2004 Ford Freestyle

Routine

Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train6
000
Engine3
000
Wheels1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2017220,000 milesOH

MY CAR SAYS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND WONT GO OVER 25 MPH. I ALSO HAVE AN AWD MALFUNCTION PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX AND DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE CAN. I'M TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL TAX TIME TO TRADE IN BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET MY KIDS FROM POINT A TO B IN THE MEANTIME. MECHANIC TELLS ME TO GET IT SCANNED FOR $70. I CANT AFFORD THAT BS TRYING TO RAISE 3 KIDS WITH ANOTHER ON THE WAY.

Steering
Filed Jan 23, 201796,000 milesOH

WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL FEELS VERY HEAVY, AND FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WON'T EASILY TURN BACK .LIKE ITS DRAGGING. WHEN I AM TURNING ON A CURVE IT FEELS LIKE IT THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING.

Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2015187,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2015113,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 8/6/15*CN UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

Power Train
Filed Apr 3, 2014101,674 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD AND STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE THE CHECK TRANSAXLE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE PCM (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE ). THE PCM WAS REPAIRED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,674.

Power Train
Filed Jan 13, 2014108,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Power Train
Filed Nov 6, 2013102,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED PER A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT BEGAN TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Power Train
Filed Sep 9, 2013110,824 milesMO

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON AUGUST, 22, 2012. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE BUT WHEN I BROUGHT IT HOME I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BUMP WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT SMOOTH OUT OVER TIME. THREE MONTHS LATER I NOTICED A SHUDDER AT FIFTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED RPMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, WHO WAS A FORD MECHANIC FOR ABOUT TWENTY YEARS BEFORE HE OPENED HIS OWN SHOP AND HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. FORD SERVICE REP. TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL PARTS AND LABOR. THE VAN HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M HOPING IT WILL LAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS SO I CAN TRADE IT IN. BUT IF THE DEALERS FIGURE OUT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO COST THEM MORE THAN THEY'RE WORTH I PROBABLY WONT GET MUCH OF A TRADE IN VALUE. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 2013MA

SLIDING SIDE DOORS AND REAR WHEEL WELLS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IN A SIDE-ON CRASH. THIS IS TRUE FOR THE WINDSTAR TOO. *TR

Power Train
Filed Mar 5, 2013126,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR MAIN TRANSMISSION OIL SEAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 14, 201367,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER) AND AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND MADE A BANGING SOUND AS IT SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE HAVING THE RECALL REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Wheels
Filed Jun 6, 201288,000 milesDE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS HAD BECOME CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2007893010Above average
20061,3001100Above average
20051,459230Above average
2004 — this page12000Routine
20021000Routine

Compare every Freestyle year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.