2004 Ford Freestar complaints

WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. WE WERE FORCED TO COAST OFF OF THE FREEWAY INTO AN ABANDONED WEIGH-STATION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AS NO GEAR WOULD WORK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND WE ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION UNIT AT A COST OF $3500. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 82,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR SEL - ~23000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN HEARING AN INTERMITTENT SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, BUT THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE NOISE. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET FOR PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE FRONT HUB, ROTOR, AND WHEEL BEARING (ID #52707). MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING WERE THE CAUSE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL COST ME $420. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IF THE CAR WAS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL RECALL LIST. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR THE ISSUE IS NHTSA INCLUDED MY VIN IN THE RECALL LIST. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LIST. *TR

VAN HAD 38,000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. TRAVELING ON VACATION WITH FAMILY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING NON-STOP FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS. WEATHER WAS COOL AND DRY, NIGHT TIME, AND CRUISE SET ON 65 MPH. DROPPED OUT OF OVERDRIVE TO PASS A VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. COASTED TO STOP AND COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER AND REPLACED (WHAT I WAS TOLD) ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT TRANSMISSION PAN WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD SHEERED ALL THE BLADES. PROBLEM RECURRED ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER AT 70,000 MILES WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY... BUT THAT'S ANOTHER COMPLAINT. *TR DUPLIATE TO 10262072*SMCH

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS INEXPLICABLY GONE OUT IN MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR VAN. THIS TIME IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY AND MY WIFE STARTED IT AND TRIED TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS WHEN MOVING GEAR SHIFT LEVER. EARLY MORNING, COOL AND DRY. *TR

TRANSMISSION DIES WITH NO WARNINGS AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. *TR

ON 3/12/09 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON HER. 100,309 MILES, 1,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. DIDN'T GET IT FIXED YET BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TODAY AND I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE MONEY. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, I HEARD GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO "SQUEAL" WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IN 2007, I HAD THE REAR ROTORS REPLACED BY A DEALSHIP BECAUSE OF GOUGING AND PITTING THAT THEY FELT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD 29,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. NOW, FROM THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME FROM BEING REPAIRED, I WOULD HAVE THE SAME SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISES. I TOOK THE VAN IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS OR EXTREMELY GROUND DOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE PITTING AND GOUGING. I NOW HAVE 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THESE ROTORS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THIS IS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES EVERY 20,000 MILES OR SO. I HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH FORD CORPORATE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM OR TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

THERE WERE NO PRIOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE. NO SIGNS OF FAILURE OR NO WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THIS MALFUNCTION. I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH 61,121 MILES ON IT AND I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,00 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME AND I WILL NOT PAY 3,300.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS PURCHASED THROUGH A THIRD PARTY. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THEM AND THEY HAVEN'T CALLED ME BACK. MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID A FULL DIAGNOSIS ON IT AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THEY WERE QUICK TO ASSUME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AT ALL NOR WERE THERE ANY SIGNS OF THIS HAPPENING. I'VE GONE OVER MY MILES BY 1,000 AND I CANT GET HELP FROM THE DEALER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM BUT THEY WERE REALLY FAST ON DETERMINING THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I AS WELL AS OTHERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT SOME FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE MADE REPAIRS THAT DO NOT NEED TO BE DONE. THEY ARE QUICK TO TAKE YOUR MONEY BUT THEY WONT HELP U OUT WHEN THIS OCCURS. I THINK I HAVE MADE MYSELF CLEAR ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALER DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V457000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR. THERE IS A MASSIVE NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THE PART AND THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FREESTAR (MY FATHER IS RETIRED FROM FORD SO WE HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORDS) SO I WAS THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. I HAVE FOUR DOGS AND GO TO DOG SHOWS, SO THE FREESTAR WOULD (AT LEAST I HOPED) SERVE MY TRAVELING NEEDS. WELL, I ONLY HAD THE VAN FOR A YEAR AND STARTED HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS--WINDSHIELD WAS NOT "SEALED" AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS SERVICED, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND THEN HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. BUT, THESE WERE JUST MINOR PROBLEMS TO ME. NOW, TWO WEEKS AGO, MY VAN "LOCKED" UP ON ME AND WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE!!! HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A REPAIRMAN AT THE TIME. NOW, I DISCOVER BY RESEARCHING, THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT. A WEEK AFTER THIS HAPPENED TO ME, MY SISTER-IN-LAW'S (WHO PURCHASED HER FORD FREESTAR NEW IN 2004) VAN HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. COST HER OVER $2000.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED--AND MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY VAN WILL BE SITTING FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I AM STILL PAYING FOR A VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE NOW!!! ALL THOSE YEARS MY FATHER WORKED FOR FORD WE HAVE RESPECTED THE COMPANY, AND NOW I AM DISGUSTED BECAUSE FORD HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! THE COMPANY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS LIVED BY AND ENDORSED, IS NOW RUINED IN MY EYE. WILL PROBABLY NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD, AND I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR ONE I WILL PROBABLY NEVER DRIVE AGAIN. IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES, WE "LITTLE MEN" DON'T NEED THESE HEADACHES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR AND THE GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN VEHICLE WITH ONLY 52K MILES. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

LEAVING WORK ONE EVENING PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BACKED UP, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND NO MOVEMENT. THE VAN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TRIED REVERSE AGAIN, NO MOVEMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON, NO NOISES PRIOR, IT JUST QUIT! THE VAN HAS 69,000 AND WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECH YESTERDAY AND HE STATED HE WASN'T AWARE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH IS IRONIC TO FIND SO MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES POSTED HERE AND ELSEWHERE. SAID THE VAN WAS ONLY WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE WAS 2,300 FOR FORD SERVICE CENTER TO REBUILD(COMES WITH 12MO/12,000 MILE WARRANTY) OR 3,600 FOR A FORD MANUFACTURED REBUILT TRANSMISSION(COMES WITH 3YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY) THE VAN HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FREESTAR THAT HAS 77,938MILES ON IT AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT CAUSING THIRD GEAR TO BURN UP IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT COST ME 1600.00. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTOR GO OUT AT 58,000 MILES, COSTING A LOT OF MONEY. *TR

DRIVING 2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FAILED, LEAVING THE CAR DISABLED. TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $2,000. *TR

OWNER OF A 2004 FREESTAR. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 65-70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WILL NO LONG ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO CALM MY KIDS AFTER WE WERE ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. TOWED INTO DEAL AND WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICES AND HAS 79,000 MILES. NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR

FORD FREESTAR, TRANSMISSION, WHILE DRIVING HOME TURNING CORNER AND MOTOR REVVED BUT VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING FORWARD, NO WARNING NOTHING, WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND A CAR IS FOLLOWING NO TAIL LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND A REAR END COLLISION IS A TOTAL POSSIBILITY. THIS HAPPENED 1000 MILES PAST MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, AT 74,000 MILES. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH 53,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM - THE VEHICLE IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO EXCESSIVE ROAD WEAR (ONE DRIVER) EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I'M LEAD T BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE PROBLEMS YET SEEMS TO BE UNWILLING TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS TO SAID PROBLEMS OR MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS TO CONSUMERS WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. I.E. EXTEND MILEAGE WARRANTY OR MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR EARLY REPAIRS. *TR

TORQUE CONVERTER WENT BAD AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS 66,000 MILES AND IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER FOR WARRANTY. I ALSO HAVE HAS A CONTINUOUS NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, TRAC LIGHT ALWAYS COME ON AND NO FINDS A PROBLEM, THE REAR DOOR OPENS AT TIMES WHEN THE FRONT DOOR IS CLOSED. *TR

MY WIFE DRIVES THE VAN. NO LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. SHE WAS GOING TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. NO WARNING, NO SLIPPAGE OR SQUEALING. JUST STOPPED WORKING. AS A RESULT I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I ALSO HAD TO INTERRUPT A FAMILY MEMBER TO GO GET MY SON FROM SCHOOL ON A VERY COLD WINTER DAY. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. FINAL COST WAS $3098 NOT INCLUDING CAR RENTAL FOR THE 8 DAYS IT TOOK TO GET THE WORK DONE. VERY UPSETTING. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. I WOULD LIKE SOME KIND OF RESTITUTION. *TR

WHEN FILLING VAN WITH GASOLINE, GAS SHOT BACK OUT, HITTING PERSON IN FACE AND ARMS. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DRIVE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES RELATING TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

2004 FORD FREESTAR MINI-VAN ON 12/31/2008, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION QUIT, RPMS WENT VERY HIGH, SINCE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. OF COURSE IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE, SO IT COULD NOT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL JAN 2, 2008. I ONLY HAD ABOUT 42,000 MILES, SO NOT MUCH PASSED THE WARRANTY. I HAD IT TOWED TO LENAWEE TRANSMISSION IN ADRIAN, MICHIGAN SINCE THAT WERE I WAS OUT OF TOWN VISITING MY MOTHER. IT COSTS $1,200 TO GET THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. LT MENTIONED THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS. NOW GUESS WHAT THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO GET IT CHECKED ON JAN. 10, 2009. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR FOR THIS VAN. I HAVE SENT THREE EMAILS TO WHITMAN FORD IN TEMPERANCE, MI REGARDING THIS VAN WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THANKS*TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS BRAKING AROUND A SLIGHT TURN. WHEN SHE WENT TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD NOTHING HAPPENED. SHE COULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING. THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. SHE HAD BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WE THEN HAD TO HAVE OUR VEHICLE TOWED. WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THE ENGINE REVVED AS I CAME TO THE STOP SIGN, AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO AGAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- IT WOULD NOT GO EITHER FORWARD OR BACK. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE VAN WAS JUST 255 MILES PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND IT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR; THE ENGINE WOULD JUST REV. THERE WAS NO PRE-WARNING OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS ONLY ADULT THE CAR WITH MY THREE CHILDREN AND THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

WHILE PARKING MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, I WAS IN BUSY DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, THIS PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF HAVING TO PUSH MY VAN ON A BUSY ROAD. IT WAS LATER TOWED AND NOW WE ARE IN NEED OF A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TR

ON CHRISTMAS, MY HUSBAND, 3 YEAR OLD AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO VISIT FAMILY AN HOUR AWAY. 20 MINUTES INTO THE TRIP WE DECIDED TO STOP AT A GAS STATION TO GET A SNACK FOR MY SON, BUT ONCE WE PULLED OFF WE REALIZED IT WAS CLOSED. WHILE HEADING FOR THE DRIVE TO GET BACK TO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY JUST REVVED, NOT SENDING ANY POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND US LUCKILY AVOIDED REAR-ENDING US. AS WE WERE STRANDED IN A DRIVEWAY WITH CURBS ON EITHER SIDE, WE HAD TO GET OUT AND DIVERT SEVERAL OTHERS TO BACK AWAY AND USE A DIFFERENT DRIVE. ANOTHER VAN HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH US BACK DOWN THE DRIVE INTO THE METER PARKING LOT SO WE WERE OUT OF THE WAY OF MORE TRAFFIC. WE THEN HAD TO CALL MY FATHER (INTERRUPTING HIS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION) WHO LIVES 40 MINUTES AWAY TO PICK US UP AND DRIVE US BACK TO OUR HOUSE SO WE COULD SWITCH TO OUR OTHER CAR. WE ENDED UP GETTING TO OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION OVER 2 HOURS LATE, AND HAD TO ENTERTAIN A CONFUSED AND TIRED 3 YEAR OLD DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME! OVERALL, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 70 MPH--AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. OUR FREESTAR IS ONLY AT 69,000 MILES, AND WILL NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION, ESTIMATED AT $2200, PLUS TOWING FEES. SINCE THIS HAPPENED OVER THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN GARAGES ARE CLOSED FOR MANY DAYS, WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 2-3 DAYS UNTIL OUR VAN IS DO

WHILE TRAVELING IN OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR MINIVAN AT 70 MPH THIS PAST SUNDAY ON I-95 N IN VIRGINIA, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LET GO WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 66K. WE WERE 1 HOUR INTO DAY 2 OF OUR RETURN HOME TO BOSTON AFTER SPENDING CHRISTMAS WEEK WITH RELATIVES IN FLORIDA. WE WERE ON FAIRLY FLAT TERRAIN WHEN I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE TACHOMETER AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING TO 6,000+. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT HAD SIMPLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, SO I LET OFF THE GAS, SLIPPED IT INTO 3RD, THEN 2ND. NOTHING. I COASTED ACROSS 2 LANES TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. MYSELF, MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN WAITED FOR 1 HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR BUT IT WAS ON A BUSY, CURVED SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. WE ALL RODE IN THE TOW TRUCK AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN FREDERICKSBURG WAITING FOR A MECHANIC MONDAY MORNING. WE GOT HOME IN A RENTAL CAR LAST NIGHT . REPAIRS WILL BE $2,500+ PLUS THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR AND EXTRA HOTEL STAY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT FAILED, AND THAT SEVERAL FORDS HAVE HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITH NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING .THIS REQUIRED A REBUILT DONE COSTING $2,100 ..OUT OF WARRANTY AT 41,000 MILES. *TR

MY 7 YEAR OLD AND I PULLED OUT OF A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED WITH NO WARNING. UP TO THIS POINT HAD NO TROUBLE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY COAST US INTO THE TURNING LANE BEFORE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE REPAIR WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME. I WAS INFORMED A PIECE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN, AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE COST OF REPAIRS WILL BE 3500. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED INTO GEAR AND THEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

OUR 2004 FORD FREESTAR TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED, AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, AS WE DROVE. *TR

WE OWN A 2004 FREESTAR THAT HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN FEB 2008 WITH LESS THAN 43,000 MILES ON IT. IN JULY 2008 WE SPEND $450 ON REPAIRING PART OF THE BREAKING SYSTEM, AND THIS WEEK THE VAN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PULL TO IT WHEN IT FINALLY DID AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ONCE I GOT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF A BLOCK AND ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, ONLY TO HAVE THE VAN STALL ON ME, ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD PAID FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED, WE PAID FOR THE CALIPER, DRUM, ROTOR, AND BREAK PAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE. WHEN HAVING THE VAN CHECKED OUT THIS WEEK, WE WERE TOLD YESTERDAY THAT THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON IT, AND THE ONLY THING THAT CAME BACK WAS A CAM SENSOR AND THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY MOISTURE INVOLVED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE STALLING. NOTHING WAS REPAIRED, AND THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, ESP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN WINTER DRIVING IS ALREADY DANGEROUS. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE TRACK CONTROL. IT WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. THE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST 2 TIME PER MONTH. THE REASON CAN'T BE FOUND FOR IT. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE TO DO RECALLS ON THESE VANS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS. *TR

DOES ANYONE READ THESE? MY DAUGHTER POSTED A COMPLAINT OVER A YEAR AGO. I JUST READ THROUGH A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2004 FORD FREESTAR'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY SON-IN-LAW PURCHASED THIS VAN FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR MOTHER'S DAY OF 2006 BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPECTING ANOTHER SON AND OUTGROWING THEIR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. IN THE WINTER OF 2006 IT STARTED ACTING UP. WE HAD TO GO GET THEM ON CHRISTMAS EVE AS THEY WERE BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF A COUNTRY ROAD ON THEIR WAY TO OUR HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS. IT WAS DIAGNOSED A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. AFTER COMING UP WITH THE MONEY TO REPLACE THAT, IT WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE. STARTED AGAIN. THEY WERE TOLD THEY MOST HAVE GOT A FAULTY CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND REPLACED IT AGAIN. SOME TIME LATER, IT STARTED AGAIN. THEY TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT REPLACED SOME MORE SENSORS. IT RAN FINE ALL SUMMER. WINTER OF 2007 STARTED AGAIN. REPLACING MORE SENSORS. AGAIN THIS WINTER, IT IS DOING THE SAME THING. THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ABS BOX ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VAN. $400 FOR THE PART ALONE. MY DAUGHTER WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE IT RAN BETTER THAN IT EVER HAD AND THEY THOUGHT THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. ACTS LIKE IT IS TAKING OFF IN 3RD GEAR. STALLS OUT. THIS IS THEIR ONLY VEHICLE. HE IS LAID OFF. SHE IS ON THE VERGE OF LOSING HER JOB DUE TO ATTENDANCE AS A RESULT OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. THEY ARE STRUGGLING LIKE THE REST OF US TO KEEP THEIR HOME OUR FORECLOSURE AND TH

MY VAN STARTED ACTING UP AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION SKIPS HEAVILY WHEN DRIVING AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. I'LL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IS LIKE JUMPS OR STUTTERS ITS CRAZY. *TR

I CAN NOT BELIEVER THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FORD FREESTAR'S MALFUNCTION! THERE ARE 430 MESSAGES ON EDMUNDS.COM ALONE ON THE ONE SUBJECT, BUT YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. IF WE WANT THE WORKERS IN THE U.S. CAR INDUSTRY TO HAVE JOBS, THEN THEY SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS HAPPY!! *TR

TRANSMISSION SKIPS OR SLIPS WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON VAN. *TR

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON 2004 FORD FREESTAR AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE. NO PRIOR WARNING. TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION REQUIRED. VEHICLE HAS 95,000 MILES. *TR

1. MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VAN WOULD NOT GO BACKWARD OR FOREWORD ANY MORE. 2. THIS FAILURE WAS CATASTROPHIC CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE IMMOBILE. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED DAMAGING THE FRONT PUMP. 3. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY CLEANED AND REBUILT AND A REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER WAS INSTALLED. OLD PART WAS EXCHANGED FOR REBUILT ONE. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 68845. *TR

VEHICLE IS ON 4 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS DOING 60KM AND MY CAR SEEMED TO HAVE LOST IT'S ACCELERATION, SO LUCKY ENOUGH I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, THEN I TRIED REVERSE BUT NO MOVEMENT, CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE, SO GOT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE, HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS MY TORQUE CONVERTER AND NEEDS A NEW ONE, SO JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS GOT A BIG PAY OUT, GREAT JUST WHAT I NEED. BUT I AM SO UPSET AS MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT A YEAR AND A HALF AND THIS HAS HAPPENED, FORDS WILL NOT COVER ME THROUGH THE WARRANTY WHICH I AM SO MAD ABOUT, AS YOU ARE ONLY COVERED TO 100,000KM ON THE POWER TRAIN AND I HAVE DONE 117,000. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND AM SO UPSET, I THINK FORD'S SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS SO DANGEROUS, DRIVING AND THEN THE CAR JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IF THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING THEN THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AND I HOPE THAT NO ONE GETS HURT OUT THERE. SO FORD I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD STAND UP AND RECALL THE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HELP PEOPLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES SINCE APRIL 2008 FOR REPAIR. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF HESITATIONS, STALLING AND SLIPPAGE. I HAD ALSO HAD THE CAR IN FOR A TUNEUP AT A PRIVATE SERVICE COMPANY. TWICE WHEN I TOOK IT IN I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. REPLACED A CAMSHAFT SENSOR WORKED FOR A WHILE. TODAY STALLED WAS ABLE TO START BUT VAN WOULD NOT GO IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHUT THE CAR OFF. TRIED AGAIN WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME WITH THE VAN CHUGGING THE WHOLE WAY. THE RPMS WERE GOING CRAZY. I HAD IT TOWED IN ONCE AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. AFTER SEEING ONLINE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS I FEEL I NEED TO REPORT AS WELL. I THINK A RECALL IS IN ORDER FROM FORD. THE HAVE ALSO IN THIS MESS REPLACED THE COMPUTER. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY AND LOST THE TRANSMISSION I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT MAY HAVE OCCURRED. THANKS *TR

2004 FORD FREESTAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT MESSAGE ON DASH. NEXT THING I KNOW, NO ACCELERATION. ENGINE SMOKING, LEFT STRANDED ON THANKSGIVING EVE ON I 81 WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. VAN NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT MOVED HER BODY TO THE RIGHT AND THE SEATBELT UNFASTENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRACTURED HER RIBS AND VERTEBRAE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000. UPDATED 03-05-09 *BF UPDATED 03/06/09. *JB

2004 FORD FREESTAR-TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING, JUST QUIT. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE MASS TURNPIKE ( I90 EAST ) @ NIGHT W/ CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SUDDENLY THE CARE REVVED TO 5000 RPM. WE PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THERE WERE NO GEARS, NO PARKING GEAR, REVERSE OR FORWARD GEARS. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION HAS TO COME OUT. THE FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE PRIOR TO THE TRIP. NO INDICATION OF ANY TROUBLE LEADING UP THE EVENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY JERKED FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A REMEDY. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RPM'S DRAMATICALLY INCREASED. THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO A NEUTRAL STATE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,400. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.