2004 Ford Freestar complaints

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FREESTAR VAN DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN ALL AT ONCE IT WOULD NO LONGER GO. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO SEE IF I COULD SEE WAS WRONG THAT WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD NOT GOT INTO ANY GEARS AT ALL. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN AND THEY TOOK IT IN JUST TO CALL ME AND TELL ME IT WAS THE TRANNY. I BOUGHT THIS VA WITH 73000 MILES ON IT JUST TO HAVE IT A HALF A MONTH AND THE TRANNY TO GO OUT ON IT. TO THIS DAY THEY STILL HAVE THE VAN AND CAN NOT GET ANOTHER TRANNY FOR IT. I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THIS FIX CAUSE SOMEBODY COULD RALLY GET HURT OR KILLED ONE DAY. JUST THANK GOD THAT THIS HIGHWAY I WAS ON THE WAS NO TRUCKS COMING AT THAT TIME CAUSE THIS IS THERE ONE MAIN ROAD THEY USE. I ALSO HATE TO BE STILL PAYING ON A VAN THAT I CANT EVEN DRIVE. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR SEL 4.2L. IN OCT 2009, WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN MY VAN WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY, I TOTALLY LOST ALL THE TRANSMISSION ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT WAS A BUSY INTERSECTION AND LUCKILY THE CARS BEHIND US WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE AWAY. WITH ALL THE MOMENTUM GONE, I HAD A TOUGH TIME TO EVEN PULLING OVER TO SAFETY. THIS WAS A NERVE-WRECKING EXPERIENCE GIVEN THAT I HAD MY WHOLE FAMILY INSIDE THE VAN. AFTER MULTIPLE CONSULTATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS BY REPAIR SHOPS, I FOUND THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN. I WAS SO STUNNED. THE MILEAGE ON MY VAN IS JUST 55K MILES. I SPENT $3100 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I PAID A LOT TO GET THE MINIVAN AND SUCH A HUGE EXPENSE FOR SUCH RELATIVELY NEW VAN IS NOT IN THE RIGHT CONSUMER INTEREST. ADDING TO THIS MISERY IS THAT WHEN I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FREESTAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THERE ARE LOT OF INCIDENTS (WAY TOO MANY) SAME AS MINE. ALMOST ALL OF THEM OCCURRING IN THE SIMILAR MODEL AND YEAR AND IN SIMILAR FASHION. EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION JUST GAVE AWAY. NOT AT ANY POINT, FORD HAS COME BACK WITH ANY INFORMATION OR ANY RECALLS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A TOTALLY RECKLESS ACT FROM A COMPANY WHO CLAIMS SAFETY IS THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN. I HAD TAKEN THIS ISSUE WITH FORD WITH NO RESOLUTION. I TRIED WITH BBB AUTO LINE BUT WITH NO RESOLUTION. PLEASE ADDRESS THE SAME AND PROVIDE ME AN AMICABLE SOLUTION. *TR UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

VEHICLE STALLED, WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING, BUCKED VIOLENTLY. AFTER TAKING TO MY MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED IT TO BE WATER ENTERING THE PCM MODULE. FORD HAS A TSB FOR THE ISSUE, TSB 06-14-10. FORD WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND VEHICLE AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ONLY HAS 48,500 MILES. THIS INCIDENT COULD KILL SOMEONE IF THE THE RIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE MET WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENS. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED AND IT IS UNDETECTED. STILL AT THE SHOP TO BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME WITH THE MECHANICS I TRUST, NOT FORD.

PURCHASED THIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT FROM OAK MOTORS ON W. 3TH STREET IN INDIANAPOLIS. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON ME. FINALLY, I SUGGESTED THAT THIS DEALERSHIP TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS THE SELLING DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW HOW. I ALSO SUGGESTED MY FEAR IN GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE FORD DEALER TAKES THE CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH AND DETERMINES IT IS THE #1 AND #3 COIL PACK, PLUGS AND WIRES. WHILE TRYING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR THE REPAIR AFTER HAGGLING WITH THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY, THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED WHAT SEEMED LIKE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SELLING DEALERSHIP TODAY TOLD ME THAT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST INFORMED THEM TODAY THAT IT IS NOT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THEY THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS BUT IT IS NOT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ALSO, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE BREAKS SQUEAK BUT WHEN THE WEATHER IS DRY, BREAKS DEMONSTRATE NO PROBLEM. ALMOST PHANTOM PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP. ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE DATE OF 9/31/2009.

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WE KEEP IT UP PROPERLY WITH ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND SUCH. ON MARCH THE 3RD I WENT TO PULL AWAY AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I BARELY GOT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE VAN SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. THANK GOD I DID NOT GET HIT. WE HAD IT TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY DON'T KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH IT, NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS CAME ON BUT IT HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WHEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT JUST REVED. WHEN I PULLED OVER THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH COST ME $2500. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FELT AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS. THE NEXT DAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PCM HAD GOTTEN WET AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED HIM ON HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED NO MORE PROBLEMS AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, FOLLOWED BY A DELAY IN THE RESPONSE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

BOUGHT VAN IN JUNE 2007 NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE. REPLACED BATTERY WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. REPLACE O2 SENSORS 3 TIMES AND NEED DONE AGAIN. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, EGR VALVE, BRAKES 4 TIMES, TIE ROD 2 TIMES, CALIBERS 2 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES, FUEL LINE, YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE HAD TO FIX IT. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO 8K SINCE FEB 2008 ON THIS VEHICLE AND WE CAN NOT GET FORD TO HELP US AT ALL. NOW THE AXLES NEED REPLACED AS WELL AS SENSORS AGAIN. THE DVD PLAYER QUIT WORKING AFTER 4 MONTHS, DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEATS QUIT WORKING AFTER 4 MONTHS. BACK PASSENGER DOOR SOMETIMES WON'T OPEN OR UNLOCK AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T CLOSE WHEN YOU TRY TO CLOSE IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN SERIOUS HARM AND WE ALMOST GOT INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT DO TO MOST OF THE ISSUES IE TRANSMISSION STALLED ON INTERSTATE AND HAD NO WARNING AT ALL. WORST VEHICLE OF ALL TIMES. I CAN NOT TRADE IN BECASUE I OWE OVER 11K ON THIS PIECE OF CRAP. FORD NEEDS TO REFUND ME ALL OF MY MONEY AND SUFFERING AS WELL. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT SUING THEM FOR DAMAGES AND SELLING THIS CRAP TO US ESPECIALLY WITH 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVING TO TRAVEL TO SEE FAMILY DUE TO HUSBAND BEING A MARINE AND ALWAYS BEING DEPLOYED. ALMOST MISSED SEEING MY GRANDPA FOR THE LAST TIME BEFORE HE DID BACK IN SEPT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE OFF OF THE ROADS FOREVER. ALL OF THEM. EVERYONE THAT WE KNOW THAT HAS THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS US.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME WHERE THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,966.

I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT ON THE MORNING. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CALLED MY HUSBAND, DID I MENTION IT WAS 445 AM, HE CAME AND TOWED ME OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC AND HAD IT TOWED TO LITHIA FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY OPENED. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISER THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED, BUT THEY COULDN'T TAKE IT APART BECAUSE TO WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. *DT

DRIVING OUR VAN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY MADE A REVVING NOISE BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, AND THEN WHEN MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL, THE VAN DID NOT RESPOND. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUDDENLY NOT WORKING AT ALL. VERY SCARY AND WE FEEL LUCKY IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN IN THE VAN. THIS VERY THING HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ACCORDING TO INTERNET REPORTS. FORD DEALERSHIP ESTIMATES REPAIR AT $2500-3000 TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FOR A VAN WITH ONLY 64,000 MILES ON IT? THIS PUTS US IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND I AM SCARED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

MY 2004 FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAD ABOUT 39,000 OR 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO PASSING LANE ON HIGHWAY TO PASS TRUCK,WHEN WITHOUT AND WARNING THE TRANS JUST QUIT NO POWER TO WHEELS AT ALL, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE MEDIAN OF ROAD BETWEEN DIVIDED HIGHWAYS. I WANT TO REPORT BECAUSE LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS I MADE NO REPORTS BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY SO I HAD TO JUST PAY THE BILL AND HAVE VEHICLE FIXED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ACCORDING TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 20 MPH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. A PASSERBY ASSISTED WITH MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,500.

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR (BOUGHT USED IN 2006 WITH 46,000 MILES ON IT) WITH 82,426 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2007, PARKED THE VAN. WHEN SHE WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK ON MONDAY THE 12TH THE VAN WOULDN'T MOVE. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION POWER FLUSHED AND FLUID CHANGED AT THE DEALER AT 70,000 MILES. WE HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED SO WE HAVE A VERY EXPENSIVE, NICE LOOKING, DRIVEWAY ORNAMENT THAT WE'RE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON AND INSURING. FROM THE THOUSAND OF POST I'VE READ COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT OURS FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR HOME WITH THE KIDS ON BOARD. WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS, SHE SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS GIVING THE ENGINE GAS, THE VAN WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND WAS SIMPLY COASTING DOWN THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO SIDE STREETS OR A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO, SO THE VAN EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP MOSTLY IN A TRAFFIC LANE. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE, WHERE IT WAS SHOWN TO HAVE A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER, WITH A REPAIR COSTING ABOUT $2200. UPON DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. FORTUNATELY, THE ROAD MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON WAS NOT PARTICULARLY BUSY AT THE TIME. I CON ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. *TR

8/09, 76000 MILES-TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANS BEGAN MAKING WHINING NOISE WHILE TOWING A TRAILER (TRAILER WEIGHT UNDER RATED CAPACITY). FORD DEALER DETERMINED TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY( TRANSMISSION WAS PROVIDED BY THE AFTERMARKET EXTENDED WARRANT COMPANY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION FROM FORD). 3/10, 85000 MILES- TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE AFTER AN 800 MILE TRIP (NO TOWING). TODAY THE FORD DEALER SAYS THE WHINING WAS THE TRANS. PUMP AND THE FLUID IS FULL OF METAL,INDICATING AN INTERNAL FAILURE, REQUIRING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER IS HOPING THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL JUST SEND A NEW TRANSMISSION, THIS WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 63,000 MILES NO WARNING -- TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE - VAN WAS IN MOTION - THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE -- SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE WITH THE REAR TIRES. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,836.

TWICE DRIVING HEAVY RAIN MY 2004 FREE STAR STALED OUT LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. UPON RESTART WOULD BUCK AND STOP RUNNING. WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE WITHOUT BEING PUT INTO PARK. BOTH TIMES WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER WAS WATER LOGGED. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOOK CARE OR IT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME IT IS 825 PLUS TAX AND WHAT EVER TIME IT TOOK TO FIND WATER LEAK. THIS SAME VAN ALSO STOP RUNNING IN HEAVY RAIN AROUND 58,000 MILES WITH MY WIFE DRIVING AND SHE ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED THAT TIME IS WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE DRIVING NORMALLY, SPEEDS UP TO 60MPH. STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AT GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE -- VEHICLE REACHES ALMOST 30MPH WHEN THE ENGINE REVS AND THE VEHICLE CEASES TO ENGAGE IN A FORWARD MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER AND BARELY INTO A PARKING LOT. NO SIGN OF PROBLEM, NOTHING TO INDICATE THE VEHICLE WOULD CEASE MOVING. TOWED TO FORD REPAIR. RESULT WAS A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. THOUGH NO ONE WAS HURT (AMAZING FOR END-OF-DAY RUSH TRAFFIC) IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUITE THE OPPOSITE AS THE NEXT DAY I WAS TO TRAVEL ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS. I AM STILL SHUDDERING AT THE IDEA THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANYTIME WITHOUT ANY WARNING - PERHAPS WITH MY 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHILE PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. AS IT IS, WE ARE WITHOUT OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS WE WILL BE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR PERHAPS 2 - 3 WEEKS. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR LOST ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE POWER IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN ENGINE SEEMED TO SURGE. COASTED TO A STOP AND TRIED ALL GEARS. NOTHING. MECHANIC SAYS TORQUE CONVERTER SPUN ITSELF LOOSE INSIDE TRANSMISSION; QUOTED A REPAIR PRICE OF $2,100. ALSO CALLED IT THE FREESTAR'S ACHILLES HEEL. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I JUST PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. GRANTED IT IS USED WITH 94,000 MILES, BUT WE HAD IT FOR EXACTLY ONE WEEK AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS MY HUSBAND, MYSELF AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN WERE GOING 70 MPH DOWN AN INTERSTATE. NO WARNINGS OR ANYTHING....LORD ONLY KNOWS HOW MUCH ITS GOING TO COST TO REPLACE AND NO MONEY TO REALLY FIX IT. WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 71 IN OHIO GOING TO MY FATHER'S. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPEED UP A BIT. ONCE I DID THAT, MY RPM'S SHOT UP AND I LOST "CONTROL". I TURNED OFF MY CRUISE CONTROL BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE USING THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

THERE ARE 2 INCIDENCES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR, FIRST TIME IN MARCH,2008, 2ND TIME IN FEBRUARY, 2010. *TR

THE HAVE BEEN 2 INCIDENCES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR. TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING IN MARCH 2008, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2010. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER TALKING WITH FORD SERVICE THEY DIDN'T SEEM SURPRISED BY THIS. NOW I'M STUCK WITH REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IT APPEARS FORD AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF. I WOULD APPRECIATE ACTION BE TAKEN AGAINST FORD TO GET ME AND OTHER CONSUMERS MONEY BACK. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 84,000 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WAS ON A QUIET ROAD AND NOT THE HIGHWAY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF OURS WHO ALSO BOUGHT A 2004 FORD FREESTAR AND HIS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES. *TR

SERVICED AT THE FORD DEALER-LA MESA LAST 05/27/2008. AND ON 07/05/2008 THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN AND REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALER-PASADENA. WENT BACK TO LA MESA TO COMPLAIN & SAID WHATEVER VISIBLE WAS PERFORMED ON THE MULTI POINT INSPECTION ONLY. AND THEY CAN'T TELL WHAT'S INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING SYSTEM (FRONT/REAR) DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKES. THIS ALLOWS THE CALIPERS TO OVEREXTEND AND FREEZE CAUSING REAR BRAKE FAILURE AND HYDRAULIC FLUID LOSS. THIS REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR CALIPERS EVERY 15K MILES THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY 15K INTERVALS. THIS IS THE REVERSE OF MOST VEHICLES THAT DO THE MAJORITY OF THEIR STOPPING WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53100.

2004 FORD FREE STAR,VAN WAS IN DRIVE BUT FAILED TO MOVE ON HIGHWAY. TOOK TO SHOP THEY SAID IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR 'DIED' COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY (I-94 EASTBOUND, CLINTON TWP. MI). MY HUSBAND WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN SO NEAR AN OFF RAMP THAT HE COULD COAST DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WE'VE HAD TO HAVE REBUILT AFTER ONLY 62,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AS IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2004 FREESTAR. IT COST US $2000 TO HAVE REPAIRED...A HARDSHIP IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2004 FORD FREESTAR ON A RAINY MORNING. IT HAPPENED TO BE DURING RUSH HOUR. WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO START FLOWING, THE VAN FAILED TO MOVE, LEAVING HER AND MY DAUGHTERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER BEING PUSHED OFF THE HIGHWAY BY A SAPD OFFICER, AND WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, WE FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OR TROUBLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER INTERNAL PARTS. *TR

ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2010 I WAS SLOWLY PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF J CLYDE MORRIS AND HARPERSVILLE ROAD, NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, WHEN I HEARD A MILD 'KA THUMP' SOUND THEN THE VEHICLE (2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH APPROX. 79, 500 MILES) QUIT PULLING AND I COASTED INTO THE CLOSET BUSINESS PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AT ALL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME (3 MILES AWAY) WHERE IT IS STILL PARKED PENDING A RECALL OF THESE HIGH FAILURES WITH FORD FREESTARS *TW

BACKED 2004 FREESTAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND WENT FORWARD ABOUT TWO FEET. VAN REDLINED. TRIED REVERSE, DRIVE AND LOWER GEARS. NONE WILL WORK. *TR

FOR THE FIRST 16 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP MY FORD 2004 FREESTAR SEL WAS IN THE SHOP 15 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURES. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO GET THE VAN RETURNED UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND FORD REFUSED. I HAD ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND TOLD ALL WAS NORMAL UNTIL I DEMANDED THEY CHECK THE FRONT BRAKE AND THEN WAS TOLD THEY WERE BAD. AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING WENT OUT. I WAS JUST LEAVING THE INTERSECTION AND FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. NOW JUST LAST MONTH, DECEMBER 2009 IT WAS DISCOVERED MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIBER HAS BEEN DRAGGING FOR SOME TIME AS THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL. LEFT SIDE WAS FINE. *TR

AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE 12, TRANSMISSION DIED. AFTER EXITING, I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. HIT THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SIGNS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. AAA SENT A TOW TRUCK AND HAD VAN TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP IN HAMMOND, LA. THAT SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, VAN BEGAN TO JERK AND TROUBLE ACCELERATING. TOOK IT TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHICH RAN A DIAGNOSTICS. A CODE CAME BACK INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION SENSOR. VAN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO SAME TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REPLACED A TEMPERATURE SENSOR, GOT VAN WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, THEY FOUND WATER IN TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (??). THEY DRIED IT OUT, BUT SAID THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG THE VAN WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE B/C OF POTENTIAL DAMAGE THE WATER COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TCM. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACE, FORD SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

2004 FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. READ APPROX. 100'S OF OTHER COMPLAINTS STATING THE SAME THING ON EDMUNDS. *TR

WATER GETTING INTO PCM CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STOP SHIFTING , ENGINE STALLING AND FAST IDLE. HAD FORD TSB 06-14-10 DONE BUT STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM WHEN IT RAINS. I TRIED TO TELL FORD AND THEY JUST DON'T CARE. THIS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THEY HAVE AND THEY ARE IGNORING IT ! I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND THIS VAN IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE I'VE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE HAD IT TOWED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM . THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE PCM ONCE AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUNCH IN THE TSB 06-14-10 AND YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEMS THAT FORD IS HAVING WITH THIS ISSUE. I STILL OWE $8,400 ON THIS VAN AND I CAN'T SELL IT AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN. IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2009 AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH IT AS OF TODAY JANUARY 28, 2010. *CN

WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY OUR FORD FREESTAR VAN JUST STOPPED WORKING. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A MECHANIC IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE UNDER 60,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I AM RUNNING ACROSS NUMEROUS CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN THE CAR TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING, COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH FORD FREESTARS AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED FORD HAS SINCE ISSUED A RECALL. UPDATED 10/10/12

2004 FORD FREESTAR. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM CONSUMER RE VEHICLE HAZARDS DUE TO MAJOR DEFECTS (FULL DOCUMENT NOT IMAGED). *NJ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CODES WERE FOR A CMP SENSOR AND AC PRESSURE SENSOR. THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL A WATER LEAK OCCURRED. *JB UPDATED *JB 08/26/10 UPDATED 11/10/10*JB THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE HOOD LATCH DOWN ENOUGH TO PREVENT WATER FROM BLOWING IN FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE. UPDATED 07/26/11 UPDATED 08/23/11

2004 FORD FREESTAR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE: 2004 FORD FREESTAR LIMITED 66,733 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO GO UP A HILL. IT WAS WHEN I DID THIS THAT, THE CAR HAD NO POWER. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S WHERE GOING UP BUT AGAIN, THERE WAS NO POWER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO A SIDE STREET. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF......IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NO, SAME THING, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I HAD MY 1 YR. OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND BEGAN TO PANIC BECAUSE I WASN'T CLOSE TO HOME AND MY HUSBAND WAS AT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AT MY EXPENSE OF COARSE. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT MY 66K MILE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER. HOW AND WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH 66K MILES. THERE WAS NO NOTICE AT ALL AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS IS $2,395.00 PLUS TAX!! I ACTUALLY FIND THIS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, AND A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. *TR

I OWN 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS THAT ALMOST WAS DANGEROUS. THE VAN ON THE HIGHWAY WAS GOING 70 MPH. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING I HAD A DANGEROUS TIME TRYING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF NO MOVEMENT THAT WAS 1ST TIME 2ND TIME I HAD THE CHILDREN AND ALMOST WAS SMASHED IN THE REAR-END BY A SEMI-TRUCK HE SLAMMED HIS BRAKES TRYING TO AVOID US IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AND THEN FORD WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION WE WERE PULLING OUT AND THE TRANS. WENT NO OTHER GEAR WOULD WORK. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR - PUT IN REVERSE, THEN FORWARD AND LOST ALL GEARS. DEALER GOING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $3500. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. IT RAN PERFECTLY UNTIL DECEMBER 2009 WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTING SPUTTERING BADLY AND SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING. WE PARKED IT THAT NIGHT AFTER DRIVING STRAIGHT HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE COULD BARELY GET IT TO MOVE, LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN GEAR. WE HAVE LEFT IT PARKED SINCE THEN AS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS AWFUL AS I AM A CANCER PATIENT, WE HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD AND A BABY ON THE WAY. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM DROPPING MY SON OFF AT COLLEGE ABOUT 400 MILES ROUND TRIP WHEN ABOUT 1:30 A.M. ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR JUST LOST ALL FORWARD SPEED. COASTING ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR HAD NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR REPAIR BY AN EMERGENCY TOW COMPANY CALLED BY THE STATE POLICE TO THE TUNE OF $160.00. I HAD IT TOWED TO FORD THINKING THAT THEY HAVE TRAINED SERVICE PEOPLE WHO WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM INSTEADOF JUST REPLACING IT WITH A REBUILT TRANS. THE NEXT DAY I WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER WHO QUOTED ME 2,800. TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER SHAFT SPLINE, BUT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAD THE TRANS INSTALLED PAID THE BILL AND LOOKED INTO CONTACTING FORD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT I THOUGHT WASN'T NORMAL FOR A CAR IN GOOD SHAPE AND MILES, WHEN I CAME ONTO A FORUM OF OTHER UNHAPPY FORD FREESTAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.. I HAD TO FIX THE CAR BECAUSE IT WASN'T WORTH ANYTHING BROKEN, BUT GETTING RID OF IT NOW IT ISN'T WORTH THE 2 PAYMENTS I HAVE LEFT TO PAY PLUS THE REPAIRS JUST DONE COULD THIS BE DUE TO A TRANS PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE KNEW ABOUT EXCEPT ME? *TR THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO PICK MY CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL MY VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT HAD HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE MY FORD FREESTAR HOME AND ONCE WE GOT HOME THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEARS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER THE OUTPUT SHAFT GOING TO THE PUMP AND THE PUMP. I LEFT THE OLD PARTS WITH THE SHOP. *TR