Ford Freestar Complaints (2004)

1,227 consumer complaints on file.

#10450587March 7, 2012
SEATS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450650March 7, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450559March 6, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450295March 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450344March 5, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448728February 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448552February 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448117February 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447659February 12, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447248February 9, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446564February 3, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446232February 2, 2012
SEAT BELTS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445722January 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445736January 29, 2012
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445694January 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445550January 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445645January 27, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444612January 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444621January 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444035January 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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