLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN BEHAVED NORMALLY UNTIL TWO DAYS LATER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS BEHAVING LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. APPARENTLY HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. EXAMINATION OF THE COMPUTER (PCM) AND THE ATTACHMENT PLUG SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WATER ENTRY. WATER ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF THE PLUG AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE PCM ENCLOSURE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF DRYING TIME, THE PCM WAS PUT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB THAT COVERS THE PROBLEM OF WATER GETTING INTO THE PCM AND CABLE, SO I AM SURE IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO SET IDLE FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS, THE PCM WILL DRY OUT BY ITSELF AND THEN RUN NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN STORM. NO DOUBT, MANY TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ERROR, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURS WHEN THE PCM AGAIN GETS WET. LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY MEANS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES, WHICH CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCATION OF THE PCM LENDS ITSELF TO WATER ENTRY AND APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS MORE FORCEFULLY THAN JUST TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR

LEFT REAR SEAT NO LONGER LATCHES MAKING IT UNSAFE. THE SEAT NO LONGER LATCHES BECAUSE LATCH THAT WAS FASTENED TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF THE WHEEL WELL. *TR

NOTICED INSIDE CARPET WAS WET ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE, REMOVED THE INSIDE REAR WHEEL PANEL AND FOUND THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE CAB SPACE AND NOW THE THIRD ROW SEAT IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE SEAT NOT BEING ABLE TO LATCH. *TR

LAST THURSDAY AROUND 3:00PM I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A STRANGE WHINNING NOISE EVERY TIME I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE ALL THE WAY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH THE MOMENTUM THAT THE CAR HAD LEFT. THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE SHIFTING GEARS BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE SIGNALS WERE WORKING. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. BUT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE WAS THAT IT NEVER GAVE ME A WARNING. THAT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE WITH FULLY LOADED TRUCKS GOING OVER 70MPH NEXT TO MY VAN, WHICH WAS SHAKING WITH THEIR SPEED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS MY END. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES DRIVES ROUGH, STATING VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND THEN SPEED UP WITH RAPID JERKING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE EGR REPLACED AT A COST OF $289.97. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, IGNITION COIL AND MAIN COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

WE BOUGHT OUR 2004 FREESTAR NEW. WIFE NOW IS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IT STALLS, MISSES, AND BUCKS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS MUCH WORSE AFTER RAIN. WE HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO DO A TUNE-UP. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT THERE IS WATER IN PCM. HAVE LOCATED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD FIXED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

DROVE VEHICLE TO STORE, WENT IN TO DO SHOPPING CAME OUT TO LEAVE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. TWO DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT IT HAD BEEN RAINING IN GRAND JUNCTION COLORADO. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE PMC IS FULL OF WATER! IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER 1500.00 TO FIX THIS! WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED HAD IT DECIDED TO GO OUT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY TWO KIDS IN THE CAR? OR WHEN RUSHING MY SEVERE ASTHMATIC TO HOSPITAL? *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009. HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR FOR SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE UNDER DEALER WARRANTY. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THE TRANNY WAS STRONG. HAVE HAD ISSUES SINCE THE BEGINNING. DURING A RECENT TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITH TOP SPEEDS REACHING 23 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. PARKED THE VAN. NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START IT, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I PUT A NEW BATTERY IN IT AND IT RAN. CONTINUED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $3500. THEY DIDN'T EVEN INSPECT IT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MINE NEEDED MORE THAN THE TORQUE CONVERTER SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS CRAZY. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE VANS. I STILL OWE ON THIS VEHICLE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE MAKING PAYMENTS AS WELL AS DUMP ANOTHER $3500 INTO THE TRANSMISSION? WHAT IS GOING TO GO OUT NEXT ON IT? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WHILE BRAKING, BUT THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE THAT SENSOR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,401.

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN WITH A FULL LOAD (MY WIFE, 2 KIDS, MY PARENTS AND I) A VIBRATION OCCURRED IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL. I COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM MYSELF SO I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FORD DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUSTING IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL WHICH CAUSED FRICTION AGAINST THE TIRE WHEN TURNING RIGHT WITH A FULL LOAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SELL THE VAN FOR SCRAP AFTER 5.5 YEARS AND I COULDN'T MORALLY SELL A CAR THAT I WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH MY OWN FAMILY. I TOOK THE VAN TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY RECOMMENDED A SPECIALTY SHOP. THE SPECIALTY SHOP IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A PANEL THAT WAS NOT SEALED WELL WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE RUSTING. THEY WERE ABLE TO CUT OUT THE AREA AND REPLACE THAT PART OF THE WHEEL WELL. I SEE THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT I HOPE OTHERS DON'T ENCOUNTER. IF I HAD NOT TAKEN CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY THE TIRE COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHILE TURNING RIGHT WITH A FULL LOAD AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER'S ADVICE OF BUYING A NEW CAR VERSUS HELPING ME FIX THE PROBLEM. I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT AS THE RESULT OF THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE WEAR ON A VEHICLE COULD TURN OUT TO BE TRAGIC FOR SOMEONE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE WALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

DRIVEING DOWN ROAD LOST COMPLETY TRANSMISSION FAILURE,HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP CONVERT SPLINE FAILED ,PAYED FOR NEW TRANSMISSION ,CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THATS NORMAL WEAR WOULD NOT PAY A DIME. *TT

WHEN I TURN STEERING WHEEL I HEAR A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND ROLLING AROUND IN THE AIR BAG HOUSING. IS THERE A DANGER OF SOMETHING LOOSE IN THERE ACTING AS A PROJECTILE SHOULD THE AIR BAG DEPLOY? I DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH THIS MYSELF, WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TT

TRAVELING STEADY AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. SAFELY PULLED TO SIDE. UNABLE TO GET VAN TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS OR FAILURES. TRANSMISSION SHOP FOUND METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT TRANSMISSION AND REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER FOR TOTAL COST OF $2236.47. EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE UNDER SAME CONDITIONS ON JANUARY 25, 2012 WITH APPROXIMATELY 189,700 MILES. FORD DEALER VERIFIED TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT IS STRIPPED AND TORQUE CONVERTER IS AGAIN FILLED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. THEY ARE WORKING WITH FORD FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR AT FORD'S COST UNDER THE FORTHCOMING TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT RECALL. *TR

FIRE IN ENGINE. MECHANICAL ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT I SEE TRANSMISSION FAILURES THIS MONTH BY FORD FOR MY VEHICLE, AND I'M NATURALLY CONCERNED. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 03/28/2011 AND AT THE TIME IT RECORDED A MILEAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 107,000 MILES. TODAY I CHECKED AND MY MILES IS REPORTING OVER 195,000. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A JUMP OF OVER 80,000 MILES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND I HARDLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,146 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

2004 FORD FREESTAR: 18 MONTHS AGO, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT; VAN HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT. NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN BUT AGAIN MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. POWER LOSS IS VERY CLEAR! TODAY, I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY TO ADDRESS MY CONCERN BECAUSE MY VAN AGAIN LOST POWER. TRANSPORTING FOUR CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS IN DANGEROUS WINTER TEMPERATURES IS A GREAT REASON FOR CONCERN! A FORD REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE "POWER TRAIN TORQUE" RECALL AND CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS (1-2 HOURS AWAY) TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX MY VAN, THEY WERE UNABLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS IN BUT WOULD HAVE THE PARTS IN (EARLY-MID) SPRING. I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT I SHOULD DO AS I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL SPRING, SHE ADVISED ME TO NOT HAVE IT FIXED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE FORD MAY NOT COVER THE COSTS. ALSO, WONDERED IF FORD WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION COST BASED ON THIS RECALL. "NO"! THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A "FAMILY" VEHICLE, WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER UNTIL SPRING (WHEN THE PART ARRIVES)? I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY SHOULD FIX MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME THAT IT'S DANGEROUS....LIKE NOW (NOT SPRING)! *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED TWICE. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANSMISSION SHAVING SHAFT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,369 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A COVER WAS PLACED OVER THE COMPUTER TO KEEP WATER FROM GETTING ENTERING AND DAMAGING THE COMPUTER BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADDED SEALANT TO THE COVER THAT WAS PROTECTING THE COMPUTER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/27/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE WINDSHIELD, ALLOWING WATER TO DRIP ON THE COMPUTER.

THIS HAS BEEN ON AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW (THIS IS THE 4TH TIME FORD SERVICED THE VEHICLE). AFTER A RAIN STORM MY FREESTAR DOES NOT START OR WILL START & STALL. TODAY, AFTER RAINING ALL NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING MY 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL APX 0800HRS, AS I WAS TURNING ONTO ROCHELLE AVE FROM CHESTNUT ST IN ROCHELLE PARK, NJ THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH LOSS OF ALL POWER INCLUDING THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO ROLL INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THE GARBAGE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU HAD AN OPEN CASE UNDER ID NUMBER PE10033 THE PCM HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES AND REPAIRED ONCE, ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 5/13/2010 ALL AMERICAN FORD, 520 RIVER STREET, HACKENSACK, NJ 3/19/2011, 12/13/2011 & 1/13/2012 ALL AMERICAN FORD, 375 RT 17 SOUTH, PARAMUS, NJ ON ALL THESE OCCASIONS IT WAS WATER FROM RAIN THAT EFFECTED THE PCM.

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK IT WILL KICK THE GAS BACK OUT THE FILLER HOLE - SPRAYING GAS A GOOD 3 FT. IN ORDER TO GET GAS INTO THE TANK YOU HAVE TO FILL VERY SLOW AND AFTER MANY TRIES AND NOZZLE SHUT OFFS YOU CAN FILL THE TANK. WHEN THIS SYMPTOM STARTED IT HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PRESSURE BUILDS SO BAD IN THE TANK, IT IS SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP DUE TO EXCESS PRESSURE BUILD UP. NOW WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAP ON LOOSELY SO PRESSURE WON'T BUILD UP, IRONICALLY THE GAS CAP INSTRUMENT LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. *TR

THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY KIND OF NOTICE, NO NOISE , NO SLIPPAGE. IT WAS PULLING IT SELF REAL GOOD THEN JUST QUIT. IN THE LONG RUN OF GETTING IT FIXED, IT COSTS US ALMOST $2000.00. THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS, HENCE, REBUILDING THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. HEARD THAT FORD NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT CAUSE IT IS A HIGH DOLLAR REPAIR MAKING THEM MONEY. *TR

CAME OUT FROM WORK, WENT TO START MY FORD FREESTAR, THE CAR TURNED ON BUT COULD NOT MOVE IT. THE WHEELS WOULD TURN, ATTEMPT TO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. WAS INITIALLY TOLD BY A MECHANIC ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CONNECTICUIT GOING BACK HOME TO MAINE. LOST ALL POWER ON RTE 84. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. $850 TOW BACK HOME. TORQUE CONVERTER. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALED AND RESTARTED WITH THE CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT TO WATER LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING MY FREESTAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HOWEVER, IT WAS THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND I WAS STRANDED. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN I WENT TO GET IN AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WITH A NICE BILL OF $2500.00. I AM HAPPY THAT FORD HAS FINALLY REALIZED THIS IS A PROBLEM AND IS GOING TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR?? *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO EXIT WHEN THE CAR ALERTED TO "CHECK TRACTION." IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE, THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND NO MATTER IF I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MYSELF TO A SAFE AREA BEFORE IT LOST ITS ABILITY TO DRIVE. I HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO REPAIR PERSON THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. *TR

SON COMMENTED THAT REAR SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED DOWN. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT DRIVER-SIDE REAR SEAT ANCHOR WAS LATCHED TO THE SEAT, BUT THE ANCHOR WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BODY. HAD ALSO BEEN NOTICING THAT DURING RIGHT HAND TURNS, DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND. HAD SON SHIFT WEIGHT TO THE RIGHT (TO PUSH SEAT AWAY FROM LOOSE ANCHOR) AND SOUND STOPPED. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN NEW AND HAD EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS OR SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER LEADING UP TO THE DATE OF MY RECENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 11/11. RECENTLY, WHILE MERGING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY (WIFE, TWO CHILDREN, GRANDMOTHER IN CAR WITH ME), MY TRANSMISSION SIMPLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND WE WERE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. WE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE RESULT WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR NEARLY $3000. I HAD BEEN READING FOR YEARS ABOUT IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE 04-05 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION AND HAD TAKEN EXTRA PRECAUTIONS HOPING TO PREVENT IT. MY VEHICLE IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPTOMS OR INDICATIONS OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE OTHER THAN TO GIVE ME OPTIONS FOR REPAIRING IT AND TO SAY THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

DAUGHTER'S WERE DRIVING 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED / NO POWER IN TRAFFIC. CAR ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL .TURNED ONTO SIDE STREET TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED SLID INTO BRUSH AND ROCKS. PAINT SCRATCHES,TOWING,TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND POSSIBLE DEADLY CONDITION ! *TR

WE WERE LEAVING FOR A SHORT TRIP. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASE AND THE VAN WAS HARDLY MOVING. NO ADVANCE NOTICE AT ALL. WE TURNED AROUND AND MADE IT BACK TO THE HOUSE. JUST CREEPING ALONG. IT WAS JUST PURE LUCK, EARLY MORNING WITH HARDLY ANY TRAFFIC. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET, IT COULD BE A COSTLY REPAIR. AS OF TODAY, I HAVEN'T HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. WITH ONLY 60K MILES I WOULD THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER. TOO MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. FORD MUST OF HAD IT DESIGNED WITH "COSTING CUTTING" IN MIND. MY OPINION FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD OFFER SOME TYPE OF ALLOWANCE FOR SHODDY DESIGN. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT NUMBER OF FAILURES NOT JUST ONE OR TWO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (65MPH) A FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY FREESTAR MINIVAN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ON A BUSY HIGHWAY (ROUTE 17) AND RENDERED MY VAN POWERLESS WITH MY WIFE AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN ABOARD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AVOID ACCIDENT. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND AWAITS REPAIR. DOING SOME RESEARCH FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSB ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTERS ON THESE VEHICLES AND ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED WITH NO ADDRESS BY THE NHTSB. THIS REPAIR WILL NO DOUBT COST ME WELL OVER $2000. THE MAIN ISSUE HERE IS THAT THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SOME TIME AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT FROM A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS. THANK YOU *TR

WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE ENGINE STILL RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I NOW HAVE NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. COSTING OVER $1700 TO REPAIR, NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE LATCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOK THAT HELD THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONVERTIBLE BENCH SEAT IN PLACE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT RUSTED THROUGH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000. KMJ

TRANSMISSION FAILED GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. *TR