2004 Ford Freestar complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $1,800. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,500.

2004 FORD FREESTAR, 70,983 MILES, REGULARLY SERVICED. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VAN WENT ABOUT 30 FEET AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THEN ENGINE REVVED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO POWER OR ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION IN EITHER FORWARD GEARS OR REVERSE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING/SIGNS OF POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVE TRAIN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDESTREET AND PUT MY FAMILY OUT OF HARMS WAY. *TR

I'M A SINGLE MOM OF 4 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. I AM CONSIDERED A HIGH RISK PREGNANCY. I BOUGHT A MINIVAN FROM THE MALLOY DEALERSHIP IN MANASSAS A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I TOOK IT BACK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION IN THE VAN AND ONE OF THE DOORS AS WELL AS THE WINDOW. I HAD ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AND A STRAP ON THE BACKSEAT THAT WAS BROKEN. THE COMMENT I RECEIVED FROM ONE OF THEIR SALES MANAGERS WAS IF I WANTED A NEW VEHICLE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NEW ONE. I TOOK THE VAN BACK UP THERE AGAIN FOR HESITATION AND THE MAN SAID THAT HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN, THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS. TODAY I TOOK THE VAN BACK UP THERE BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION, MISS IN THE TRANSMISSION OR WHEREVER THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM. I HAD WENT SHOPPING FOR A TRIP ME AND MY KIDS WERE TO BE TAKING IN 2 WEEKS TO WEST VIRGINIA, THE VAN KEPT HESITATING, SHOOK AND THEN LOCKED UP ON ME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO WHERE I BARELY GOT IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. MY KIDS WERE SCREAMING AND MYSELF AND MY MOTHER WERE SCARED TO PIECES. I GAVE THESE PEOPLE CASH FOR MY VEHICLE, SO I PAID IT OFF WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILIES SAFETY IN MY VEHICLE, BUT AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT EVEN 3 MILES DOWN THE STREET. THEY ARE SAYING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT THE VAN KEPT ACTING UP TODAY ALL THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION, I EVEN HA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FLUID LEVELS WERE OK BUT OVERHEATED AND STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. COST $3800 TO REPAIR AT A DISHONEST SHOP IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65 MPH, DURING RUSH HOUR WITH THREE YOUNG CHILDREN INSIDE, SIMPLY DISENGAGED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE VAN WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AND THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT THE CARE IN NOT RUNNING. THE VAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP AND WE ARE LOOKING AT REPAIR COSTS BETWEEN 2 AND $3,000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHOOK HEAVILY. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW HUB ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL BEARINGS WERE NEEDED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V446000 (WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED ON HER VEHICLE AND THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER REPAIRED ON HER VEHICLE. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHETHER OR NOT HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

WE WERE 500 FROM HOME WHEN OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF OF A HIGHWAY. WITH NO WARNING, IT WOULD NOT MOVE..RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY IT WAS LIKE WE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL FOREVER ...HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM THE ROADSIDE.. AFTER TWO WEEKS WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR HOW MUCH THE TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSMISSION REPAIR WILL COST. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH 69,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35MPH AND THEN THE MOTOR STARTED TO REV HI. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED ALL THE GEARS AND THERE WAS NOTHING. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE VAN WENT APPROX. 30 FEET BEFORE THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VAN WOULDN'T GO ANY FURTHER. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE FREEWAY RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I ONLY HAD 65,200 MILES ON IT AND I JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 62,000 MILES. I LOOKED ON-LINE ABOUT THIS AND I FOUND ALOT OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THESE VANS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO RECEIVE BEFORE YOU REALIZE THIS VAN IS A LEMON AND A DANGER TO IT'S OWNERS? FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO PUT OUT A RECALL ON THESE VANS. FORD IS RIPPING PEOPLE OFF RIGHT AND LEFT AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED POPPING HARD GOING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THEN AT TIMES IT WOULD STICK AND NOT CHANGE UP. FINALLY IN JUNE WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT HOME WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RESET BUT EVERY TIME ANY STRESS IS PUT ON THE TRANSMISSION IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 2004 FREESTAR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER I HAD COMPLETED A U TURN I PUT THE VAN GEAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. I MADE SURE THAT I HAD IT IN THE RIGHT GEAR AND IT WAS BUT STILL NO MOVEMENT. *TR

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 91,000 MILES ON IT LEAVING MY WIFE AND THREE KIDS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ME (9MTHS PREGNANT) AND MY SON. HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS STRIPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR IN VIRGINIA. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT IN FOR THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION TO FIND THAT THE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS PENDING FAILURE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 36,000 MILES. THE FORD SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON AVERAGE. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY I EXPECTED THAT SINCE THIS PART WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE THAT FORD WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT FOR FREE. NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE TO DO SO BUT OFFERED TO FIX IT OF $660. THE PART CAN ONLY BE PURCHASE AS A UNIT, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CANNOT GET JUST THE BALL JOINT, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WHICH FORD SELLS FOR ABOUT $487.. I MUST GET THIS DONE, NOT ONLY FOR SAFETY BUT IN ORDER TO PASS MY STATE INSPECTION. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT BY REPLACING IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THE PART MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME IT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. *TR

TWO TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITHOUT WARNINGS IN OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR. NO ACCIDENTS JUST EXHAUSTION AND SUNBURNS DUE TO 112*F IN THE MOJAVE DESERT FOR 6 HOURS OF WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK TO TOW 5 FAMILY MEMBERS TO CLOSEST TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN AND THIS VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY EVEN AFTER A CERTIFIED REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BY A FORD DEALER 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK. THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES I.E., FROM A START TO A GO AND/OR JUST IN A CRUISE MODE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN GET IT TO A SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO EXIT TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS KIND OF FORD FREESTAR MODEL DEFECT I.E., UNEXPECTEDLY STALLING OUT. THE VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN TODAY AND IT IS UNSAFE. I RECOMMEND A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN AND HAD NO WARNINGS. THE VAN WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR STAYED RUNNING HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VAN NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION WENT. THE VAN WAS UNDER 100,000 MI AND IT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU DO SOME GOOGLING YOU WILL FIND MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH FREESTARS FROM 30,000 TO 100,000 MI THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, I HAVE TO PAY CLOSE TO 3,000 TO HAVE A NEW ONE, I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING, AND ON TOP OF THIS I AM A TEACHER WHO DOESN'T GET PAID DURING THE SUMMER SO NOW I NEED TO FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO GIVE ME MONEY I DON'T HAVE TO FIX THIS. FORD SAYS THEY ARE SORRY IT HAPPENED BUT CANT HELP ME. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED TO ME. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR 87K. JUST HAD EGR VALVE REPLACED DUE TO A CODE THAT SAID IT WAS BAD. TOOK VAN FOR A TEST DRIVE AFTER REPLACING VALVE. PROCEEDING DOWN THE ROAD, CAR WAS RUNNING LIKE IT WAS BRAND NEW AGAIN, ACCELERATED AND THEN THE RPM WENT HIGH LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE VAN QUIT PULLING. HAD TO COAST OFF THE ROAD, AND WALK IN THE DARK CALL FOR HELP. VERY DANGEROUS, MINIVANS ARE FOR WOMEN WHO CARRY CHILDREN!!!. FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO MY FRIENDS 2004 FREESTAR AND IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALSO WRITTEN REVIEWS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL FIND OUT IF IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER TOMORROW. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR AND THE TRANNY WENT OUT. IT ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH 85,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOUR DOWN INTERSTATE 485 IN CHARLOTTE, NC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOSING SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I HAVE CONTACTED MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. *TR

CAR JUST WON'T GO!! MECHANIC SAYS ITS THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 73,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TOOK FAMILY TO PITTSBURGH ZOO. JUST STARTED THROUGH TUNNEL AND THE VAN HAD NO POWER AND THEN JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TUNNEL. WOULDN'T CHANGE INTO ANY GEARS OR MOVE..AN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVENT..HAD DAUGHTER WHO IS HANDICAPPED IN VAN WITH US..WAS A VERY SCARY THING BEING STUCK IN THE TUNNEL. *TR

WITH NO WARNING, THE VAN BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT. FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED LOSS OF 3RD GEAR, PROBLEM WITH VALVE BODY & SOLENOID. NO FINANCIAL HELP FROM EITHER DEALERSHIP OR FORD. (NO WARRANTY) TOOK VAN TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, DIAGNOSIS: WATER FROM RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION (MANUFACTURERS DEFECT?) IT WILL NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR. REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE CONTACT DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INTAKE SHAFT WAS CRACKED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT 35 MPH MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL DOWN A SIDE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I FOUND THAT THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE. I CALLED FOR HELP AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VAN BACK TO MY HOME WHERE IT SITS TODAY WAITING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT FIXED. THIS EVENT HAPPENED AT AROUND 6:00 IN THE EVENING. THE VAN WAS DRIVEN EARLIER AROUND TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE OR TEENAGE DAUGHTER (WHO ONLY HAS HER TEMPS AND WAS DRIVING THE VAN EARLIER AT THOSE HIGHWAY SPEEDS) HAD BEEN DRIVING AND COULDN'T GET OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THERE ARE A LOT AND I MEAN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVING THE EXACT SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS IS A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. LIKE I SAID THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A CROWDED CITY STREET OR A BUSY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC HIGHWAY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING BUT TRY TO COAST THE CAR AS BEST WE COULD TO A SAFE PLACE WITHOUT GETTING KILLED! IT ALSO WOULD HAVE BEEN UNSAFE FOR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WHO WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING US! I WORK FOR THIS CAR COMPANY AND WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM ON MONDAY TO TRY AND FIND SOME ANSWERS. I JUST WANTED TO FILE MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND HAVE IT ON THE RECORD. WE

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS IN ALL THE OTHER REPORTS THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. PARK ENGAGES HOWEVER NO OTHER GEAR DOES. VEHICLE IS AT TRANSMISSION SHOP AS I WRITE THIS. FORD STATES THERE IS NO ISSUE, AND BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY 5,000 MILES THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. *TR

ON MAY 16, 2009 I WAS LEAVING HOUSTON IN HEAVY SATURDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FREESTAR IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE AT THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT WHEN SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING,I WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE REVVING. FOR SEVERAL HEART STOPPING MINUTES I COULDN'T GET CARS TO LET ME OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND, BY THE TIME THEY DID, I WAS BARELY COASTING. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY EXIT AND ROLLED TO A STOP ON THE ACCESS ROAD. I DISCOVERED THE CAR WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER, IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER PUMP SHAFT SPLINES HAD STRIPPED AND HAD TAKEN OUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR BILL CAME TO $3493.71. THE RENTAL CAR COSTS TO GET ME HOME TO WACO, TEXAS AND BACK AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED $466.90. WHEN I PICKED UP MY VAN, I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, SHOWING HIM THE MYRIAD COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 2004 FREESTAR. ALTHOUGH HE WAS SYMPATHETIC, HE WAS ALSO NON COMMITTAL ABOUT THE ISSUE. I ASKED HIM IF THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION HAD THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER AS THE ORIGINAL. HE SAID "YES" THAT THEY COULD ONLY REPLACE PARTS WITH THE PARTS THAT WERE INDICATED FOR THAT SPECIFIC VEHICLE. I AM A 65 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND HAD ANOTHER SENIOR FRIEND AND TWO DOGS WITH ME WHEN THE CAR DIED. THE VERY REAL THREAT OF BEING HIT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY FOLLOWING A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WAS SCARY ENOUGH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AT THE COST OF $1,040. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

2004 FREESTAR MINIVAN WAS DRIVING AND REVVED UP AND WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE GUESS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANS FAILED AT 50K MILES WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE EXPRESS WAY, LUCKY NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THIS MAKES ALL THE FORD OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, NOT WANT TO BUY FORD AGAIN. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPAIR. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANKFULLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SO SURE IF I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER AS WELL AS HIM. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 2004 & 2005 FREESTARS AND BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I PURCHASE THIS 2004 FORD FREESTAR BRAND NEW ON 9/25/2004. THE CAR HAS 48,351 MILES. NEVER HAD ANY FAILURES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOT MESSED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAVE WARRANTY. I AM A BIT CONCERN BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A FORD SWAP. THE OTHER TRANSMISSION HAS 78,863 MILES. WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THIS CASE BECAUSE I MAINLY DRIVE THE FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE? THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION SOUNDS VERY FORCEFUL WHEN DRIVEN. *TR

THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS WITH A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. I WAS DRIVING ON I35E, IN ST PAUL, MN, AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION QUIT. I WOULD PUSH THE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT THE VAN DIDN'T MOVE. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT OFF RAMP, WHILE THE VAN WAS SLOWING DOWN. WE WERE ALMOST REARENDED TWICE WHILE TRYING TO MOVE OVER. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD MY 2 KIDS AND MY WIFE (WHO WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME) IN THE VAN WITH ME. IT HAPPENED IN MARCH, SO IT WAS STILL COLD OUT. I HAD THIS VAN FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT. I STILL LIKE THE VAN AND AM STILL A FORD GUY. I AM JUST DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WON'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH ONLY 60,000 KM'S FAILED ON A BUSY IOWA INTERSTATE ON OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA. I HAD TO PUSH THE VAN BY HAND TO GET IT TO THE EXIT LANE WITH VEHICLES PASSING BY AT FULL INTERSTATE SPEEDS. IT WAS FORTUNATE FOR MY WIFE AND I THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT END IN A TRAGEDY. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER WAS INSTALLED AND AFTER A 2 DAY DELAY WE WERE BACK ON THE ROAD. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO CANADA I CONTACTED FORD CANADA IN AN EFFORT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE $1,500.00 CANADIAN THAT I SPENT FOR REPAIRS. FORD CANADA REFUSED TO HONOR THE CLAIM FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE BY A FORD DEALER AND I FAILED TO HAVE THE 50,000 KM INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A BAD HISTORY OF FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTERS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I AM SURE FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REPAIRED THIS TRANSMISSION FOR ME USED UPGRADED PARTS AS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE 2004 FREESTARS. THE WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRED TRANSMISSION IS NOW FROM ANOTHER PARTS PROVIDER. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER THEY WOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE SAME REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT FAILED PREMATURELY ON THIS VAN. I KNOW THAT I AM IN A NO WIN BATTLE WITH FORD. WHAT DOES BOTHER ME IS HOW UNCONCERNED FORD IS TOWARDS THEIR CUSTOMERS. DUR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT PERFORMING ANY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY REACH 35,000 MILES AND ABOVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

2004 FORD FREESTAR EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF FORD'S "SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SYSTEM" RECALL. CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS WHICH IS A SYMPTOM THAT LED TO FIRES IN FORD'S RECALL. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING AFTER READING A LITTLE INTO IT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IS FORD DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY WIFE AND I NEED HELP WITH THIS IF WE CANT GET THIS RESOLVED WITH FORD WE CANT WORK AND THAT WOULD PUT US AND OUR TWO KIDS ON THE STREET PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU! *TR

WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT, THE VAN SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I CHECKED THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDLE AND IT WAS ON DRIVE. AS THE VAN SLOWLY ROLLS THROUGH THE LOT I TRIED THE REVERSE GEAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NONE OF THE GEARS WERE WORKING. I HAD THE VAN TOWED FROM RANDOLPH, NJ TO MY MECHANIC IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRANSMISSION...I NEED A NEW ONE. IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $3200. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS PURCHASE. THE VALUE AS OF TODAY IS LESS THAN WHAT I OWE. IT'S A GOOD THING THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT INSTEAD OF THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. I HAD MY 2 KIDS WITH ME PLUS 3 OTHER CHILDREN. HOW MANY MORE INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE REALIZES THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS MODEL FROM FORD. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR FAILED SUDDENLY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 24 ON A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS LEFT WITH TWO GEARS: NEUTRAL AND PARK. AFTER A NEAR COLLISION WITH A CAR SWERVING TO AVOID MY STALLED CAR, I ASKED THE POLICE FOR HELP IN ALERTING TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD GET TOWED. THE MINIVAN HAD ABOUT 67000 MILES, WITH NO PRIOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF SOME MAJOR INTERNAL PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD NOT CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, EVEN THOUGH THE FORD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE GUIDE INDICATED THAT ONLY A FLUID LEVEL CHECK WAS REQUIRED. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $ 2500. IT IS APPARENT TO ME THAT THIS FAILURE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER THE FLUID WAS CHANGED OR NOT. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN. ON SUNDAY, APR. 26, 2009, WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VAN WILL REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER $3000. THIS VAN HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY PART OF THE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. IS FORD WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE? *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 15 FROM PA INTO MD IN OUR 2004 FREESTAR. AS SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MILES AN HOUR, THE VAN SUDDENLY SEEMED AS IF IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE BIRM AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION,WITH OUT ANY WARNING, FAILED. THE VAN HAD TO BE TOWED AS IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY!!!! *TR

WAS TRAVELING FROM NEW JERSEY TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND STOPPED IN STANTON,VA. APPROX 400 MILES FROM HOME.AFTER GETTING FUEL,THE VAN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. HAD VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING AT A COST OF $3000. THE VAN ONLY HAD 62K MILES ON IT AND IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 37K MILES AS PER FORD RECOMMENDATION. DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNING UP TO THAT POINT OF ANY PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT JUST SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 15 MIN. BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEM! I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FREESTARS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND HOPE THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, WHICH DAMAGED THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET REAR-ENDED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS! THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS EVEN FULL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE MEDIAN, BUT MY CAR WAS OVER 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. TOWING IT IS GOING COST ME ABOUT $200. I AM SO FRUSTRATED! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY AT @ 50 MPH EXPERIENCED SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2004 FORD FREESTAR; BASIC SYMPTOM WAS SENSE THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER PULLING OFF HIGHWAY AND COMING TO FULL STOP WAS UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND IN ANY GEAR SETTING. WAS REQUIRED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK; REPAIR REQUIRED FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TR

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, TRANSAXLE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH ON AND OFF ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR. FORD SERVICE TOLD ME THAT IF THE LIGHT ONLY FLASHES AND DOES NOT REMAIN LIT, DON'T BOTHER BRINGING IT IN BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER OF ACCELERATION. RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000 BUT VEHICLE FORWARD MOTION SLOWED TO A STOP. BOTH OCCASIONS WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL . TOWED IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT FORD IS USING IN THESE FREESTARS. THERE ARE TO SMALL AND THE VAINS ON THE TORQUE CONVERTERS ARE SHEARING OFF, DUE TO THE STRAIN ON THEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT BEING INVESTIGATE BY NHTSA. THIS A LEGAL COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS THAT YOU ALL ARE JUST CLOSING YOUR EYES TO THE MATTER. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE IT IS INVESTIGATED, BUT I GUESS THAT IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE WAITING FOR. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA IS NOT BEING BOUGHT OFF BY THE CAR MANUFACTURERS . *TR

PURCHASED A FORD FREESTAR IN 2004. LAST JULY ,I NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND A KICK IN THE WHEEL WHEN TURNING. PROCEEDED TO MY MECHANIC,ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS,AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK AND PINION. I CHECKED THE RECALL LIST WITH NHTSA AND FOUND THAT FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 34,000 CARS WITH THE PROBLEM. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE LINKING FLUID GOOD CAUSE SMOKE. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL LIST. JUST RECENTLY(MARCH,2009),I STARTED HEARING SCREECHING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE CAR. IT WOULD SUBSIDE WHEN GOING AROUND CURBS ETC..TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY -WOULD ELIMINATE THE SOUND. AGAIN,I CHECKED RECALLS AND FOUND RECALLS FOR HUB PROBLEMS. IF NOT FIXED THE WHEEL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE WOULD CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CHECKED RECALL VIN NUMBER AND IT DID NOT MATCH. CONTACTED FORD PROBLEM BUREAU AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. I HAVE PRESENTLY 23,500 MILES. I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER 2004 FORD FREESTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN FOR FEAR OF AN IMMEDIATE MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN. FORD SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND CORRECT THE SITUATION FOR THOSE OWNERS WHO HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. I CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I IMPOSITION OTHERS!I 'M GLAD THERE WASN'T A NEGATIVE OCCURRENCE WHERE INJURIES EXISTED. AS A SENIOR CITIZEN,COST OF CONTINUOUS REPAIRS AND THE SAFETY ISSUE PREVAILS. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN WITH ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH. THE CAR DID NOT DIE BUT IT JUST WOULD NOT DRIVE AND STARTED MAKING A WINING SOUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LIGHT ON THE DASH. IT JUST STOPPED. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS OUT, BUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DRIVING A FREESTAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NEEDED ON FORD FREESTAR VANS MADE IN 2004. *TR